Handling Grade Transitions

What are children's biggest worries about returning to school? - A New Year
Answer: Besides talking to your children to relieve their anxieties about going back to school, there are certain other things you need to do. The biggest worry for children entering preschool and kindergarten is their separation from a familiar environment. The better parents can acquaint their children with the actual school facility and teachers, the easier their children will adjust. Because school is such a new experience for young children, parental enthusiasm about the school experience plays a big role in how well children adjust to it.
Even if children have been to kindergarten in the same building, there is a considerable adjustment to first grade. The days are longer, and classes may be larger. And the emphasis is going to be far more on academics than on socialization. Beyond this, there may be new situations the children have to handle, including the lunchroom, bus transportation and public restroom facilities. You will want to talk about all these changes with them.
Every transition to a new grade brings some anxiety. Parents can help alleviate it if they help their children talk or play with classmates to re-establish friendships before school begins. If supply lists have been given out, the children need to have items on the list for the first day so they can get into the swing of things academically.
The transition to middle school or junior high can be quite traumatic, as the children will have more responsibilities, from moving between classes to having several teachers to storing their belongings in lockers. If a school has not had an orientation program, see if it is possible for your children to visit it before the first day so they'll have an idea where such things as the gym, lunchroom and different classrooms are.
If children have not gone to a middle school or junior high, the transition to high school can be fairly difficult. Again, it is very important that they know as much about the physical place as possible. Parents also need to encourage their children to take part in extracurricular activities to help them find friends with similar interests. Large high schools can be very intimidating places without a niche where children feel comfortable.
Finally, college is definitely a big transition point in schooling. It is critical that your children attend all orientation events. Parents also need to make sure that children know how to handle their finances. But more importantly, you need to discuss with them such life choices as dating, drinking and drugs, as they will be making decisions on them from the first day of school.