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1. How does nature experience change?

2. What are the benefits of change in nature?

3. Does nature mirror our inner feelings regarding change? Why or why not?

4. How do the changes in nature reflect the changes in ourselves?

5. What can we learn from the changing seasons?

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1. What does it mean to grieve?

2. How can we handle our feelings of sadness?

3. How can we deal with our changing family?

4. What good can come out of loss?

5. What is the relationship between change and identity?

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1. What is positive about change?

2. What is negative about change?

3. How can we deal with change in a healthy way?

4. How can we deal with feelings of fear and anxiety?

5. How can you make others feel more comfortable in a new school or new home?

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1. What are feelings?

2. What is change?

3. How does change connect to feelings?

4. What can we do to help process our big feelings?

5. Is change inevitable?

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Using the natural change of the seasons as symbolism, The Leaf Thief follows a squirrel and his quest to find his fallen leaf to explore feelings of anxiety during times of change. This story connects to dealing with change in that we see the squirrel lean on his friends for help coping with his feelings and ultimately accepting the beauty of letting go.

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A Very Big Fall epitomizes dealing with change because it uses the transition from summer to fall to symbolize that even though change is hard, it leads to a new and exciting beginning.

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Long’s story illustrates just how painful letting go can be in the wake of inevitable change. Through the perspective of a tree that clings to its leaves, Little Tree illustrates change as the big idea because it shows young readers that sometimes we need to let go in order to grow.

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Experiencing the death of a loved one or pet is a type of big change that many children will experience. A Land Called Grief helps children process feelings of sadness while also helping them to discover that grief can be turned into something beautiful.

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Go Left is a perfect fit for the topic of change because it explores the choice we have in the face of big transition: we can be afraid, worried and sad – or we can choose to look change in the face with a positive perspective.

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Tomorrow Most Likely tackles a question that most of us wonder at the end of the day, “What will tomorrow bring?” In the face of the unknown, it is easy to feel fear. This book is perfect for dealing with change because it challenges us to accept that change is inevitable, and our mindset towards it makes all the difference.

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Wade’s book What the Road Said epitomizes a unit on coping with big change. She uses the road as a metaphor for the unexpected bumps and curves of life, proving that when faced with change, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to deal with it. Ultimately, the book shows young readers that it’s ok to be scared when big changes come across our path.

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From the perspective of a turtle in the wake of climate change, Little Turtle & the Changing Sea illustrates dealing with change as her beloved environment is changing beyond her control. But it is how she deals with the change that makes the greatest impact.

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A practical guide to dealing with ever-changing emotions, Me and My Feelings is important to this topic because it provides concrete skills to deal with big feelings that can often crop up when dealing with big transitions.

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How to Get Unstuck From the Negative Muck

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How to Get Unstuck From the Negative Muck

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This is an important addition to the topic of big transitions because often during times of change, negative thinking can take over. How to Get Unstuck gives older kids the tools they need to process and cope with their thoughts.

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Home is a Window is an important addition to this big topic because it tackles a very relatable life change that some children face – moving to a new home. This book provides the important perspective that even when things in life change, we always have our family to rely on.

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Kids have A LOT of questions when moving to a new home. What will my room look like? Will I make new friends? Where will I play? Will I like my house? Follow two children as they move to Mexico City and New York City and ask lots of questions (and find lots of answers) along the way.

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Giant-sized Butterflies on My First Day of School

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Giant-sized Butterflies on My First Day of School

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The first day of school is always the marker of a big change and transition that all children face. Giant-Sized Butterflies uses the symbolism of butterflies to explore how it is normal to experience feelings of fear in the unknown.

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The Day You Begin introduces young readers to the idea that we interact with new experiences every day. Whether it is a new friend, type of food or even walking into a room where everyone is different than us, this book is important to the topic of change because it challenges us to grow when faced with something new.

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The List of Things That Will Not Change is vital to this big topic because it explores one of the biggest changes some students face: divorce. Everything in Bea’s life is rapidly changing, but to cope with divorce and remarriage on the horizon, she keeps a list in her notebook of all the things that remain the same

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Maybe Tomorrow? tackles the heavy feelings around losing a friend. This is an important text to add to a collection on change because it highlights the importance of relying on others when faced with an uncertain future.

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Lost in the Clouds takes a different approach to helping children deal with the change that results from the death of a loved one. Tinn-Disbury shows young readers that even though unexpected change/loss has happened, the constant is that we will always have each other.

