By Stacy DeBroff 

Switching schools can be a difficult and stressful time for any child.  Whether your child is moving from elementary to middle school or switching to a school in a new town because of a family move, you can help make sure your child feels comfortable in a new school environment.

Ask your child’s old teacher and his new teacher to talk so the new teacher can get a better idea about your child’s current curriculum and development. Find out about having a buddy assigned to your child to help him learn his way around the school.

If you can’t request a specific teacher in your school, you can get around this by writing a letter to the principal discussing your child’s strengths and weaknesses to take into account when making class placement decisions and crafting this design to fit a specific teacher you hope for him to get the upcoming year.

Gently remind your child you consider school his “work,” and as such very important. Emphasize that being considerate of classmates, listening to and cooperating with his teachers, and making his best efforts are things that go into doing his job well.

Read and look at picture books about school. Find ones that deal positively with feelings a child might have about being separated from you or playing with other children.

Create fun rituals that make going back to school an experience he looks forward to with anticipation. Turn buying a new backpack, lunchbox and shoes into an adventure.

Explain the upcoming school routine in detail. Go over your child’s schedule, including the times by which he’ll need to wake up, eat breakfast, and be ready to leave the house. Have a couple practice runs beforehand.

Take a tour before your child starts a new school, preferably when school is still in session. Look at the classroom he will likely be in, the bathrooms, playground, and activity rooms for music, art, and physical education. When you visit, focus on an activity, game, or toy that your child does not have at home, such as tempura paints or a sandbox, and make that the particular thing for him to look forward to on the first day.

Get your child to open up about his expectations for school. Ask him if he feels excited, anxious, or a little bit of both. Talk with him about specific worries he has for the upcoming year.

Bolster his sense of control by helping him pick out his first day clothes, prepare his lunch and pack his schoolbag the night before.
 
Give your child a family photo to carry with him in school. Like a security blanket, a small photo will remind him that you’re always there to support him.

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