Helping Children Adapt

Whenever a teacher leaves, a routine changes, or a child has to move to a new school, parents often say the same thing: “My child just doesn’t cope well with change.”

But as Lauren Edmunds explains, the reality is that none of us naturally copes well with change. Our brains are wired to prefer what’s familiar, simple and predictable.

In this episode, Lauren shares a powerful idea from her corporate career: “islands of certainty”. She explains that when everything feels uncertain, one of the best ways to support a child, especially one with learning delays, ADHD or autism, is to focus on what isn’t changing.

By helping children picture what to expect, drawing attention to the small things that will stay the same, and making the unfamiliar feel more familiar, we can ease the stress of transitions and reduce the likelihood of them slipping into avoidance or survival mode.