Settling in
Starting their new school
Once the big day arrives you’ll have no choice but to let them go, however you’re both feeling. At secondary/post-primary school, no one turns up with their parents at the school gate!
Rather than at primary school where they met their class and teachers on the first day, this time it might take two weeks for them to meet the people they’ll be with for every different subject and find their way around. It’s a period of huge adjustment, but there are some things you can do to help them settle in.
Keep their confidence up
Don’t be too concerned if their interests change quickly. Secondary school introduces children to a wide range of subjects from languages to sciences and the arts. An early interest in laboratory experiments may be replaced by a sudden keenness for historical facts and figures. Your child is figuring out who they are and what they’re good at. So, encourage their passions, but allow space for them to change their mind.
Encourage their friendships
Your child will inevitably start talking about children you don’t know. Let your child know they can invite people round for tea or a gaming or movie night, it means you’ll know where they are and get to meet their new friends. Your child may be keen to use social media to keep in touch with friends old and new. Discuss with them how to keep safe and happy online and monitor usage as much as you can. You can learn more about keeping your kids safe online on the NSPCC website.