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Everything Changes and That’s Ok uses elements from the natural world to demonstrate the beautiful fact that every living thing changes – and that change typically leads to growth!

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Agell, C., & RamírezA. (2019). Maybe Tomorrow?. Scholastic Press.

Alemagna, B. (2020). Things That Go Away. Abrams.

Balcarcel, R. (2022). Shine On, Luz Véliz! Chronicle Books.

Brannen, S. S., & Soto, L. (2021). Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. Hodder Children’s Books.

Colagiovanni, M. (2023). When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left. Scholastic Inc.

Davies, B., & Poh, J. (2020). Little Turtle and the Changing Sea. Tiger Tales.

Dodd, C. (2022). Everything Changes. Shambhala Publications.

Eggers, D., & Smith, L. (2019). Tomorrow Most Likely. Chronicle Books Llc.

Hemming, A., & Slater, N. (2021). The leaf thief. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.

Janes, M. (2020). A Land Called Grief. Bjork Print.

Kastner, E. (2022). A Very Big Fall. Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Kim, D. (2020). A Kids Book about Change. A Kids Company About Inc.

Long, L. (2015). Little Tree. Penguin.

Madison, M., & Ralli, J. (2023). Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies. Penguin.

Olsher, S. (2021). Nothing Stays the Same, But That’s Okay. Self-published.

Roberts, J., & Escobar, P. (2023). Giant-sized Butterflies on my First Day of School. G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Stead, R. (2020). The List of Things That Will Not Change. Andersen Press.

Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, & Sasaki, C. (2019). Home is a Window. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House.

Sullivan, L. (2013). How to Get Unstuck from the Negative Muck : A Kid’s Guide to Getting Rid of Negative Thinking. Solna Investments.

Tinn-Disbury, T. (2021). Lost in the Clouds. New York: Dk.

Vanessa Green Allen, & Rebar, S. (2019). Me and my feelings : a kids’ guide to understanding and expressing themselves. Rockridge Press.

Woodson, J., & López, R. (2018). The Day You Begin. Nancy Paulsen Books.

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This book is an important addition to the topic of change because not only does Kim explain his own experience as an immigrant child, but he provides ways for children to embrace change, starting with the perspective that ‘change is impossible to avoid because it happens ALL the time!’

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Alemanga adds another perspective to the topic of dealing with change by exploring the idea that everything in life comes and goes – except the love between a parent and a child. This book is an important addition to this topic because it uses a playful tone to convey that all things in life transform and change.

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Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies

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Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies

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One change that all children will experience as they grow up is their changing body. Every Body celebrates the variety in our bodies and how they change and develop over time. Bodily growth and transformation is an additional perspective and practical connection to the topic of change.

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This contemporary text highlights the feelings many children have around changing relationships. Chloe is worried that once her favorite Uncle Bobby gets married, he will no longer spend as much time with her. This is a wonderful addition to the topic of change because it shows that even when relationships around us change beyond our control, love stays the same (and grows with new family members!).

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This book explores a key element as to why change is scary – the unknown. As a non-fiction text, this book is a great addition to this topic as it gives children practical tips, calendars and routines to cope with change as it comes our way.

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Seidler uses warm and accessible language to explain how it might feel in your home after someone you love has passed away. With concrete coping strategies, building of awareness and acknowledging feelings, Seidler is an important resource to our collection of books on grief and loss.

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This educational video provides kids with practical tips on how to deal with their emotions - mainly by recognizing that their emotions can (and will) change.

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Coping Skills For Kids - Managing Feelings & Emotions For Elementary-Middle School | Self-Regulation

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This video walks students through the many ways Earth experiences change. Whether its volcanos, earthquakes or the arrival of autumn, this video reminds us that Earth is constantly changing.

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Our Ever-Changing Earth: Earthquakes, Volcanoes & Erosion Explained | MightyOwl Science 2nd Grade

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[Video 1]: Kids Talk About Starting a New School

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[Video 1]: Kids Talk About Starting a New School

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PBS Kids interviews a group of kids and their parents on what it's like to move and start a new school.

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PBS KIDS Talk About | Handling Changes at School | PBS KIDS

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[Video 1]: Dealing with the Loss of a Pet

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[Video 1]: Dealing with the Loss of a Pet

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PBS interviewed a mother and son about their pets - how how they process and deal with feelings of sadness when one of them dies.

