Small Rituals, Big Comfort: Supporting Families Through Change
Transitions are hard.
We all know change is part of life—and parenting is all about helping our kids grow into independence—but that doesn’t make it easy.
At Imagine Cincinnati, we gather outdoors year-round, watching the seasons shift: blooming, ripening, releasing, and resting with nature. Along the way, we watch our children grow, too. We notice who’s finding their words quickly and who’s still waiting. We realize some picky eaters stay picky. We learn what’s “normal” (and what’s not) when it comes to separation anxiety.
These observations spark questions and sometimes a quiet is this just us? That’s why we keep showing up—week after week—to playgroups and community events. We want real people in our lives. People who love us and love our kids.
It was thanks to one of those real people—a fellow parent who invited me for coffee before my oldest started kindergarten—that I stumbled into one of the best tools my family has for navigating transitions.
I was an anxious kid myself, especially about saying goodbye to my mom. I only settled when I trusted another adult—a teacher, a caregiver. So when I imagined that first day of kindergarten, my stomach knotted up.
That coffee conversation reminded me I already knew what could help: comfort, connection, and something to look forward to.
So I grabbed a cardboard box from recycling, made a quick trip to Target’s dollar section, and created our first “back-to-school box.” My son knew that when he got home from school, he’d find one special thing inside—something to eat, something to play with, or something cozy for the afternoon.
The first-day tradition is always a donut. After that, it might be a LEGO idea book from the library, a craft project, a toy we’d tucked away, or a game we hadn’t played in months. Somehow, having it in a box—like a tiny Christmas morning—made the transition easier.
We kept it up for about three weeks, until our new routine felt solid. And then something lovely happened: the idea started to grow.
Now, we use the same concept to welcome new babies into our Imagine Cincinnati community. We make “Big Bro” or “Big Sis” boxes filled with age-appropriate play and regulation tools—matching games, Play-Doh, balloons, bubbles, fidgets, books, and Hot Wheels—wrapped up for big kids only. The gift comes with a celebration of them, not just the new baby, and a promise of one-on-one time with their parent.
This fall, when we say goodbye to a family moving overseas, we’ll do the same—fill a toddler backpack with Cincinnati treasures and a homemade rhyming book to help him remember these early years with his community here.
Kids love hearing the stories: the time they became a big sibling, the way we celebrated their milestones, the photos of when they were small. Even if they don’t remember, these little rituals matter. They feel them for years to come.
And if our collective wisdom can help smooth the bumps for kids—and for parents—even in small ways, then we’ve done our job: to be the village that shows up through the changes.
If you’re in need of some support through the tough stuff, come join us any Thursday or Friday morning and get to know our playgroup rhythms. Our goals for 2026 also include more weekend playgroups for families who can’t join on weekdays - sign up for our mailing list to learn about weekend events now and in the future.
