How to Help Your Child During the First Day of New School
Starting a new school can be a cause of fear and anxiety for any child. He may wonder if he will be able to make new friends, find his way around and get along with his new teachers. Parents may feel that there is not much they can do to ease the process but this couldn't be further from the truth. With the right amount of love and support from his parents, he can transition into his new school with confidence and ease.
Instructions
Take a tour of the new school. Make sure to register your child for his new school early. Most schools provide orientation for new students and their parents prior to the beginning of the school year. Be sure to attend orientation. Orientation is an excellent opportunity for you and your child to become acquainted with the layout of the school, meet the principal and teachers and make friends with other new students. If a school map is provided, walk around the school to help him familiarize himself with important places such as his classroom, the library, bathrooms and the cafeteria. Do this more than once. If the school permits, walk with him the first time then allow him to walk around the building alone. Be sure to designated a spot for him to meet you when he is done. Set up a buddy system. Contact the school prior to the start of the year and ask if they can set your child up with a student buddy. Many schools provide student mentors or "buddies" for incoming and transfer students. The buddy can be someone in a higher grade or some in the same grade or class that your child can talk to prior to his first day. A buddy can provide your child with tips on the school from someone his own age. He can also rely on this person for help if he gets lost. Some buddies even serve as tutors if your child finds that he is struggling in a particular subject area. Most importantly, a buddy provides a friendly face when your child arrives for his first day at a school where he doesn't know anyone. Don't hold his hand. Many parents want to stay with their child on the first day of school. It is important to allow your child to make his way independently. Walk him to his classroom but let him go inside alone. Watch from the door just long enough to see that he finds his seat and gets adjusted into the class, then leave. This will do wonders for his confidence and self-reliance.
