Tips from a frequent school changer:
–Acknowledge and sympathize with his feelings. Ask what he doesn’t like about the new school specifically. Often it’s just that it isn’t the old school, where he felt familiar and comfortable. But, let him lament over this and feel his sorrow for having to leave that enviornment. Don’t negate his feelings (not that you are…just reminding not to). Feelings of loss are important for building depth of character, so we shouldn’t brush past those (especially in boys, who are often not encouraged to explore those feelings).

–Remind him that even if he had stayed at the old school, it would be different, different teachers, different classroom, different kids in the class. So, it wouldn’t be the same class repeated again. Things always change.

–Make a plan with him to try to fix anything that IS really bothering him about the new school (having a hard time making friends, having a hard time understanding the new routine with the lunchline, maybe they do different handwriting style than he does, or math, or whatever). Go through them one by one. If he’s a visual kid, maybe write them down for him and give him the list to pin somewhere. He’ll feel better if there is a PLAN to fix his discomfort.

–Know that by Thanskgiving at the latest (but more probably Halloween), it’s likely it will seem like he’s always been at the new school. The transition can be rough, but is usually short lived.

Alex has gone to 6 shools in his 8 years of official schooling (not counting day care or pre-school). Katie has gone to two. So, we’ve been through it.