Helping children transition into a new school or academic year

In international schools around the world, an important topic raises its head at the beginning of each school year; transition. Learning how to support children through this process is crucial. Transitioning for children is not always easy. Leaving a familiar place, leaving existing friends and losing the comfort of the “known” can be hard. Transitions bring a unique set of social and emotional challenges that schools and parents must be aware of. Moving can be an emotional experience which can have an impact on academic performance. However, whilst acknowledging that mobility and transitions can create challenges for children, it can also be the driver for positive change, growth and development. As we begin our new academic year with close to 300 new pupils, we will have many families going through a transition period. You may have seen behavioural changes and anxiety in your child as they start the new academic year. At Wellington, we recognise this and work hard to help our pupils transition smoothly into their new environment as they make friends, meet new teachers and, for many of them, experience a new education system and way of learning. Parents must also be aware of the challenges that come with transitions, and have strategies to support their children. Below are a few suggestions for how to support your child.   Listen to your child and talk about the transition process  Do not underestimate the power of simply listening carefully to whatever your child is saying. Listen reflectively - discerning the core message - then check you have understood by repeating the core message back to the child. This shows empathy and the intention of wanting to truly understand their feelings and experiences.   Communicate with your child’s teacher or housemaster It is critical that parents and teachers or housemasters are in communication with each other, and are sharing information about children in a timely manner. If parents are noticing different behaviours and have concerns that their child is struggling, it is important to communicate this with the school. Likewise, teachers or housemasters may notice behaviours at school that the parents are unaware of. Sharing information and keeping each other in the loop is a great way to ensure that difficulties are spotted early, and also allows us to work as a team to support children. If specific issues are identified, such as changed diet habits, social withdrawal, changes in a child’s approach to study or negative behavior being displayed, parents and teachers can reach out to the support services the school has in place through the pastoral care programme. Build a positive atmosphere for your child through community engagement We strongly believe in building a close-knit and welcoming community for our pupils and familes. Our Friends of Wellington (FOW) includes all parents and teachers. It meets regularly and contributes to making life at the College vibrant by working to bring people together. The Friends of Wellington is an integral part of College life and helps create many of the annual highlights of our calendar. Any parents who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to do so by contacting friendsofwellington@wellingtoncollege.cn.   While transitions do pose challenges, the experts agree that the benefits outweigh them. However, if you are ever concerned about your child, please get in touch with their teacher or housemaster. Building resilience in our children is a key to helping them become truly independent, one of our Wellington Identities!