We are right around the corner for a lot of things. One of those things is the most popular time for changing schools.
Typically many school changes happen when people move over the summer. We know that moving gets much more complicated as the child gets older because they get more attached to their school base and activities. It is much easier to move a preschooler than a high schooler. You will have lots of complaints from the high schooler unless they just don’t like their school!
There are some things you can do to help with the transition of changing schools. This is true whether you have a child with special needs, or not. During my school years, I moved 17 times. That was hard for me, and I had to work harder to learn to navigate socially and become a little more aggressive about making friends. Whoever you are, the transition can be difficult.
1. Have your child’s current teachers help.
I highly recommend that your child’s current teachers help with the transition to the next school, no matter whether the transition is in your local area or out of state.
2. Tour the campus.
Bring your child to look at the school before they start going there. If there is an opportunity to meet the teachers, maybe as they’re setting up the classroom before school starts, make sure you do that. Familiarity with a face and an environment helps a tremendous amount in the process of getting ready to go to a new place.
3. Make a photo transition.
Some families have made photo albums. They brought photos from their previous school, and then they created a new photo album in the new environment.
4. Get involved with the community.
If you do move to a new place before school starts, don’t wait to get involved in social activities in that new community. Chances are if you’re going to church, or are involved in some kind of athletics or club, your kids are going to meet kids they’ll be in school with.
5. Take the time to listen.
Take a lot of time to discuss and hear out your child’s concerns. They will tell you what is going to bother them, and those are the areas you want to make sure you’re being proactive in addressing.
Please let us know if you have any questions!
