My daughter recently started a new school year, and it was a reminder that change is hard for everyone, no matter what our age and whether the change is a good one or not. Here are a few ideas to help make changes (no matter the size) just a little bit easier.

1. Breath prayers

I was first introduced to these through teaching children’s Sunday school classes with the Shine curriculum — though I have been seeing this idea in many places recently. The idea here is that our very breath becomes a prayer. Both the time spent with God is a benefit as well as the act of attending to our breath. To pray breath prayers, you choose a name/phrase for God (such as Holy One, Loving God, God of Peace, etc.) and a short phrase of request (such as “Bring me peace,” “Calm my spirit,” “Give me strength,” etc.). Then each time you slowly breathe in, you think of your name/address of God (such as God of Peace), and as you breathe out you think of your request (“Calm my spirit”).  In this way, as you pay attention to your slow inhales and exhales, you are praying, “God of Peace, calm my spirit”).

2. Read books together

Here’s one for kids facing transitions. Read a book together about kids having new experiences and talk about them. Seeing someone else go through what you are is a great way to explore feelings, see how someone else handles it and gain confidence that it will be OK. Here are a few of my favorites about transitions this time of year.

• Little Mole Goes to School by Glenys Nellist
• Danica Panica and the First Day of School by Kevin Miller
• It’s Going to be Okay by Lysa TerKeurst

3. The power of music

Don’t underestimate music’s ability to calm the body and mind, shifting you out of a state of stress. Try some of these great songs and albums to relieve stress and praise God at the same time.

• Your Hands by JJ Heller
• Hymns from Voices Together (available as both physical CDs and digital downloads). Many of these songs can also be found on YouTube.
• Scripture songs from The Soil and The Seed Project (also check out their website and their newest collection of Psalms songs)

4. Get moving

According to the Mayo Clinic, doing physical activity can pump up your endorphins, cut down on the negative effects of stress and improve your mood. Read more at the link in this section. I know this is the idea that is at the bottom of my list because it feels like it takes too much time — but the benefits are huge!

5. Talk it out