Parenting Kids Who Have Just Started High School
One of the biggest transitions in life is moving from elementary to secondary school. High school life is full of fun but it also comes with a fair share of challenges for both students and their parents, especially as you need to check catchment areas for schools in your area whilst helping them through such an important time. How can we help kids get ready for this new journey? Let’s see what to expect during the transition period and how to support our kids.
Students starting secondary education often have mixed feelings:
Anxiety about new routines
Afraid of handling too much workload
Excitement about new teachers and friendships
What Changes?
As parents, we might also be wondering whether our kids have the confidence to handle the transition. The worries are normal whenever we are moving from the known to the unknown. Several things will change when our kids start attending secondary schools.
The Environment
New school campuses require kids to change their commuting routes. They have to figure out the easiest way to get to school on time. This calls for new transport arrangements which can be challenging for young kids in rural setups. Sometimes the students are forced to live with relatives or friends living near the school.
Learning Style
Our children are supposed to adjust to the new assessments and teaching styles. They are expected to cope with detailed subjects that are taught by different teachers. In the process, they have to manage complicated studies on their own and be responsible for their schedules.
Peers
Relationships will start to change when our kids meet new peers in secondary school. Within the peer group, they will try to re-establish their position.
Parental Support
As our kids move to secondary school, we ought to have the greatest influence so they can enjoy a smooth transition. We should keep in mind that their new friends and teachers will affect how they feel about the move. But parental support offers a more long-lasting impact. To ease any worries about starting a new school, we can prepare our teenagers in various ways.
Involve kids in deciding on transport and accommodation
Talk with them regarding what they anticipate
Encourage them to see the positive side e.g. extracurricular activities
Discuss their fears and reassure them that it is okay to be worried
Make sure that they are present during the orientation program during their last days at primary school
Talk over making new friendships and how to keep in touch with old pals
Practical issues
Various practical issues surround the transition to high school. For instance, we can talk to family members who should be home waiting for the kid after school. A child needs to find a comfortable home environment for studying. Distractions like TV, mobile phones, and pets should be out of sight during study time. Such arrangements should be discussed a few weeks before the school opens. It is important to know the teachers who are in charge of our children’s welfare and academic progress. Similarly, we should introduce ourselves as early as possible to the pastoral care teacher and school counselors.
Signs Our Child Are Struggling With Transition to Secondary School
If a child is having trouble at school, we might notice a few signs.
Claims to be sick on Sunday nights
Hardly talks about classwork, new friends, or teachers
Refuses to go to school
Low self-esteem
Poor academic performance
Not interested in new activities
We shouldn’t wait too long to get our kids talking about how they feel at school. They cannot improve on their own so we need to come up with strategies together. If the problems persist for weeks, we should consider engaging a counselor or speaking with the student welfare coordinator at their school.
Moving to secondary school can be challenging. We might need extra time to prepare our kids for the upcoming journey. It is normal to be anxious about a new environment. But our kids need reassurance that it is normal to worry about new things. We should be ready for the ups and downs because adjusting takes time. If things do not seem to stabilize, perhaps a home-room teacher could be an option.