Capital Movers

Five Tips to Help Your Child Adjust to a New School after Moving

Any type of change can often be stressful to a child, even if it’s small things like having new socks that aren’t quite the right shade of blue. You can imagine, then, that moving from one home to another, especially right before school starts—or worse, after—could be a stressful experience for your child. It’s a new environment, with new sights and sounds, new friends, new teachers, and an unfamiliar social environment.

That said, never fear! Here are just a few ways you can help your child transition into a new school after a move.

1. Pick a school beforehand

This one is perhaps the most often overlooked, and maybe the most important. When you choose a new home, maybe for work, or proximity to sweeping vistas or just your favorite coffee shop, make sure you consider where the kids will go to school and how long their commute will be, whether by bus or by car. This will keep your stress down as well as keep your kids at ease if you can tell them exactly what school they will be attending as soon as you announce the move. Staying informed will help everyone stay calm and stay one step ahead of the game.

2. Talk to the teachers

Switching schools means that your child will know no one at the new school, so it can often help to take the initiative and speak to the teachers on your kid’s behalf. If you can, introduce your kids to the new teachers ahead of time, so that they will at least know one person in that big room full of strangers. Meeting the teachers is also a great time to make sure the teachers know your kids skills and talents, like who’s good at band and who likes to take the lead.

3. Collect school records

If you collect your kid’s school records before you move, rather than rushing around to find them after, you’ll be doing everyone a favor. Whether it’s test scores, vaccination records, or proof of address, making sure you have everything you’ll need from the old school before you head to the next will help everyone’s lives run more smoothly.

4. Get kids involved in the same activities

If your child is in soccer, plays tuba in the band, or takes dance lessons, one of the best things you can do to help them transition into a new school is to get your kids involved in the same activities as quickly as you can. The feelings of routine will soon take over, and having something remain consistent will help your child settle into everything else that has changed. And plus, who doesn’t like a little tuba in their lives?

5. Encourage new friendships

A new school means new friends, so it’s good to encourage your child to get out of their shell and make new friends as soon as they can. While your child may be caught up in writing letters to their friends back home, and that is fine and good, it’s best to nudge them towards making new friends as soon as possible so that they’ll be able to move on and transition into the new spaces quickly.

While your child may experience some trepidation about moving to a new area and a new school, with these quick tips you’ll both be settled into your new routines in no time. Now, if you could only get them to get used to those new socks…

If you’re planning a move soon, let Capital Movers help you make it as smooth as possible for both you and your kids.

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