Is Your Child Struggling With Change?
Change is just part of life, but for young children, it can feel confusing, scary, and way bigger than we realise. Kids depend so much on routines, predictability, and the grown-ups they trust to feel safe and secure. So when something shifts like a new schedule, a new environment, or a big life change, it can shake that sense of safety for them. From a child psychology point of view, this reaction is completely normal, even if it feels worrying as a parent.
Adults can usually tell someone when they’re feeling stressed, but kids don’t always have the words for it yet. Instead, their stress often shows up in their behaviour, big emotions, or even physical complaints like tummy aches or headaches.
This article is here to offer practical, easy-to-follow support for parents of children aged 10 years and under, using trusted ideas from child psychology and child psychiatry.
Why Change Can Be Difficult for Young Children
Young kids are still figuring out how to handle big feelings and how to calm themselves down. What feels like a small or manageable change to an adult can actually feel huge and overwhelming to a child, especially if a few changes happen all at once.
Some kids are just naturally more sensitive, while others may be having a harder time because of past experiences, stress at home, or not yet having the words to explain how they feel. In child psychology, we see these reactions as a child’s way of saying, “I need a little extra support, reassurance, and consistency right now.”
Common Life Changes That Can Affect Children
Children might find the following changes stressful:
Birth of a new baby
Parental separation or divorce
Death or loss of a loved one
Moving house or changing bedrooms
A new partner joining the family
Starting daycare, preschool, or school
Changing schools
Illness or hospitalisation
Reduced parental availability due to mental health concerns, financial stress, or work demands.
Even positive changes can challenge a child’s sense of predictability.
Signs Your Child May Be Struggling With Change
Children often show emotional distress through their behaviour rather than words. You might notice some of the following:
Behavioural Changes
Increased tantrums or emotional outbursts (“meltdowns”)
Refusing instructions or becoming oppositional
Attention-seeking behaviour
Regression
Wanting a dummy, bottle, or reverting to baby talk again
Daytime or nighttime wetting
Wanting to sleep with parents
Emotional and Physical Signs
Anxiety, extra clinginess, or withdrawal
Difficulty separating from parents
Anger or aggression
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Nightmares
Complaints of tummy aches or headaches
These responses are common and usually temporary when children are supported appropriately.
How Parents Can Support Children Through Change
Some strategies used to help children feel safe and emotionally supported:
Encourage questions and conversations about feelings
Prepare children ahead of time for upcoming changes
Keep explanations simple and honest, without overwhelming detail
Use books, stories, and play to help children understand change
Encourage drawing or creative play to express emotions
Maintain routines, particularly around meals, school, and bedtime
Avoid introducing multiple major changes at once
Spend regular one-on-one time together, even briefly
Keep teachers, childcare staff, and grandparents informed so they can provide extra support
If moving house or changing rooms, showing photos beforehand can help reduce anxiety.
When to Seek Help From a Child Psychologist or Child Psychiatrist
Most children adjust to change with time and support. However, it may be helpful to seek professional guidance if your child’s reactions are:
Severe or escalating
Lasting longer than a few weeks
Affecting sleep, learning, or relationships
A child psychologist can assess your child’s needs and provide tailored support.
At Lakeside Rooms Gold Coast, our experienced child psychologists support families whose children are struggling with emotional or behavioural responses to change.
Final Thoughts
Lakeside Rooms is a long-established psychology practice on the Gold Coast, Queensland, offering professional consulting rooms and access to experienced clinicians in child psychology and child psychiatry.
Parents can feel confident seeking support in a calm, professional environment focused on evidence-based care and child well-being.
Lakeside Rooms Psychologists and Psychiatrists are available to help walk this path with you and your family.