Help Your Child Adjust to a New School

10 Ways to Help Your Child Adjust to a New School

*article from Education.com 2018

Whether it is the beginning of the school year or a transfer mid-year, students can struggle with acclimating to a new school.  This should be an "exciting time" but instead may be stressful and challenging.  Students and parents may wonder what they can do to make the transition more bearable.  Here are 10 tips that can help!

 Before School Starts

1. Include Your Kids in the Process: Allow your student to attend the school orientation with you and schedule a tour.  Older children might appreciate the chance to walk through their schedule and see where the cafeteria is as well as the gym, bathrooms, school counselor, etc.  Younger students could benefit from meeting with the school counselor and using a buddy to assist them around the campus for the first week.  Knowing where things are can alleviate some of your child's fears.

2. Seek the Positive: Request the school handbook or scour the website for fun facts, photographs and lists of interesting classes, extracurricular activities and sports activities.  Students may miss programs from their old school but if you can find something similar to put them in at the new school, odds are it will help them forget.

3. Future Friends are Everywhere: Friends can be everywhere you look!  Sign your child  up for nearby summer camps and classes, play at the school playground and visit the local library.  Young children may need help meeting new friends but they'll feel less nervous starting a new school if they see familiar faces in the classroom.

4. Brainstorm What the Anxiety is Over: Talk to your child!  Get to the bottom of what is making them most anxious.  Whether your child is nervous about making new friends, losing touch with old ones or finding their way around campus on the first day, chances are they will be comforted to talk it through with you.

5. Other Firsts: Remind your child of the other "firsts" they have experienced in their lives and how well they handled them.  Find opportunities to talk about successes they've experienced and the advantages of taking that first step (like making a new friend or learning a new skill).  This helps build confidence and reminds them that taking risks can pay off.

The First Few Weeks

1. Be Prepared for Stormy Weather: Kids may seem withdrawn, more sensitive, being uncooperative and not doing as well in school.  This will pass as they settle in to a new routine and start making connections.

2. Stick to Your Routine:  If rapid changes have your child upset, knowing what is expected at home can provide soothing  relief.

3. Find Any Excuse to Socialize: Throw a "new in town" party, invite soemone over for a playdate, or ask if your child wants an early birthday party.  Socializing on home turf is often easier for kids and socializing one-on-one can be less intimidating than trying to make friends from already formed groups.

4. Get Invoved With the School: If you're able to volunteer in the classroom or around campus, do it!  You'll get to know the school and will be able to spot cool people for your child to hang out with.  Your student will love seeing you on campus and may be empowered to "put themselves out there" like you are.  Better yet, you may make some friends too!

5. Be patient:  “I would expect most children to have a hard first six weeks or so, although some who adapt and make friends easily may adjust much more quickly,” says Jennifer Shewmaker,Ph.D, Director of School Psychology Training at Abilene Christian University.“If a child was still really struggling, crying and complaining of lack of friends, after six months, that might cause me concern.” In that instance, talk to your child’s teacher and the school counselor – but remind yourself that the odds are he’ll adjust just fine.