Comforting Children During Big Changes with Author Melissa T. Shultz

In this episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Adina Oberman converses with Melissa T. Shultz, discussing her latest children's book, "What Will I Do if I Miss You." Melissa shares intimate details about the inspiration behind the book arising from a heartfelt moment with her son, Alex, and how it serves as a valuable tool for empowering children during transitions such as starting school. They further explore strategies on introducing this comforting technique to children and how it aids in managing concerns related to separation from parents. Both the guest and the host emphasize the importance of parent-child communication in helping children adapt confidently to new experiences.

Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Introduction to the podcast and hosting guest Melissa T. Shultz. 00:01:26: Melissa expresses her delight in joining the podcast. 00:01:28: Discussion on how Melissa’s book "What will I do if I Miss You" is relevant to families preparing for school. 00:01:46: Melissa explains the true story and inspiration behind her book, involving her son Alex’s feelings about starting school. 00:02:50: The concept of feeling connected through a heart-beating technique is introduced as a comforting tool. 00:03:08: Adina praises the book scene that resonates with parents experiencing separation from their children. 00:04:04: Conversation continues on how Melissa invented the method of using heartbeats to connect with her son. 00:05:01: Melissa reflects on parenting and the shared strategy between parents for new experiences. 00:05:58: Adina appreciates Melissa's approach and relates it to preschool teaching experiences. 00:06:46: Adina shares a personal experience with teaching transition strategies to children. 00:08:06: Highlighting the role of the book as a recurring tool for varying life transitions in children. 00:09:05: Melissa shares how communication with teachers can be helpful to support the child's transition. 00:09:50: Emphasizing the importance of normalizing and verbalizing worries to children. 00:10:46: The practice of reminding children about their parents’ presence during challenging transitions is discussed. 00:11:54: The story about Alex's adaptation to school using the signal technique is shared. 00:12:30: Adina highlights the value of special jobs and visits to classrooms to ease children into new environments. 00:14:07: Introductory moments for discussing new experiences and transitions with children are suggested. 00:15:14: Melissa shares tips to introduce comforting methods to children in a relaxed space. 00:18:02: Melissa discusses holding meaningful late-night conversations with her sons. 00:19:28: Melissa provides information on where listeners can find her work online. 00:19:59: Concluding the podcast with thanks and an invitation to join future book adventures with Familius.

Key Takeaways

• Using simple, comforting techniques like feeling a heartbeat can ease children’s worries during transitions such as starting school.
• Communication with educators about your child’s strategies can beneficially support their adaptation process.
• Creating safe, calming spaces for children to express their feelings can strengthen parent-child relationships.
• Emphasizing clear communication and acknowledgment of children's emotions can empower them in challenging situations.

Shareable Quotes

• "Even if Alex had not said anything to me about being worried, I think you don't know what your child's going to feel like when they approach the school." - Melissa T. Shultz
• "I remember saying to Alex, 'I felt you, I got your signal, did you get my signal back?' And so it was kind of playing along with that." - Melissa T. Shultz
• "The book serves as a valuable tool for empowering children during transitions such as beginning schoo