Selling a house, buying a new home, getting a new job, adjusting to a new place-moving is hard! It’s even harder moving as a family with small children during back-to-school season. With a new school year gearing up, I have five tips to make the transition of moving to a new place and meeting new people a bit easier on your little ones.
- Know your neighbourhood
Before the first day of school, walk around the neighbourhood as a family to meet the neighbours. Finding nearby families that also have kids will prove to be helpful on the first day of classes – a child starting school will be a lot less scared if they recognize a familiar face or two!
- Do your research
Visiting the new school together before the first day will bring comfort to both children and parents. Knowing where the entrances, lockers or cubbies, classrooms and lunchroom are located will help a child start at a new school with confidence. It can help mom and dad too, easing your mind about your kids getting lost or embarrassed.
- Keep in contact
One of the toughest parts about moving is the fear that kids have of losing their friends. Parents should promote a merging of two worlds: old and new. After the first day of school, encourage your kids to video call their old friends. Sharing stories helps them talk about their new experiences and gives them something to look forward to after a long day of firsts.
- Get involved
Adjustment doesn’t happen all in one day. The first few weeks will likely be tough for a new kid. As parents, getting involved at your child’s new school will help both of you. You can familiarize yourself with the community and put your best foot forward. As for your child, catching sight of a familiar face at school in the first few weeks is comforting, even if that face belongs to mom or dad.
- Find an ally
Summer is the peak moving season and the chances of you being the only family newly enrolled at school are slim. Take advantage of this commonality – seek out other new families and make new friends. You can use one another for advice (and some complaining) as everyone gets settled into their new community.