💛 SELLevel 1Lesson 31
← Back🔒 PDF with full access

Coping with Change

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Recognize that change is a normal part of life
  • 2Name feelings that change can bring
  • 3Use the sentence "When things change, I can ___" to choose a healthy coping response
📘

Mini Lesson

Life is always moving and shifting — like weather. Sometimes the change is exciting, like starting something new. Sometimes it feels scary or sad, like leaving something you love. Both are completely normal.

What kinds of changes happen?

  • Big changes: moving to a new home, starting a new club, a new baby in the family.
  • Smaller changes: a different routine, a new babysitter, a plan that gets canceled.
  • Both big and small changes can make us feel wobbly inside — and that is okay.

Feelings change can bring

  • Worried, scared, or unsure — because the new thing is unknown.
  • Excited or curious — because something new might be wonderful.
  • Sad — because you miss the way things were before.
  • All of these feelings are valid. You can feel more than one at the same time.

Healthy ways to cope with change

  • Take a breath and remind yourself: "I have handled new things before."
  • Talk to a trusted adult about what worries you — they can help you understand the change.
  • Look for what stays the same — some things in your life will not change at all.
  • Give it time — new things often feel better once you get used to them.
  • Be curious — ask yourself what good things might come from this change.
Types of change and the feelings they can bringTwo rows of cards. Top row shows big changes: new home, new club. Bottom row shows smaller changes: different routine, canceled plan. Each card has a face showing a feeling the change can bring.Changes Big and SmallBIG changenew homefeels worriednew clubfeels excitedsmall change?different routinefeels unsureplan canceledfeels sad
Big changes (new home, new club) and small changes (different routine, canceled plan) each bring their own feelings — all of which are normal.
Five strategies for coping with change arranged around a central anchorAn anchor shape in the center labeled Stay Steady. Five strategy chips radiate outward: take a breath, talk to someone, find what stays the same, give it time, be curious.When Things Change, I Can...stay steadytake a breathtalk to someonebe curiousfind what stays samegive it time
Five strategies for staying steady through change — take a breath, talk to someone, find what stays the same, give it time, and be curious.
💡

Ask yourself: "When things change, what is one healthy thing I can do to feel steady?

Vocabulary
Change
When something is different from beforee.g. Moving to a new home is a big change.
Cope
To handle a hard feeling in a healthy waye.g. I cope with change by talking about it.
Adjust
To get used to something newe.g. I adjust to my new bedroom.
Routine
The order of things you usually do each daye.g. My routine changed when lessons started.
Curious
Eager to learn about something newe.g. I am curious about my new neighbor.
Free · 7 days · No credit card

Unlock the full HSEA system for 7 days.

Add your first kid profile and your 7 days start: every lesson in every grade, saved progress for each child. Nothing to set up, no card required, nothing to cancel.

  • ✓ All 1,680 lessons, Grades 1–6, every subject
  • ✓ Profiles + saved progress for every kid
  • ✓ Printable lessons with answer key
Start your 7-day free trial →
Already convinced? See full membership plans →
← Lesson 30: Handling DisappointmentLesson 32: Feeling Proud of Progress →