Experts provide updated advice for parents to support children emotionally and practically during school moves, emphasising communication, recognising feelings and fostering gradual connections.
Moving to a new school can be a major emotional shift for a child, even when it is a positive step for the family. What adults may see as a fresh start can feel, to a child, like the loss of a familiar world of friends, teachers and routines. The result can be worry about where to sit, how to eat lunch alone, how to make new friends or whether to ask a teacher for help.
According to guidance from Children’s Health and other child-focused parenting resources, the first step is to talk about the change early and plainly. Children often cope better when they have time to absorb what is happening, rather than being told at the last minute. Parents should explain why the move is happening in age-appropriate language, invite questions and avoid pretending the transition will be effortless.
Experts also stress that children should be allowed to feel uneasy, sad or angry about leaving their old school. Those reactions do not mean the child is resisting the move; they often show that the change matters to them. The key is to acknowledge the emotion rather than dismiss it, while helping the child understand that nervousness is normal and manageable.
Another useful step is to identify the source of the worry. A child who says they do not want to go to the new school may actually be anxious about finding their classroom, keeping up academically, eating lunch alone or speaking to a teacher. Children’s Health and related advice from school-focused parent resources suggest that calm, specific questions can turn a vague fear into a problem that can be planned for.
The farewell matters too. Child welfare and school counselling guidance notes that leaving a school can feel like a genuine loss, so children may benefit from a goodbye that suits their temperament. That might mean a small visit with friends, a note to a favourite teacher or a few photographs to remember the old school, rather than a big send-off they did not want.
Parents should also avoid putting pressure on friendship-making in the first few days. New connections often grow through repeated contact, not instant chemistry. Child-focused advice from multiple education and parenting groups says it can help to encourage clubs, sports or other activities the child already enjoys, while giving them time to settle. If sadness, withdrawal or behaviour changes continue, parents are advised to speak with the school counsellor and seek professional mental health support.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
