Tips for Moving During the School Year
Parents with young children generally prefer to move during summer, so their kids have time to adjust to their new surroundings before starting school. Unfortunately, they don’t always have a choice. Sometimes mid-year moves are simply unavoidable. It’s a challenging situation, especially for children. Besides saying goodbye to their old friends, they have to adapt to a new community, classmates, and curriculum. To make their transition as smooth as possible, here are some common tips for moving during the school year.
Discuss the Move
Switching schools is stressful. Children not only leave behind teachers, sports teams, and academic routines, but friendships they’ve built up over years. They often need time to process their emotions, so break the news to them as early as you can. Explain why you’re moving and encourage them to share their feelings.
Kids often feel angry at the sudden change or nervous about fitting in. Listen to their worries and offer reassurance. Emphasize the positive aspects of the move: a better school, new places to explore, exciting opportunities for fun and adventure. Sparking their interest is the best way to help them embrace the idea of starting over someplace new.
Research Schools
Finding the right school takes time. While academic performance is the most important factor, you should also consider class size, tuition, and extracurriculars. Location is often important as well. Is the school close enough for your children to walk? Can they take the bus? Will you need to drop them off and pick them up every day?
If your children are old enough, invite them to participate and give their opinion. Getting them involved in the process lessens anxiety, builds confidence, and helps generate enthusiasm for their new school. If possible, tour prospective schools before you move. After inspecting the facilities, reach out to local parents for their thoughts. (The PTA is a great resource.) Ask whether your son or daughter can meet with a current student or connect with one over social media. It’s the best way to determine whether the institution matches their needs, personality, and learning style.
Prepare Documentation
Transferring schools requires a lot of paperwork. Besides transcripts, test scores, and report cards, you’ll also need to submit vaccination records, birth certificates, and proof of residency. Your current school is responsible for sending all the necessary academic paperwork, but it’s a good idea to request a copy of it yourself, just in case anything slips through the cracks.
Talk to Teachers
Introduce yourself to new teachers before classes begin, either by phone, email, or Zoom. This is your chance to discuss expectations, teaching styles, and curriculum, as well as particular concerns you might have, such as:
- Academic Gaps. Schools don't cover subjects at the same pace or in the same way. Children sometimes need tutoring in order to catch up to their new classmates. Ask about exams as well, so your child doesn’t start school during midterms or finals.
- Special Needs. Let the teacher know if your child has any conditions or challenges that might affect their academic performance. Point out their strengths as well, so the teacher knows the best way to integrate them into the class.
- School Policies. Ask for a copy of the school’s code of conduct and student handbook, so your child knows what’s expected of them on the first day. Ask about schedules as well. When do classes start? How are drop-offs and pick-ups handled? When are parent-teacher conferences held?
Moving in the middle of the school year also affects your child’s ability to participate in sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities. While not every program can accept a new student midway through the semester (some high school sports teams hold tryouts before school begins), see if any special accommodations can be made to help your child participate more fully in student life.
Say Goodbye But Stay Connected
Moving to a new town is never easy, especially for children. To help them cope with the change, organize a farewell party, to create some final happy memories before they leave. You can also visit some of their favorite spots around the city (parks, movie theaters, etc.) for one last hurrah, or create a scrapbook to help them remember life in their old town.
Remember that just because you’ve moved away, it doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch. Encourage your kids to talk to their friends over text, email, or Facetime. Keeping in contact will help fight off homesickness and help your children maintain a sense of stability and continuity.
Full Service Moving Experts
Starting over in a new city is certainly challenging, but getting there doesn’t have to be. Allied’s full-service moving teams help coordinate every aspect of your move, from packing to shipping to storage and final delivery. There is no job too big, no detail too small. Partnering with us lets you focus on the journey, while we handle the heavy lifting. Contact us today for a free quote!