My child is starting high school

All children react differently to change. Some are more nervous, while others can’t contain their excitement! In any case, all kids need support as they go through a big transition. To be there for your child, simply listen to their needs and respond appropriately. Consider the following:

• Does your child need a routine? Print out their new school schedule and display it in plain sight (e.g., on the refrigerator door, on the bathroom medicine cabinet).
• Is your child anxious? Encourage them to talk about their fears and suggest a few relaxing activities.
• Does your child feel disoriented? Ask them to name all the available resource people that can help.
• Etc.

Faced with the unknown, your child may momentarily doubt their abilities and strengths. Fortunately, you can help them regain their confidence by reminding them of how far they’ve come and pointing out their many skills and talents. For example, consider asking your child to talk about the following:

• Their qualities (e.g., perseverance)
• Their greatest school achievement (e.g., their last math test results)
• The accomplishment they’re most proud of (e.g., overcoming their oral presentation anxiety)
• The most valuable lesson they’ve learned (e.g., how to stay organized)
• Etc.

Showing interest in what your child is going through will encourage them to confide in you and ease the transition from elementary to high school. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Discuss your child’s hopes and fears
• Help them find answers to their questions
• Talk about their goals
• Explain how school can help them make their dreams a reality
• Assign importance to their academic success
• Etc.

A healthy lifestyle helps reduce tension and stress. It’s also a determining factor in a student’s academic success. To help your child adopt healthy habits, encourage them to do the following:

• Go to bed at a reasonable hour
• Plan out their days
• Take care of themselves (e.g., do relaxing activities, practise a sport)
• Talk about their feelings
• Etc.

Having a strong social circle and good friends is important. In fact, it’s one of the key ways that young people develop a sense of belonging within their community. It can even prevent them from dropping out of school. To help your child make new friends in high school, you can ask them to do the following:

• Participate in social integration activities
• Take part in extracurricular activities
• Get involved in school committees
• Play sports at lunchtime
• Etc.