Preparing for the transition from elementary to high school

A great way to ease your child’s anxiety is to bring them to their new school’s open house. Visiting the school will make it easier for them to imagine being a student there. It will also be an opportunity to get their bearings—scope out the lockers, cafeteria, secretary’s office, washrooms, gym, etc.

Making sure your child’s notebooks, pencil case, calculator, and other supplies are in their school bag every morning isn’t your responsibility. Instead, try helping them make a list of the supplies they need to bring to and from school every day.

Most schools include a copy of the school rules in their agendas. By familiarizing yourself with the rules at your child’s school, you can give them a sense of its core values.

Help your child understand that arriving to class a little early will save them from unnecessary stress. Plus, if they organize their school bag, pack their lunch, and choose the next day’s outfit the night before, they’ll be less rushed in the morning and more likely to arrive on time.

Another strategy to help your child feel less nervous is to discuss how a typical school day will go. That way, they won’t feel completely lost when classes begin. Here are some of the details you could mention:

• School days are divided into periods
• Classes are longer than in elementary school
• You have a bit of time after each class to get to your next one
• Etc.

Your child will probably have a lot of questions about starting high school. Being supportive and attentive will go a long way. If you don’t have all the answers they’re looking for, don’t worry—that’s perfectly normal. The important thing is to search for the answers and involve your child in the process.

The transition from elementary to high school is a big moment in your child’s life, and it comes with plenty of changes. You can make it less daunting by giving your child an idea of what to expect. Here are the main changes they’ll notice:

• Number of students: There will be more students per class.
• Pace: They will change classrooms and be taught by different teachers throughout the day.
• Schedule: Instead of recess, they’ll have short breaks between classes.
• Homework: Their homework load will increase.
• Seniority: They will go from being the oldest students at their school to the youngest.

Make a habit of adopting a positive tone whenever you talk about high school. This will help your child see their future school in a positive light. Your enthusiasm will likely rub off on your child and boost their motivation. Focus on how much there is to look forward to:

• Making new friends
• Trying all sorts of new extracurricular activities
• Having more freedom
• Learning new subjects
• Etc.

Letting your child know they’re not alone by accompanying them on orientation day can be a huge confidence booster. If you can’t make it, see if your child has any friends at the school who could join them.