Going from ruling the roost as grade 6 pupils to bottom of the ladder in year 7 is inevitably a challenge. The transition from primary to secondary schools means separating from friends, adapting to a new environment – and to teachers – and becoming more independent. It can be daunting, but there are ways parents can support their children to help make this transition easier.
Firstly, speak to your children about the positives associated with starting secondary school to get them excited rather than just nervous. Discuss making new friends, learning a wider variety of subjects and having contact with more teachers, who can provide extra support. It’s important to talk about what children are most looking forward to and what worries they have.
Parents need to go along to an orientation day or school tour with their children to help them become familiarised with their new environment.
Find out whether there’s a buddy system at the secondary school, whereby older students mentor year 7s about their new school.
Set up a homework routine to ensure students leave enough time for each subject. And encourage them to use their student diary.
Ensure students have dedicated quiet places to study, away from TV and other distractions.
Encourage extra-curricular activities, such as school music or sport programs.
For children who don’t seem to be coping well initially with secondary school, seeing the school’s counsellor may prove beneficial.
And don’t forget, talking with other parents in the same position or those who have been through it before, helps, a lot.
Rebecca Miller