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PBS KIDS Talk About: When A Pet Dies | PBS KIDS

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[VIDEO 2]: Guided Meditation for Children (Dealing with Anxiety) 

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[VIDEO 2]: Guided Meditation for Children (Dealing with Anxiety) 

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Guided meditations are powerful resources to help children sit with their feelings and learn coping skills to deal with them.

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😌 LET GO OF WORRIES | A Guided Meditation for Kids🎈

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This video provides students with a quick overview of all four seasons and the changes that occur in each.

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[Video 2]: Kid President Pumps up Students for a New School Year! 

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[Video 2]: Kid President Pumps up Students for a New School Year! 

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This video is an important resource for students starting at a new school because it reminds them of the excitement of learning! It encourages them to stay positive and put their best foot forward.

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Kid President's Pep Talk to Teachers and Students!

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Music is a powerful tool to help us process our feelings. The Grief and Loss Meditation song helps children feel their sadness in a healing and healthy way.

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Do You Ever Feel Nervous? 

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Do You Ever Feel Nervous? 

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This article explores the scientific process behind feeling anxious with age-appropriate vocabulary for 2nd grade students. It helps them gain a baseline understanding of flight, fight or freeze and how to process their nervousness.

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You're at the free-throw line with two shots and a chance to win the game. You're about to take a big test in history class. You're standing in front of the class with your science project.

What do all these scenes have in common? Each one would make most people nervous! These are just a few examples of times when people feel higher levels of stress and anxiety. All sorts of situations make different people nervous. What makes one person nervous might not affect another person at all.

The situations that create stress and anxiety may begin in the mind. But they don't stay there! Nerves can cause many . You might have a racing heartbeat. Maybe you start sweating. Many people experience heavy breathing and an upset stomach. These are all common signs of stress.

Why do our bodies react this way? Experts believe we've been programmed that way for hundreds of thousands of years. Long ago, the things that caused stress were often dangers. They could include animals like bears and big cats. When coming face-to-face with such , the body goes into a "fight or flight" .

The typical to stress are caused by adrenaline surges. These prepare the body either to fight or take flight (run away). For example, if you had to outrun a bear, your body would be preparing you to take flight!

Your increased heart rate and breathing help to deliver more oxygen to your muscles. Increased sweating acts to keep your body temperature normal while your muscles work harder. These work together to help you fight or flee. Today, though, most of the things that cause us to be nervous aren't immediate, dangers. Still, our brains react with many of the same bodily .

So what can you do when you feel nervous? Try a few breathing exercises. These can help slow your breathing rate and racing heart at the same time. Taking control of your thoughts can also help to lower stress and anxiety. Focus on positive things you can control, rather than worrying about things you can't.

It also helps to identify those situations that cause you stress and anxiety. Then, prepare for these situations in advance as much as possible. This way, you're not taken by surprise when the event arises. It can also help to talk with a trusted friend or family member. They might be able to offer advice or help you feel better.

People feel stress in many different situations, but one thing is certain-we all feel nervous sometimes! What helps you feel better? Find ways to calm yourself during situations. These practices can definitely help you out in the future!

NGSS.LS1.D, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.4, CCRA.W.7, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2

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Today's Wonder of the Day might have you on pins and needles!

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Why Do the Seasons Change? 

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Why Do the Seasons Change? 

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This article tackles the questions many children have about the seasons from a scientific perspective: Could it ever be winter forever? Why does the sun stay out longer in the summer than the winter? Do all areas on the globe experience the same seasons at the same time?

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Ever wonder what’s the reason for the seasons? If so, you’re in luck. From spring to winter, today we’re exploring the ever-changing world of seasons.

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Why Do Things Have to Die? 

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Why Do Things Have to Die? 

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This article explores the questions many children ask around life and death. Why do things have to die? Why can't we live forever? It also provides practical resources to process grief.

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Why do things have to ? What a great question that has been asked by many of our Wonder Friends. In fact, it's a question that every human being has surely thought about at one time or another.

At some point in time, every single person comes face-to-face with the reality of his or her . All things that live will eventually . It's a fact of , but it can be hard to face at times. When we lose a beloved pet or a special loved one, the loss can be devastating and difficult to cope with.

So why can't we live forever? There are philosophical and religious aspects to that question that are way beyond the scope of this Wonder of the Day. We can, however, look at some of the , scientific aspects that will shed light on that question. We'll also look at how we might live longer in the future, even if we can't live forever.

