Helping Children Cope With Change
Change, whether a new sibling, a house move, or starting school, can unsettle even the most easy-going child. This workshop looks at why change is hard for young children and offers practical ways to prepare and support them through it. You will leave with concrete strategies for common transitions, plus a take-home booklet you can return to when change comes up again.
Led by Amy Byrne — BA (Hons) Level 8 in Early Childhood Education and Care, currently studying a Level 9 postgraduate in play therapy, Children First trained and a Mandated Person. One hour, with a take-home booklet and a dated certificate of attendance.
Who this is for
Suitable for parents preparing a child for a specific change at home, and for early years educators supporting children through transitions such as starting or moving rooms in a setting.
What we cover in the hour
- Why young children find change and transition difficult.
- Preparing a child in advance for common changes and transitions.
- Supporting a child through the change itself, day by day.
- Common transitions: new sibling, house move, starting school or a new room.
- Reading signs that a child is struggling with a change.
- Rebuilding a sense of security and routine after a big change.
What you'll leave with
- A framework for preparing a child for an upcoming change.
- Practical strategies tailored to common transitions.
- Ways to spot when a child is struggling to adjust.
- Ideas for rebuilding routine and security after change.
- A take-home booklet with transition-specific guidance.
Inside the booklet
The booklet includes preparation checklists for common transitions, along with ideas for rebuilding routine and security afterwards.
This workshop is grounded in Aistear's Well-being theme and Síolta's Standard on transitions between settings and stages.
How it can be delivered
| Format | Price |
|---|---|
| Public ticket — live onlineOne hour, small group, booklet emailed | €20 per person |
| Public ticket — in personOne hour in a venue near you, booklet in hand | €35 per person |
| Private 1:1 with Amy30 minutes €25 · full hour €50 (3 for €135) | from €25 |
| Private group — onlineParent evening or staff session, minimum 5 | €35 per person |
| Private group — in personYour setting or venue, minimum 6 | €45 per person |
No VAT and no booking fees. An itemised receipt is emailed instantly, and invoices are available before you book. Running this across a whole setting? Setting packages start at €399.
Common questions
- Does this cover starting school specifically?
- Yes, starting school is one of the key transitions covered, alongside practical preparation ideas and what to expect in the weeks around the change itself.
- What about a new baby in the family?
- This is also covered directly, including how to prepare an older child in advance and support them through the early weeks after a new sibling arrives.
- My child seems fine with change on the surface — is that normal?
- Yes, some children show few outward signs initially and adjust gradually. The session covers subtler signs of struggle to watch for over the following weeks.
- Is this suitable for educators managing room transitions?
- Yes, moving rooms or settings is one of the transitions discussed, with practical ideas educators can use to ease this process for children.
- Will this help with change that is sudden or unplanned?
- The session focuses mainly on preparing for anticipated changes, though many of the supportive strategies also apply to sudden change, with adjustments discussed during the session.
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More in this theme: Emotional regulation · All workshop themes · Upcoming dates
Available live online across Ireland, and in person in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Cork and other counties.
Trusted early years resources
Every workshop is grounded in Irish early years frameworks and national guidance.
- Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA)
- Síolta: the National Quality Framework
- Children First national guidance (Tusla)
- First 5: Ireland's strategy for babies & young children
- Early Childhood Ireland
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