Helping Your Child Adjust to a New School

Helping Your Child Make Friends

Making friends and feeling accepted helps your child feel comfortable at school and focus on his or her school work. There are many ways that you can help your child make friends and become familiar with the neighbourhood.

Suggestions

• Consider how to help your child get to know the neighbourhood and places where he or she can play safely.
• Visit community programs such as libraries. For younger children, visit “drop-in centres”, “parenting centres” and “parent-child centres”. For older children, visit recreation centres. The school office staff can tell you where these community programs are located.
• Accompany your child to the school playground after school so he or she can play with friends.
• Get to know your neighbours so your child can see you making friends.
• Take your child to weekend and after school activities in the community. Many are free.
• Talk to your child about their new friends and learn their names. When your child wants to invite a friend to your home, contact their parents to make arrangements.

Dealing with Anxiety

Your child may feel anxious about starting school in a new country and learning a new language. Anxiety can affect the way your child thinks and feels. It may be hard for your child to learn if he or she feels anxious. Some symptoms of anxiety are: stomach aches, headaches, tiring easily, aggressiveness, sadness, silence and denial of the changes.

Suggestions

• Talk with your child about how he or she feels. Share your own feelings about how you are adjusting to a new country.
• Explain that it is normal to be anxious when making big changes in your life.
• Encourage your child to talk about what happens at school. Listening to your child helps you understand what is going well and what might be difficult. Ask your child a question to start the conversation.
• Remind your child of situations that used to be difficult but are easier now. Acknowledge small successes in dealing with difficult situations. For example, celebrate the completion of the first two months of school.
• Tell the teacher that your child is feeling a little anxious so the teacher can help your child feel comfortable.

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