Death is an essential part of the of . Whether you're talking about a human being, an animal, or a plant, every living thing comes alive at some point. For humans and animals, the first step in the of is birth.

From birth onward, the cycle is focused on survival. If we survive, we grow and mature. At some point, our bodies begin to age more rapidly until our eventual death ends the cycle.

To survive, most living things need food, water, sunlight, and oxygen. For human beings and animals, these things are usually supplied by our parents until we're able to provide them for ourselves. For human beings, survival is usually fairly easy, and we're able to concentrate on many other enjoyable aspects of .

For some humans, most animals, and nearly every other form of , survival is a day-to-day task that requires effort and energy. Because survival can be such a struggle, the cycle of some organisms is very short. For example, the cycle of a typical can be as short as a week. On the other hand, bristlecone pine trees can live for thousands of years.

Today, adult human beings have a expectancy of 75-80 years. About 200 years ago, that expectancy was only about 35 years. So you can see that we've more than doubled our average expectancy over the past couple hundred years. Advances in medicine and technology have had a lot to do with that. Do you think the next hundred or so years could see another doubling of expectancy ?

Some scientists think so. There are many scientists today who continue to work on solving the problems that cause human beings to age and . As we get older, our bodies eventually wear out. Many times they to various diseases that cause death. Some scientists identify these natural events as problems to attempt to solve scientifically.

For example, can scientists identify the reasons why we age? If so, can they invent ways to stop the aging process? Likewise, can scientists figure out how to eliminate all diseases and health problems that might lead to death?

If you look around at the products available in stores today, not to mention the advances in modern medicine you can see at most hospitals, it's clear that scientists are working hard on these issues. They're also experiencing many successes along the way. Even though true immortality may be a long ways off - and ultimately maybe only the stuff of fairy tales - scientific progress is definitely helping us to live longer lives.

As you ponder these and death issues, it may help also to consider whether you would want to live forever if you could. What would the benefits be? What negative consequences could you imagine? What might Earth look like if no one ever died?

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Today's Wonder of the Day explores why all good things must come to an end.

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Should Schools Have Mental Health Days? 

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 1]: Should Schools Have Mental Health Days? 

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Should students be able to take mental health days from school? TIME for Kids interviewed many different children on this debate and their responses display significant emotional awareness. This could be a potential extension activity for students to continue the debate.

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Schools protect kids' mental × mental CAMILLE TOKERUD PHOTOGRAPHY INC./GETTY IMAGES having to do with the mind (adjective) Walking is good for a person's mental health. health in many ways. In some states, schools let students take days off for mental health. Do you think schools should offer mental health days? Some kids say yes. They think mental health days give kids time to rest. This helps with mental well-being. Other kids say no. They worry kids will not use mental health days wisely. They think the time off will have a negative effect. TIME for Kids asked readers to share their opinions. Read this issue to learn what six of them had to say.

COURTESY ANGELICA FIALLOS-ASCENCIO
Sofia Ascencio, 10 Los Angeles, California
Schools should give kids days off for mental health. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, students were away from friends and family. Now they are back in school. Many have feelings of depression and anxiety × anxiety FATCAMERA-GETTY IMAGES a feeling of worry or nervousness (noun) After studying for a week, Kate felt less anxiety about the big exam. . This is because of the load of schoolwork.

Mental health days would help students relax. Then they would be able to come to school ready to learn.

COURTESY HARRISON W. GABEL
Johnny Gabel, 9 St. Louis, Missouri
I do not think schools should give students days off for mental health. Many parents have to go to work. If students get too many days off, they might get left home too much. This could make some mental health issues worse. Some kids have serious mental health challenges. Those students could take breaks between subjects. And there could be mental health services for them.

COURTESY ROY ITTICHERIA
Jeremin Roy Itticheria, 10 Des Plaines, Illinois
Stress is increasing in kids for many reasons. These include COVID-19, climate change, and pollution. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has studied children's mental health. It says emergency-room visits for mental healthcare increased. That was for kids ages 5 to 11.

Mental health days would give kids a break. And they might have time to get the help they need.

COURTESY JAMES J. YOUNG III
Hailey Young, 12 Secane, Pennsylvania
The weekend gives kids time off. But people do not use that time wisely. We children need to learn to better manage our time. We barely get our schoolwork done in the five work days we get. For some kids, school might be their safe haven.

