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The New School Blues
Help Your Child Adjust to a
New School
New School
By Shel Franco
Keep the lines of communication open. Even if your child is an extrovert, he or she still might have reservations about this move. Ask if they are bothered. Ask if you can help. Let them know you will do whatever it takes to make them comfortable in their new school.
Linden suggests that parents and children take a school tour before the start of classes. This way, the child can see the classrooms and maybe even meet their teacher. The key to good preparation is to eliminate or reduce the surprises.
Your help isn't the only assistance that your child can expect. More than likely, the school will work with you to ensure a smooth transition. "I usually meet with new kids after a week or so and see how they're doing," Linden says. "That way, they know what they have to deal with and who they are dealing with, if there are any problems."
Despite your best intentions to eliminate the surprises, you can't know what your child's classmates are like until he or she begins classes. This is where the school can help. Linden points out that some kids develop a hard exterior in order to prevent others from being mean to them. "This kind of kid will probably be identified early on by the teacher, and hopefully, the teacher or counselor would be able to intervene before it gets out of hand," she says. "Parents just need to give their kids those extra tools, like having respect and being kind."