Managing family change

30 mins

This activity uses the picture book Changes by Anthony Browne (or an alternative text) as the starting point to reinforce the changes that occur in families.

1. Set the scene: Highlight to students that we were all babies once, but have grown and developed and can now do things that we couldn't do when we were younger.
2. Use a shared reading strategy to guide this activity. Provide students with a short period of time to preview the book Changes silently as a group.
3. Ask students to share their predictions of the main ideas with a partner. Select a few students to share their predictions. Ask:
   • What do you think the story will be about?
   • How do you know and why do you think this?
   • Can you think of any good changes that have happened in your family? (Introduction of a pet or new sibling, a marriage or new relationship with parents and older siblings)
   • How have you felt when these changes have happened?
   • Can you think of any not so good changes that have happened in your family? (An argument, loss of a pet or loved one, a separation or relationship breakdown)
   • How have you felt when these changes have happened?
4. Read the story to the class. The following focus questions may be used as a prompt to assist students to think about the story:
   • What are some of the differences we notice between babies, toddlers, young people, teenagers or adults like our parents? (size, independence, thinking, what they can do, how they speak)
   • Where do we get this information about what babies can do and what children your age can do? (our own families; friend's families; watching families on TV, in ads, in magazines; at the movies)
   • Do we sometimes see children your age on TV or in ads or in movies doing physical things that you can't do? What things? (e.g. super powers) Can you believe these things you see in the media all the time?
5. In the context of the story Changes, discuss the needs of a baby and how he/she can impact on other family members. If another text is chosen, discuss the family changes that occur during the story and how this impacts other family members.
6. Babies' needs might include food (milk that sometimes comes from mothers' breastfeeding, sometimes from a bottle), play and someone looking out for them (they can't be left alone or unsupervised, etc).
7. Incorporate ideas about how their own needs, as well as those of others, may also change, causing a shift in the dynamics of the family (e.g. the attention they once had from their parents may have shifted to the baby or person in need; they may be expected to be more independent and self-manage certain tasks). Ask:
   • How has this made them feel?
   • What physical things can babies do?
   • What physical things can toddlers do?
   • What physical things can you do now?
   • What games could you play with babies?
   • What games can you play now?
8. Discuss how older children can modify their behaviour and habits around the home to support the family in adapting to the baby's arrival. (Helping parents with household jobs and baby routines, looking after or caring for younger siblings, keeping spaces tidy and clean).

15 min

Students explore and identify activities they are able to do independently to support family change.

1. Have students work together in small groups or pairs to compile a list of tasks they have been able to do and manage themselves as they grow older and become more independent.
   • This could include self-management related tasks such as: packing their own school bag, putting their clean or dirty clothes away, preparing themselves for bed, brushing their teeth, organising their uniform or equipment for sports practice.
2. Have students select a scribe to write down a word to describe, or draw a picture of, each task on strips of paper or post-it notes.
3. Create a pin-up board, poster or use blu-tack to display the words somewhere in the classroom for students to share.