It’s quite common for children to move schools. It’s also normal for children to resist change and feel stressed about going to a new school. So if your child is moving schools, the best thing you can do is prepare your child for the change. You can do this by involving your child as much as you can in the process of choosing and moving schools. This will help your child see the exciting and positive aspects of the move. He’ll be a lot happier if he knows that his needs are important. Here are tips for involving your child and making the change easier: If possible, discuss the move with your child well in advance. Be enthusiastic about the move yourself. Ask your child to talk about, draw or make a list of the things she’s looking forward to about going to a new school. Ask your child to talk about, draw or make a list of the things he’s worried about. Take time to discuss each concern. Find out about schools in the area you’re moving to. Make a list of the schools and show it to your child. If your child is old enough, talk about the pros and cons of different schools. If possible, you could visit the new location and schools with your child. Find out whether there are other children moving to the same school as your child. Encourage your child to talk with these children. You might be able to arrange for your child to arrive at school with these children on the first day. If you know family members or friends who’ve changed schools recently, encourage them to share their experiences with your child.