by Naomi Lucas

Created on: June 16, 2008

When your child is about to start high school it is a tense time all round. You, as a parent or guardian feel unsure what to expect, even if it is not your first child going through this as the schools change in as little as one year. Your child will be unsure, they are going from being one of the oldest in the school to being one of the youngest. All the other children will (more than likely) be bigger than them. If you went to high school yourself then you'll have some idea of how they feel.

I have a fifteen year old child, he's in year ten at the moment, he will start year eleven in September. (Children in England, which is where I live are allowed to leave school at sixteen if they so wish). I remember when he was about to start high school, he was literally sick with worry. I was worried because he was worried so I know exactly how you as a parent feel.

The way I helped get my son over the worry of going to high school was that I explained to him that senior school wouldn't be so bad. I told him that if there were any problems he would have his form tutor who he could speak to and that I would go to the school if there was anything he couldn't deal with and deal with it for him.

Basically all you need to do is reassure your child, explain to them that even though starting senior school seems scary that it is not that bad at all. Explain to them that they must have felt a little concerned or scared before they started primary (infant or junior) school and to remember that all that worked out fine in the long run.

Explain that even though they will be the youngest and possibly the smallest at their new school that the older children will normally look after them, at a lot of high schools there is a policy whereas the older children have an obligation to look after the younger ones. Explain also that after the first couple of days your child will feel better and maybe even make new friends.

Your child may think that they will have far too much home work or school work to cope with, explain to them that the school won't normally give them more than they can handle and if they feel as though the work is getting on top of them, they should have a word with their teacher or form tutor.

Make sure your child has a map of the school, if it is a large establishment. Make sure your child has the correct uniform if there is one, make sure your child has the correct instruments, for example, a pen, pencil, ruler, compass etc. Make sure they have enough dinner money or that

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>