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The New School Blues
Help Your Child Adjust to a
New School
New School
By Shel Franco
Most realty offices have personnel designated as "Relocation Specialists." These people are schooled in the intricate process of moving from one city to another. Most have considerable information about neighborhoods and schools. They may even be able to send you an informational package to get the ball rolling.
Once you've ironed out where to live and which school to attend, it's time to prepare your child. "Some kids come to a new school and fit in with no problem," says Lori Linden, a school counselor for the Millcreek Township School District in Erie, Pa. "Then, you have the kids who have that 'shy' nature or maybe even a 'tough guy' exterior, who have problems fitting in due to that personality style. Parents just need to pay attention to their child's personality and what they are like."
If your child has had problems making or keeping friends in the past, or if your child takes a considerable amount of time to warm up to people, there are things you can do to help. "If they know that their child is shy and has difficulty interacting, then they may want to take some extra steps – like role-playing situations – where the child would introduce themselves to peers or ask to play with peers," says Linden. "Don't make the role play perfect, either. It's good to help your child process how they would handle a tough situation, so they get that practice beforehand. Kids can be mean; it's hard to fit into a group when you're new, so the more skills they have going in, the better."