Home might be scary or stressful for them. A mental health day might end up being more stressful than school.

COURTESY LAURA LANDIS
Nugg Canales, 8
York, Pennsylvania

Kids should get mental health days off from school. Sometimes, we need to stay home to calm our minds. Some schools do not allow music. I have days where I need calming music. It makes me feel good. If you take a mental health day, you should not have to make up work.

COURTESY TANJA VAN TOOREN-PIJPAERT
Bibi Van Tooren, 11 San Diego, California
Schools should give kids days off for mental health. Mental health is an important part of overall health. It is just as important as physical health. If you do not feel 100%, it will affect your ability to focus.

Kids get stressed with long school days. School can cause a lot of anxiety.

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Schools protect kids' mental health in many ways. In some states, schools let students take days off for mental health. Do you think schools should offer mental health days? Some kids say yes. They think mental health days give kids...

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 2]: How Many Emotions Are There? 

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 2]: How Many Emotions Are There? 

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This article helps students explore the way they communicate their feelings by using emojis. It provides examples of texts that have the same words, but different emojis and examines the intended effect.

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How do you usually communicate with others? Talking with someone -to- is the oldest form of basic communication . Over time, though, all sorts of other methods have been invented and gained - and lost - popularity.

For example, writing letters by hand used to be very . After the was invented, people found it nice to be able to call someone on the phone rather than waiting to see them in person or to send a .

But what about today? How often do you talk with people in person? What about over the phone? Have you written a lately?

If you're like most modern kids, you probably do most of your communication via , instant , , or video . Whether you're on a laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone, you probably use the Internet to communicate most of the time.

If you're using these modern electronic means of communication , how do you the full meaning of how you're feeling? Of course, using descriptive words and good writing is always one sure-fire way to get your point across.

More and more, though, today's kids - and many adults, too! - rely upon emoticons to help how they're feeling in more than just words. Emoticons are those combinations of characters that a particular . You might know them as smileys! :-)

Today, there are countless emoticons in use around the Internet. It would likely be impossible to count them all, but it's for certain that they number in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands, with more and more being created every single day.

Why do we need emoticons? Well, some would argue that we DON'T need them. We should arguably be able to use words creatively to exactly how we feel.

From time to time, however, we get in a hurry and it's handy to have a shorthand way of letting someone know how we feel about something we've said. For example, what if you received the two texts below?

I'm going to the pool. :-)

I'm going to the pool. :-(

What messages do they ? The with the indicates the sender is happy or excited about going to the pool. Perhaps a fun day of swimming and relaxing is ahead. The second , however, expresses sadness or disappointment. Perhaps the sender has to work at the pool or wanted to go somewhere else instead.

Do you see how the use of emoticons can help add meaning to a simple ? That's why they've become so in modern communications. In fact, the popularity of emoticons is surpassed only by their pictorial counterparts known as emojis. If you look at just about any modern form of electronic communication , you're likely to see plenty of emoticons, emojis, or both!

If you're WONDERing how they got their start, you have to go back quite a ways. Special characters have been used in for hundreds of years to clarify or particular meanings. Early examples can be found, for example, in Morse code transmissions.

The modern characters for the common smiling and frowning faces can be traced back to computer scientist Scott Fahlman, who first suggested their use on a Carnegie Mellon University board back in September 1982. Little did he know what he was starting!

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We believe today's Wonder of the Day will make you :-) !

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 2]: Why Does the Sky Change Color at Sunrise and Sunset?

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 2]: Why Does the Sky Change Color at Sunrise and Sunset?

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Change is happening every day, all around us. One way to help students explore the nature of change is by observing the world around us. This article tackles the old-age question: why is the sky blue? It also explains that the sensitivity of our eyes determines the light waves we can (or cannot) see.

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Have you ever watched the sun rise or set? If so, the picture stays with you: Bright reds, pinks, and purples shoot across the sky as the sun rises or sinks on the . Do you WONDER where those lovely come from? And where do they hide all day?

Those colors are always there! We just can't see them. How is that possible? When light enters our atmosphere , it's white. That white light contains all the colors of the rainbow. Gas break the light into differently colored . Each color of light moves at different speeds. The colors we see depend on the light's path and the sensitivity of our eyes.

send the light off in different directions. We call this process scattering. Sunlight scatters many times before reaching our eyes. Blue light travels fast, so it scatters more often than most other colors. That's why we don't see the bright colors of the sunset during the day! So much blue light is scattered that it hides most other colors. Other colors peek through at sunrise and sunset because the light travels farther to reach us. That allows the other colors of light to scatter more often.

