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Have you recently moved to a new area? Moving can be exciting and the chance for a fresh start. But if your child is the new kid at school, it may be a time of stress and uncertainty for them. There is no quick fix for their situation. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to help your child adjust.
I’m Altana school assembly performer Ken Scott. For the last 30 years, I’ve delivered my fun and amazing school assemblies to schools just like yours in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. I write articles each month to help busy parents and teachers deal with the challenges of raising and educating children.
People of all ages feel most comfortable with familiar surroundings. Being thrust into an entirely new school environment is disorienting. Your child must figure out every detail, from the location of their classroom to where to sit, and an endless list of other details.
At the top of that list is the social aspect of school. They no longer have their friends. And making new friends in a new environment can be intimidating. During all of this, your child is experiencing a lot of stress. Don’t be surprised if they become moody or lash out at home.
Try the following strategies to help your child.
As a parent, you obviously want to help your child. One way to do that is to get involved. The PTA allows you to interact with other parents. It also helps you learn about the school’s culture and norms.
Best of all, you get to interact with other parents. Chances are your child is not the only new kid in school. Pair up with other parents. Find out how they helped their kids adjust to the big move.
And you may just make some friends, too. After all, you’re new to the area too!
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But constant communication with your child is important. It helps you stay on top of what is happening in your child’s life. As your child gets older, they may be reluctant to share every detail of their life with you. That’s normal…you know, the whole teen thing.
Letting your child know you are always there lets them know they are not alone. And sometimes, knowing that you have their back can give them the strength they need to push through this difficult time in their life.
Part of communicating with your child is letting them feel what they feel. Validate your child’s feelings. You might think you’re helping your child by constantly telling them, “It’s not scary at all! Your new school is going to be awesome!”
You might think you’re helping your child by encouraging them. But in this case, you’re effectively shutting down their feelings. They may interpret your good intentions with the realization that what they are feeling is wrong. Or that you don’t think their feelings are valid.
That’s definitely not the message you want to send. If your child says they are afraid, acknowledge it and support them emotionally. On the flip side, if your child is afraid but trying to put on a brave face, gently remind them that it’s okay and natural to be nervous.
Are you moving to your new area before the school year begins? If so, you have a great opportunity. You can arrange a visit to the school with the teacher or principal. Ask for a guided tour. Let your child see the classrooms, gym, bathrooms, cafeteria, and any other areas they’ll need to frequent.
Part of the challenge of a child being in a new school is finding their way from one location to another. Giving your child the chance to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings before the building is flooded with unfamiliar kids can be very helpful.
Want to give every child in your school a boost? My “The Magic in You” school assembly is the perfect bonding experience for elementary school children. With messages of self-esteem wrapped in fun magic and join-in fun, it’s the perfect way to kick-start a character education campaign in your school. Contact me today to get more information.