A major change of
environment can be tough on everyone, but children can be particularly
sensitive to an upheaval like starting a new school. Whether it is because
you’ve moved to a new town for a job, decided to pack up city life and move to
the country, or your child wasn’t happy in a previous school. If you’re
concerned they may find the change tricky and want to ensure the move goes as
smoothly as possible, read on for some tips.
Pay a visit the school
The school will be
just as willing to help out as you and should be quite well-rehearsed in aiding
the ‘new kid’ to fit in as quickly as possible. They will most likely offer you
and your child a tour of the school and allow you both to ask any questions you
may have. The unknown is always daunting, so getting familiar with the space
and having some friendly faces when the big day comes will make a big
difference.
Make sure they have a special partner
It’s common for
schools to have some kind of buddy scheme for new pupils, but it’s best to
enquire and ensure they do just in case. The last thing a child needs on their
first day is to be left without anyone to sit next to at lunch or partners
during class tasks and making friends can take time, so an assigned ‘buddy’ can
be really reassuring.
Encourage them to join clubs and groups
Most children will
benefit from joining one or two clubs, whether they’re sports teams or hobby
groups. They provide an opportunity to meet a wider range of students, more
members of staff and build further attachment to their new school. If your
child is a little on the shy side, they may find it easier to come out of their
shells when taking part in an activity they particularly enjoy.
Help organise ‘get togethers’
Encourage your child
to invite new friends back to your home or plan activities together and be
willing to aid the process of cementing their friendships. Try not to come
across overly forceful of the idea, instead simply making them aware that you
are happy to welcome their new friends over for an afterschool snack and hang
out.
Be sensitive about old friends
We may just expect
young children to move on and it is likely that they won’t have too much
trouble making new friends, but it’s important not to dismiss friends from
other schools or places. A child’s world is small and a strong friendship may loom largerthan you’d think, so
allow them and encourage them to keep in contact with old friends. You never
know who will be a lifelong pal.
Be in it together
The main person
tackling a challenge in this situation is of course your child, but as a parent
you’ll also be making adjustments to a new routine and social circle. Set a
good example with a positive attitude and let them know you’re all in a similar
boat.
There’s a lot to think
about when you make the decision to move your family to a new area and a new home, like these new builds in Essex. But, it can be a
great change and bring the family closer together, so make sure you’ve read up
on all the ways to make the move as enjoyable as it can be.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.