4. Embrace the challenge. Now onto the fun part. Give your child his due attention, then continue on with life. Don’t let the insurmountable amount of boxes keep your family withdrawn and cooped up. Take a stroll down your new neighborhood, find good eateries, scope out the park, and keep doing the activities you and your child always loved to do inside and outside the home.
5. Excite them about school. Find out what you can about the school and the activities they offer. Maybe your child’s new school has a stellar journalism program or chess club. If they don’t, perhaps it’s time to create one. Peruse the school website for fun facts, a list of classes, extracurricular and sports activities.
6. Tour the new school. “Include your kids in the process,” suggests Debbie Glasser, Ph.D and founder of org, who moved three children to a new state. Attend the school orientation together or arrange for a tour. You may even try getting your child accustomed to the new school schedule. Locate the bathrooms, cafeteria and auditorium. Talk with the guidance counselor. Helping your child familiarize himself to the new school may alleviate some of his fears on his first day of school.
7. Encourage your child to join an organization. Telling your child not to be nervous will only get him more focused on his anxiety. Instead divert his attention. Delving into an activity that consumes your child’s interest will help take the focus off of making new friends, which is the best and most natural way to make friends anyway.
8. Parental involvement is key. Time and time again, research shows that parent involvement at school is critical to a child’s success. Just merely seeing mom or dad around school will make a child feel less alone. To get plugged in with the new school, contact the principal and other school leaders and introduce yourself. Getting to know other parents will likely get your child invited to play dates and other events, especially if your child is young. Look for opportunities for your child to meet his classmates over the summer.
9. Stick to a routine. If seismic changes have your child feeling unmoored, knowing what’s expected at home can provide a soothing anchor.
10. Keep in touch with old friends. Maybe old friends don’t seem like they will be of much use to your child’s new life. It may even seem tempting to rip off the old band-aid and cut all ties. But consider the long-term affects. Maintaining friendships will teach your child that a move or change is not synonymous with the end of a friendship and will help your child have a healthier outlook on future life changes.
Deborah Song