Would you believe the sky could actually be purple? Purple move faster than blue ones, so more purple light is scattered through the sky. Then why is the sky blue? The sensitivity of our eyes influences the colors we see. Human eyesight peaks in the middle of the rainbow. Because blue is closer to the center than purple, we see a blue sky instead of a purple one.

If you've seen more than one sunset, you know they're not always the same. Why is that? Many people say the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets occur in autumn and winter when the atmosphere is dry and allows light to travel more quickly. However, many events affect sunsets by adding new gas to the air.

For example, volcanic eruptions send into the atmosphere . These particles cause light to scatter at a higher rate. Anyone who sees a sunset just after an eruption will see a glowing orange sky.

also changes the sunrise or sunset. In crowded cities, from auto engines blocks many of light. The sunsets in highly polluted areas are just bright red instead of a pattern of colors.

Finally, clouds the appearance of a sunrise or sunset. You might worry that clouds would cover the event from view. However, a few clouds in the sky make the sunrise or sunset look even more breathtaking. Clouds catch the colorful rays as the sun rises or sets, resulting in colors rising higher into the sky.

Have you ever watched the sunrise over the ocean on a cloudy morning? How about the sunset on the after a volcanic eruption? Many people believe these are the most beautiful sights in the world. What does the sunset look like from your home?

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Why Does the Sky Change Color at Sunrise and Sunset?

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Have you ever watched the sun rise or set? If so, the picture stays with you: Bright reds, pinks, and purples shoot across the sky as the sun rises or sinks on the . Do you WONDER where those lovely come from? And where do they hide all day?

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Dan Siegal encourages emotional awareness by thinking about our feelings like a bicycle wheel. The article contains a brief overview and a few podcast episodes that are more relevant to teachers than students, but it is still applicable for background knowledge on processing emotions.

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Here is an image of "The Wheel of Awareness." The hub represents the experience of awareness itself - knowing - while the rim contains all the points of anything we can become aware of, that which is known to us. We can send a spoke out to the rim to focus our attention on one ...

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 2]: Mexico's Dia De Los Muertos Honors The Dead

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[SUPPORTIVE TEXT 2]: Mexico's Dia De Los Muertos Honors The Dead

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One interesting way to approach loss with students is to examine the ways in which other cultures deal with death. This article explores the long-standing tradition of Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico. It explains how honoring those who have passed is a beautiful way to stay connected to them.

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I always found the concept of la Dia de los Muertos a fascinating and incredible subject. I like the fact that countries like Mexico have continued the tradition of respecting their ancestors and respecting their lives and traditions. I always found that admirable, and a fantastic way of keeping your ancestors' memory alive.

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Mexico's Dia De Los Muertos Honors The Dead

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Mexico's Dia De Los Muertos Honors The Dead has 7 reviews and 0 ratings. Reviewer candy_cane wrote: "soo cool!1 "

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This article is written for as a guide to help children process moving to a new location. Within the article, there is a story that parents are encouraged to tell to their children in the weeks leading up to the move. The story itself could be used in the classroom to spark conversation on the feelings surrounding this type of change.

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Strategies and stories to support young children

Moving house is likely to be a stressful time for everyone so it is good to prepare for it consciously. Children need extra support in a move. Depending on where and how far the move is, and what else it involves, stress levels on the children can accumulate to be high enough to create behaviour and health changes. A number of big changes together like a change of house, of familiar city, of friends, of school, in the usual supports for parents, and in jobs for the father or mother, is sufficient for children to experience a serious change in health and/or behaviour. This article contains some suggestions of what might help ease the way.

View/download pdf Moving house

Caring for yourselves

Adults: Try to keep your own stress levels down, but acknowledge that there will be a lot of stressors on both of you: big decisions, insecurities, lack of support in the near future, physically tiring packing etc. Support yourself in every way you can: good food, enough sleep, breaks where you can relax and regather yourself, however short. Try to stay calm and do not forget to breathe deeply.

