By Vicki Little
It is hard to think about the next school year when we are so close to the freedom of summer. But if your child will be attending a different school in the fall, now is the time to start the conversation. While it’s true they may worry about it all summer, they will appreciate the opportunity to say goodbye to their friends and teachers. It also gives them a chance to ask lots of questions and to get used to the idea.
Dr. Richard Horowitz, a parenting and family coach and the author of Family Centered Parenting, offers these tips for parents when they tell their children they are moving schools.
- Be honest about why they are moving to a new school. Emphasize the advantages.
- Ask the children what they think are the positive and negative aspects of changing schools.
- Address the negatives by validating what you hear before you offer solutions.
- Visit the new school. If it’s not in session at least do a drive by, if you can, so the child has a visual image of where they are going.
Do you have a successful tip for kids who are moving schools? Join us on Facebook to share your thoughts!
Vicki Little is a work-at-home mom with two young kids. A Colorado native, she is the Publisher and Editor of Macaroni Kid Aurora and Downtown Denver. When she isn’t writing or trying to keep up with her kids she can be found volunteering, reading, or enjoying a bottle of wine with friends.
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