12 Things You Can Do To Help Your Kids Adjust To A
New School
Moving to a new place can be stressful, more so for the kids who have to leave their old school and friends behind. For a child, getting used to a new school, new teachers, new routines and schedules can be traumatic. Each child copes with change differently. Some rebel, some handle it stoically and some simply refuse to move. Here are 12 different ways you can help your child cope with a new school.
1. Don’t Sound Over-Eager About The School
Kids are contrary in nature; if you sound too positive about something, they’re bound to hate it. So don’t be too eager about the new school. Let your child discover the joys for himself or herself.
2. Don’t Try To Assure The Child Everything’s Going To Be OK
Children become wary when parents try to tell them that everything’s going to be ok, the new school will be fine, and everyone’s going to be friends and so on. The reality is, it takes quite some time for your kid to get adjusted. Don’t hype it up with too many reassurances.
3. Involve Your Kids In The Move
Don’t presume your kids are too young to bother them with details. Let them get involved in the move and the new school. Make it an exciting family event, a challenge, something new to discover and enjoy. This way, they’ll resent you and the new school less.
4. Take The School Tour
No child is going to be happy to change schools. It’ll help if you attend the orientation session together and take the school tour. Get hold of the school layout map and get to know where the rooms, toilets, staff areas, play areas and gym areas are, along with your kid. This will help your kid feel less apprehensive about the move.
5. Point Out Interesting Details
Before moving to the new school, get hold of the previous year’s yearbook, and study the school website. Point out fun facts and laugh with your kids over weird photographs. This will help them feel it’s their school.
6. Try To Get Your Kid To Make Friends
See if you can send your kid off to summer camp with kids from the new school before the school year. Of course, if you’re moving in the middle of the school year, this won’t be possible. Still, you can get your kid into a library group, game or sport clubs where he or she is bound to meet other kids from their new school.
7. Talk To Your Child
Knowing your child’s fears, apprehensions and confusions will help you come up with strategies to address them. This will help you refrain from giving out the ‘everything will be fine’ lecture that usually gets on kids’ nerves.
8. Encourage Your Child Using Past Examples
When your child is apprehensive about joining a new school, remind the child about other firsts in his or her life. Let the child know that you remember how efficiently your child beat other challenges. Let you child know that you think he or she is a winner. This makes all the difference in the world.
9. Be Supportive
The first few weeks after joining the new school will be challenging for both of you. Be patient and supportive, but don’t treat your child with kid gloves. Let them know you expect them to carry out their usual tasks at home.
10. Don’t Bug Your Kid
Importantly, don’t bug your child with questions such as, “Did you make any friends today?”, or “Do you like your teachers?”. This will just put pressure on the child to bring the results you want.
11. Don’t Change Your Home Routines
When kids have to adjust to a different school and different city, they want to know that home at least will be the same. Maintain familiar family routines, such as the Sunday roast, Saturday movie time and so on. Sticking to your routines will calm your child down a bit.
12. Don’t Judge Or Compare
Each of your kids will react differently to school. Don’t judge their behavior or compare one kid over the other when it comes to adjusting to the new school. Appreciate the fact that each child is unique and must grow up in their own way.
Marina is SAHM and run online specialty products store like decorative wall clock,nesting doll, etagere and lot more.
