Changing Schools: How to Make It Easier for Your Kid?

Children do change schools, it’s nothing surprising. Neither it is surprising that a lot of kids don’t take to the change gladly, or even resent it quite strongly. Naturally, in this case both you and your schoolchild ought to be well prepared for what is forthcoming.

One of the main things is to have your child involved in the process; make him or her take part (not one equal to that of their parents, of course) in choosing, if the choice is not obvious, and discussing the merits of the new place. Make the child feel excitement and probably anticipation of the change. The realization that their opinions are listened to makes them happy.

Can changing schools produce a strong impression?

Kids are often believed to be highly adaptable, but it isn’t always so – do not rely on it, there are quite a few kids who don’t take changes lightly.

Same as we grown-ups, children can be scared by what seems to them an epochal change in their lives. It looms large and probably menacing. They won’t say so, but they need to know that parents trust and support them. It will inspire them to take on the challenge.

If the child is young, he or she may be overcome with emotions, mostly negative ones – fear in the face of what’s coming, unwillingness to sever ties with their pals, saying good-bye to stability and regulated lifestyle.

All these are difficult issues for adults and even more so for those who are not mature enough for coping with them. That makes children’s behavior unpredictable, and there is no telling whether the change would be really for better and not for worse.

If children walk away from a wealth of positive emotions, their reaction can be stronger, and at a later stage it may be aggravated or assuaged by what happens in the new situation. The sooner the child adapts and finds new friends, the easier the situation will come off.

Here are some pieces of advice to help parents along on such occasions.

Keep up a positive attitude

It will be your positive thinking that can support schoolchildren and assist in working out a positive attitude in your kids. Once you start to show your deep concern in a negative or over-excited way, the child is sure to catch the vibes. Voicing fears and misgivings is all right, it’s worth discussing, if the overall attitude remains positive and the expectations run for a good coming year. See if it comes in handy to tell that it is an experience that many children have.

The kids should be aware of your support throughout

Nothing is more reassuring to a child, especially a younger child, than knowing that you’re going to be with them every step of the way. No, you’re not going to sit with them in class, but you’ll be there for them before school, after school and will even be available during school, if needed.

Your child does need you, you know, and your reassurance that you are there for them

To provide more support and help adapt, you could volunteer to help in your child’s classroom, so that he or she won’t be feeling lonely in the new school. With an older kid, you can assist in choosing classes. See to it that you communicate on a daily basis, and you are available in case the kid wants to share his or her opinions or discuss some issues realted to the new class.

Encourage the child to participate in school activities

A sound way to ease up the adjustment of your child to a new place is to get them participating in various school and class activities. No force should be applied to that effect, but let the kid understand that getting involved shortens considerably their outsider phase and helps them make friends thereby paving their way to the new community. Schoolchildren who join activities, clubs and games build bonds and show higher academic results. There’s nothing like extracurricular activities to found connections and become a full-fledged part of the class community.

Ensure sufficient sleep

You know it well, and it has been scientifically proved, that adaptation is linked with general health which, in turn, depends on a sufficient amount of sleep. It’s essential for your kid to get enough quality sleep before starting school, and more so if your child is facing relocation. To make sure things will go right, it’s advisable to start the kid on the school-time sleep about a month before school is due. This means they won’t have to adapt to a new sleep routine and to a new school schedule simultaneously.

Make advance steps for better acquaintance

You don’t have to wait until the school officially starts – there’s nothing to stop you to get acquainted with what you can in advance. Don’t let the new impressions come down on the child at once like a ton of bricks. Take the kid to see the school and take a walk around. If they are going to walk to the building, let them learn the route beforehand. If it will be a bus, let them get to know the walk to the stop and mount the bus at least once. Are there friends who are going to accompany your dear child to school? Ask them to join you on the trial date. Go into the school, find the classroom, check it out, meet the teacher, engage them in a conversation, let them get to know your kid better. Walk back to the pickup stop and see whether the child can identify the right bus. If you go through the motions, it will make the new school a familiar place which doesn’t incite fears.

See that your child is completely prepared

Schools are supposed to have the parents informed about the things schoolchildren will need for studies. If a child comes to school unprepared he or she may feel out of place, and open to jokes and sly digs. Young children can be especially sensitive to this kind of maltreatment and they will be feeling bad all day long due to lack of supplies.

Lunch is another thing that requires proper handling. You want your kid to take lunch at school? Inquire how much money they will need to pay for it. If, on the other hand, you want them to have their own lunch box, see to it that their lunch is ready the previous evening or first time in the morning.

Take measures to avoid morning fuss

When you wake up on the first school day unprepared, you will soon find yourself rushed off your feet (even if you have one schoolkid and not more!). So you have to put in as much preparation as you can before you go to bed at night. See to it that the school stuff is safe in the backpack, the lunch is ready, the clothes are pressed and laid out, and the kid knows how to get to school and where to go once they’re in. This way you will avoid a lot of unnecessary worry for the child.

Take healthy meals

If you haven’t paid attention to your family‘s eating habits before, it is time to do so now. School-age children can get lots of benefits from eating healthy – leave goodies to be a special treat for special occasions, and stick to harmless stuff. Morning meals should also be as healthy as possible. Never allow the kid to leave without breakfast because they need to be energized properly for working in the lessons.

Accompany your kid to school the first time

So you have made arrangements for your child to know their way to school, around school, and have introduced them to the teacher. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to accompany them to school on the first day, and the younger the kid is the more he or she will enjoy your doing it.

You know your child, and by this time you can make an intelligent guess about how they will react to the change. Maintain the positive attitude, be upright, understanding, and consistent.

But the main thing you are going to need is patience. Be prepared that adjustment might take more time than you expected. It requires a passing of time for kids to fit in and feel comfortable in their new surroundings.