Children: Children need to feel the safety of predictability and routines within the move, before and after. Keep the routines strong and still beautiful. Try to keep to having meals together and bedtimes regular, even if the house is in turmoil. In the packing, make sure the things important to them are still available-pillows, bedding, special toys, a few books for stories.

Acknowledge their feelings, their excitement, their sadness and their fears and also help them to see the positive side of all their concerns. One way to do this is through stories about them and the move.

Create an ongoing therapeutic story

A therapeutic story for the children can create an imaginative pathway into this new family adventure, and give them time to prepare inwardly for what is going to happen. Children need this time.

The story can be repeated as often as they need it. Start and end with the same form each time, and let it grow according to their questions and needs. Here is an example:

A story for James and Jeremy
Once upon a time there were two small blonde boys. One was called James and he was five years old. The other was called Jeremy and he was three years old. They lived with their Daddy and their Mummy and a cat and a rabbit and the birds in the garden. They lived happily in a little white house in a green yard with roses that bloomed and smelt sweet. One day their Daddy came home with very exciting news. "Hey, keep your hats on! We are going on an adventure!" The little boys came running and sat on his lap and said, "Tell us! Tell us, Daddy!" And he did... He told them that they were going to move to a new house, in another town, where the tall mountains meet the sea and they were going to have all sorts of adventures together. They would have a new garden where they could play different sorts of games and a new kitchen where they could make some biscuits for when their friends came to visit (and maybe they could eat some themselves). They would have their own beds and pictures, and their pets and all their toys would come along to be part of the adventure together. Mummy was pleased too because... they would be able to see Uncle Robert and Auntie Natalie more often and ... Sometimes the boys and their Mummy and Daddy would visit Uncle, Auntie and the little cousins and sit out in their garden under the big tree and drink juice. Sometimes Aunt and Uncle and the cousins would come to visit their family in their new house and the boys would help to make pancakes for a surprise...Or they would all meet in the market on Saturday morning after the shopping...Daddy was pleased because he would be working again and they would all have the money to go to the zoo... And Grandma and Grandpa would come to visit them and the boys would make a welcome cake to have for their tea, and make a bed for them to sleep in.... The boys would make a 'goodbye and thank you' card with Mummy's help to give their old friends next door and they could tell them all about their coming adventures and invite their friends to come to visit them... In their new home they would all make new friends and find new things to do... Sometimes they might feel sad that they were leaving their friends, but adventures were like that. They needed courage. When they made new friends they would have old friends Sometimes they would still all go up to the lake on holiday together like they always did and they would swim and go out in the boat...And at Christmas they would all get together again.... new friends and have so many candles to light for their friends at special times that they would nearly run out of candles! They would have a board on the wall with all their friend's pictures on it so they could send their love to them whenever they liked. They could make a rainbow from their own hearts to those they loved and send their love along its beautiful colours. They could even send their love with the birds in the garden because, as we know, little birds always have cousins in other places to help deliver the messages for us. And of course all their loving angels would go right along, wherever they were, and enjoy the adventure as well...
... And after Daddy had told them the next part of their adventure the two small boys would go off to bed and tell their toys all about it and sleep very well indeed.

Make the story fit with what the children know already and also work towards possibilities. Add more to your story about what you might do in the new house or town from your own experiences there before. Use descriptions, for example of watching the ferry go out, or the highways between the hills, or seeing new birds or people. As the details become clearer add more, perhaps another chapter. Use the story to give reassurance on things the children may be showing concern about and always end with the same reassuring ending. Acknowledge the move by the saying of goodbyes.

Do not assume saying goodbye is not important to your children, even if they are young, especially if you are moving a long way away. To whom and to what do the children need to say goodbye? Friends, school, places? Give them an opportunity to do this. Perhaps you could take with you special invitations you have made together, for people to come to visit you in the new house. "Good- bye, good-day, we'll come back another day!"-children always love a good chant. Or sing a goodbye song. Talk about your coming back to visit your old home again if that is going to be possible. If children are showing distress at leaving the old house, you may be able to redirect their thoughts by saying goodbye to the house with a little ceremony where you thank the house for what it has given you, etc.

Always build the picture of how lucky they are to have all these people who love them wherever they are, just like their other Grandma or family friend loves them though she or he lives a long way away. They can take places and people 'into their heart' where they can keep them always. A photo album of special people and places might help too!

