How to help kids stay calm, ready and connected during routines and big changes

Helping Kids Feel Calm, Ready and Connected During Routines & Big Changes

Changes in routine happen all year—school holidays, new terms, new teachers, new classrooms, or even a new school. For many children, these changes can feel exciting and overwhelming.

The good news: simple tools like calendars, visuals, routines, play and connection can make a huge difference in helping your child feel safe, confident and ready.

This guide brings together easy strategies for families to use at home.

Why Change Feels Big for Kids

Children rely on routine. Routine helps them know:

What is happening
Who they will see
Where they will be
What is expected of them

When routine changes—like during holidays or at the end of the school year—children lose that structure. This can lead to:

Worry or uncertainty
Emotional outbursts
Tiredness or clinginess
Trouble following instructions
Difficulty separating from caregivers

Supporting children with clear tools can help them feel steady and understood.

1. Use a Visual Calendar to Show What’s Coming

A calendar is one of the most powerful tools to support children.

Why calendars help

Children can see the plan instead of trying to remember it
It gives a sense of control and predictability
Reduces anxiety
Helps children understand time
Builds independence

Ways to use a calendar

Mark special events (swimming day, grandma’s house, first day back at school)
Show school holiday plans
Add pictures, colours or simple words
Cross off each day so your child sees time passing
Let your child help update it

Calendars are especially helpful for neurodivergent children or gestalt language processors who benefit from strong visual systems and clear language.

2. Support Your Child Through School Holiday Routine Changes

School holidays often mean big shifts in structure. Days may feel longer, busier or more unplanned.

Simple tips that help

Create a holiday routine with regular wake-up times, meal times and “quiet time”
Use a holiday calendar so your child knows what’s happening each day
Offer choices (“Do you want playground time before or after lunch?”)
Pack a ‘just-in-case’ kit for outings (snacks, headphones, comfort items)
Talk about what the day will look like, step-by-step
Use first–then language (“First lunch, then swimming”)
Practice calming strategies before your child gets overwhelmed

Calming ideas to teach ahead of time

Deep belly breaths
Sensory input (hugs, pressure, squeezing a soft toy)
Slow walking, sitting in a quiet space
Naming feelings: “It looks like you feel unsure about today. I’m here with you.”

3. Help Your Child Prepare for Big Changes in Term 4

Term 4 is a time of preparation. Children begin thinking about:

A new classroom
A new year level
A new teacher
New friends
Sometimes a new school

These changes can feel huge. Preparing early will help your child feel safe, excited and confident.

Practical ideas for Term 4

Use role-play with dolls or figures to act out “next year”
Visit or look at photos of the new school or classroom
Read school-themed books about moving up a grade
Talk about feelings (“What are you excited about? What feels tricky?”)
Build simple rituals, like:
- A countdown on the calendar
- Packing a pretend school bag
- Practicing the morning routine
Make space for goodbyes to teachers and routines from this year

Every child handles change differently—some need time to explore the new space, others need time to say goodbye to the old one.

4. Use Play, Routines and Connection to Build Confidence

Children learn and process big ideas through play.

Try these playful ways to prepare:

Pack and unpack a pretend school bag
Practice “walking to class” with step stones at home
Act out greeting a new teacher
Use drawing to explore “next year”
Play “first–then” games (“First puzzle, then snack”)

Daily routines build confidence too:

Morning routine chart
Bedtime routine chart
Getting-ready checklist
To-do / done board
Visual steps for packing school bags or lunch

These routines practise planning, organisation and independence in a calm way.

5. What to Do When Things Feel Hard

Even with preparation, emotions can still feel big.
That’s okay.

You can help by:

Staying close and calm
Naming the feeling (“You’re unsure about the new classroom”)
Keeping language simple and predictable
Offering choices
Giving time and space to process
Returning to the visual plan

Children settle best when they feel connected and supported.

Quick Checklist for Parents & Carers

During school holidays and term transitions:

Make a simple visual calendar
Talk about upcoming changes
Use first–then language
Practice calming strategies
Use play to explore new routines
Visit or look at photos of new places
Ask open-ended questions
Use a sensory kit for outings
Build predictable daily routines
Support goodbyes and new beginnings

Change doesn’t have to feel scary. With calendars, visual supports, routines and connection, children learn to understand what’s coming and feel safe in the process.

Families feel calmer.
Children feel confident.
And big changes suddenly feel a little smaller.

If you’d like printable visuals (calendars, routines, checklists), or support preparing your child for 2026 transitions, Cooee can help.

Written by Speech Pathologist, Elizabeth Hall. November, 2025