How do I explain to him all the new changes?

Mason will be 3 the end of the month. I will be leaving my job to be a SAHM. I want to concentrate on my boys.

Here's what's ahead...
- Mason's EI will end so he will no longer see his Speech and OT THerapists
- His last day of daycare that he loves will be the end of the month
- he will be starting in a new school and going on a bus for the first time ever

I know it's all for the best, but still sad. The daycare teachers love the boys. They get sad knowing they will no longer see them.

Everyone keeps asking if I told him yet.
No, I haven't. He's not 3 yet and he has some receptive delays.
How do I tell him he will no longer be going to the school he knows and will suddenly go on a bus to a new school with new kids and teachers?
There's no orientation or anything. It's going to seem like a regular class, but he'll get the extra help he needs everyday.
I'm excited and nervous all together.
Any advise?

Re: How do I explain to him all the new changes?

My son is 5 and we do a lot of social stories with him, and he seems to pick it up.

Re: How do I explain to him all the new changes?

I had to quit my job as well to be home with the kids. I personally would make a trip to the school with ds, walk the hallways or just get him to see what the outside of the school looks like. Maybe ask the school/teacher if they can do a quick meet and greet with ds. I know they did this for us. I also drove behind the bus (lol) for the first couple of days and got to see how he reacted getting off. He cried initially getting on the bus (which made me cry) but when he got off he was okay and that made me more relaxed. It took approx. 1-2 weeks for him to like the bus and know that he was going somewhere to do fun things. I would just try as much visual stuff as possible with him to explain. Good luck

Re: How do I explain to him all the new changes?

I would tackle each thing as it happens. If he is leaving his therapists first, I would let him know he's not going to see them after such and such time. If he will have new therapists, tell him he's going to work with them soon. If you can take him to the new school, even briefly, and let him meet his teacher and therapists, that would be great. We didn't get to do this with my son--he saw the school, but they chose his teacher and therapists right around the end of the school year, so he didn't get to meet anyone.

The bus went better than I expected. He knew about buses since the school bus stops in front of our house. I told him he was going to a very good school for big boys and girls, and now that he was going to school, he would take a bus. We talked about it a lot, I showed him where the bus would stop for him, etc.

Re: How do I explain to him all the new changes?

I think as adults we dislike change a lot more than kids. I actually think kids thrive off of it.

I totally understand your discomfort, but I think your little guy is going to do great. He is used to "school' so changing the teachers/location/classmates may take some getting used to but trust me by the third day he probably will be more excited then nervous (new activities/toys etc)

And if he doesn't do well....nothing is permanent,...he can leave and you can find other ways that will help him progress.

Re: How do I explain to him all the new changes?

Thanks all for the advise!!!



I know he'll be fine and love new toys and activities. I just know I'll miss his old teachers. I'm sure he will too and learn to love his new school just as much.

Re: How do I explain to him all the new changes?

I just wanted to add, my son does not do well with change overall. It's hard for him to make transitions, he really can't stand it when I change my hair even slightly! But he did okay, really better than I expected. It wasn't always easy for him, but he transitioned.

He still remembers his old therapists, but he likes his new ones too.

We did talk to him a lot about what was coming so he could get prepared--I think that did help.