Watching for fears and misunderstandings

Children can get things really confused and you need to be mindful of fear-based behaviours arising so that you can correct any mistaken ideas they have and reassure them that all will be well. Children make sense of the world in the best way they can but do not have much experience to help them. What can be really obvious to the adult may not occur to the child at all so it helps to talk through the details. For example, whether they will be taking their own beds or bedding! Listen carefully to what they say for clues of what may be making them anxious. The children will be more concerned about what will happen to all those things strongly 'ensouled' by them (favourite toys, pets, dolls etc.) which become an extended part of themselves. These things should be taken with you if possible. If not, it should be made clear that they will be well taken care of by someone else.

Prepare them for what will happen on the actual moving day and add it to your story. "Once upon a time... At last moving day arrived. The boys got up in the morning and washed their faces...and that night they slept in their own little beds with all their toys in their new room and slept very well indeed."

On the day, try to keep to routines if you can, especially around bedtimes. Make setting up new beds, with bedding and toys they know, a priority after good food. Give them time for a story and a last reassuring talk. Let them know and hear that you are still close by.

Settling in

Keep the routines, the reassurance and the stories going. Prepare them for new events with more stories. For example, add to your story about each child's first day at the new school or kindergarten.

And finally...

Remember to look after yourselves very well, with good food, good sleep, good loving. Good journeying.
May the road rise to meet you.
An Irish blessing May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sunshine warm upon your face
Writing a healing story
Avoiding trouble with young children
Brief checklist for stressful times
A story for courage
A story for generosity And the rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you ever in the palm of His hand.
Here is a blessing for your journey...

View/download pdf Moving house

See also

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Conscious Creative Courageous Living with Children

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Moving house is likely to be a stressful time for everyone so it is good to prepare for it consciously. Children need extra support in a move. Depending on where and how far the move is, and what else it involves, stress levels on the children can accumulate to be high enough to create behaviour and health changes.

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1. Give each student large pieces of paper and markers. Ask them to define ‘change’ in their own words. Prompt them with the following questions:
-Do we have to change? Why/why not?
-Does everything around us change? Why/why not?
-What happens if we refuse to change?

2. Using only emojis, encourage students to communicate how they feel in different scenarios (ex. first day of school, getting ice cream, the day of a test etc.). Once they are finished, ask them to swap their papers (or laptops) to decipher how their classmates feel. Then, students can conduct a whole class discussion on similarities/differences.

3. After trying out multiple meditations, encourage students to write and record their own guided meditations to help with a feeling of their choice (ex. anger, sadness, change, discomfort, anxiety). Students can then share their meditations with the rest of the class for feedback.

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1. Explain to the class that we will be going on a nature walk. The students must find 3 natural objects that they sketch in their notebooks. They must make observations about the objects they choose (ex. color, size, shape, height, texture).

2. After the walk, ask the students to make predictions on their objects. Do you think they will change? How?

3. In the next lesson, repeat the nature walk, but this time, ask the students to document the changes they notice in the same objects they found before. Afterwards, engage students in a discussion on change in nature and how that can apply to their own lives

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1. Full Body Trace: Using a large roll of paper, children will team up to trace the outline of their bodies. After the tracing is complete, engage children in a discussion on external vs. internal change. Take notes on the board in a t-chart to document the difference.

2. Full Body Collage: Using markers, scraps from magazines and images found online, students will work outside of their traced body to write/draw examples of change that can happen that are beyond their control (ex. moving, seasons, weather, going to a new school). Next, they will work inside the traced figure to explore examples of internal change (ex. emotions, new ideas/perspectives, learning new things). Students will present their figures to the class. If time allows, expand the discussion to include ideas they have to respond to change that we can vs. cannot control.

3. Students can explore how other cultures (ex. Mexico) deal with death, loss of pets/loved ones and grief. They can create presentations and share their findings with the class.

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1. Explore Change: Using journals, encourage students to make a list of all the new things they have experienced in life so far (ex. trying a new food, moving to a new town, meeting a new friend, getting a new pet, learning a new sport, etc). From there, students can document how they felt at the beginning of each new experience. What do they notice?

2. Debate: Students will decide which side of the argument they agree with - change is good or change is bad. From there, they will need to develop specific examples, conduct research and enact their class debate.

3. Mirroring Woodson's picture book, The Day You Begin, students will write encouraging poems for younger students first entering elementary school. The poems will explore how it feels to start at a new school - vs. how they feel now. The poems will be collected and given to new students upon entrance to 2nd grade.