By: Michele Sanner
Growing and learning in new ways and with new opportunities has been a theme for many in the past couple of years. It can be hard to know how to prepare your child as they start or transition to a new setting, situation, or school. There are many emotions that both your child and you might feel; anxious, excited, mad, sad, wanting control, happy…
Here are some tips as you journey into the new– especially for a new school:
1) Give your child a voice- Listen to your child and be open to ANY feelings. Here are a few questions that you can ask beyond, “How was your day?”:
– What is the same?
– What is different?
– What was hard today?
– What was easier?
– How was your day from 1 to 5?
– Who did you eat with at lunch?
– Who did you play with?
– What do you know today that you did not know yesterday?
2) Be aware of expectations. There will be a transition time when any change is made even if it is a positive change. It is okay to experience some adjustment and stress.
3) Keep other routines (bedtime, meals,…) and time with you as parent at home as normal as possible
4) Help your child connect at school- practice asking for help from teachers and how to enter into play with new kids. If your child is little, you can practice with some stuffed animals. If there are children that your child is starting to connect with try to set up an opportunity to play outside of school as soon as possible.
5) Help your child get organized- As they start and within the first week or two, help your child figure out what they know and what they don’t know about their new school/class. What questions do they have so far? What questions do you have? Ask for help sooner rather than later.
Most of all, give your child and yourself space and grace to work through and pray for all that you need as you transition into a new school, class, or setting. God helps us with change and renews our strength.