There can be various reasons why your child is changing educational establishments. However, the one thing that remains the same is the amount of stress that can be caused by the move. Stress can take all kinds of forms in children. It can show in their behavior, language, and in their ability to cope with normal everyday issues.
It is important that you keep a close eye on your child so that should stress show itself, you are there to support your child in every way that they will need it.
#1 When moving to a new area
Moving to a new area can be stressful for the whole family but even more so for children. Leaving the safety of the world that they knew for new surroundings is bad enough. But there is also the possibility, in their minds, of not gaining new friends. This can heap all kinds of stress and tension onto the small shoulders of one who is struggling with this inevitable concept which they feel they have no control over.
Keep in contact with old friends.
In order to combat this issue and at least relieve a bit of tension and stress, you can persist in keeping in touch with friends from your previous location. This will provide your child with a connection to their old life and make a move less of a cutting point from the old life to the new.
Help them get involved in out-of-school activities
Of course, you are going to want them to settle in quickly and form new friendships. To achieve this, you should help them get involved with clubs outside of school time. This will broaden their horizons so even if they are having a difficult time fitting in at school; they are likely to get some enjoyment and possibly some new friends at their local club.
However, it is important that the club is something that they are going to enjoy doing and not just a means to an end. If your child does not want to attend the club, do not force them and let them decide when they are ready to make this decision.
#2 Changing from school to college
It is a fact of life that as the child ages, they will have to move up to new educational establishments. Some children find this stressful even when they are going to still be with all of their friends. However, of course, this changes when they are making the change from school to college or from college to university. This is because educational paths start to divide, and individuals drift towards establishments that specialize in their chosen subjects.
Finding the ideal college
Although your child will want to make the decision in which college or university they want to attend, you can help them make an informed choice. You need to support them by listening to them as they make their choice and hear all of their doubts, fears, and expectations of the imminent move. They should draw up a list of establishments that they want to attend just in case they cannot get into all of them. Ensuring that they will be accepted into their choice is another way you can support your child.
For instance, with the help of an acceptance calculator, which you can find when you click here, you will be able to see which of the educational establishments your child is likely to gain access to.
Supporting them with rejection
Of course, as with any application, there is a chance of rejection. This is the time when your child really would need your support, especially if they had their heart set on a specific college or university to attend. This is why it is a good idea to have a short list and access to an acceptance calculator – even though it is at the discretion of the educational establishment on which applicants get a place and which are turned away.
