Transitioning from Different Schools

Making a move with your family to a different area will mean your children will have to adapt to a different lifestyle. It also means adapting to a new school. Most children will cope well with the change but it can still be daunting. Involving your child in the move, such as picking out school supplies, and being positive are just two ways you can make the move easier on everyone. Here are some other tips to help you and your child with the transition to a new school.

Involve your child

Involving your child in the moving process will help them see the positive side of the situation. There are ways you can make the change easier, such as:

• Talking about the move with your child. Ask them how they feel and focus on the positives;
• As a parent, you need to be enthusiastic about the move. Negativity will wear off on the child;
• Visit the new school with your child if possible. Let them have a look around, at the class they will be in and at all the fun things, such as playgrounds and school oval;
• Make lists. Your child can write down the things they are looking forward to and the aspects of the move that worry them. That way you can address the issues they are both excited and worried about;
• A new school will mean a school uniform. Let them try it on before attending school for the first time so they can see how it looks.
• Different schools could also have different needs when it comes to such things as school books and stationary. Let your child be involved in selecting what they need so they can feel part of the decision-making process.

Helping your child settle in

It is important that you don’t just say goodbye at the classroom door and hope for the best. You will need to make sure that your child is settling in well, making new friends and working well in class. You can do this by:

• Talking to the principal. They will be able to inform you of everything that you need to know, from behaviour management to sports carnivals. Principals also like to be able to recognise “faces” – that means that if you are on a first-name basis with the principal then any concerns or issues can be brought up in a more informal manner.

• Talking to the teacher. It is important that you speak to your child’s teacher and inform them of their abilities, any problems they may have or concerns. Conversely, the teacher can let you know about everything from classroom routine to the curriculum.

• Organise a review. Meet with the teacher a couple of weeks after your child has started at their new school to see how they are progressing or if there are any concerns. Let your teacher know that you can be contacted at any time if there are any concerns.

• Involve yourself in the school. Volunteer to help out in class activities, such as reading or craft, and consider helping in the canteen or the P&C.