Moving Your Child to a Different School: Should You Do It?

22nd February 2021

The day our child starts school is a momentous one. And there will be times when they could be issues at the school gates, but we have to remember they will be feeling massive changes in life. And while most people have a nightmare trying to get their child into the school of their choice, what happens if you need to move them to another school? What if your circumstances in life change and you need to move somewhere else? Should you really try to move your children when they’ve already started in one place?

Do You Really Need To Move Far Away?

The most important question you have to ask yourself is if it is necessary to up sticks and move. Everybody knows the act of moving with a child can be very difficult. And it’s important that when you are preparing to move, that you get everything organised. This could mean a lot of to-do lists, but it’s also about making sure that you make the most of external help. Whether this is using moving companies like North American Van Lines or asking friends and family to help, when you start to get into the process of actually signing the dotted line and finalising the act of moving, you may start to think about the realities of the situation. It’s a big thing, and when you try to move your children from one school to another, you’ve got to consider some key components:

Their age. It’s naturally easier when they are younger because they have not made as many ties.
You may want to think about the recent events, and if you want to start all over again. A big event like the pandemic has made people rethink their lives.
How will it impact their emotional health? Moving them across the country, in conjunction with what has just happened, could be a lot for them to deal with.

How It’s an Opportunity for a New Start With the Child

Sometimes people move their child from one school to another because of issues like bullying, and unfortunately, this is one of the more common reasons children change schools. But we have to remember that sometimes, it’s not the fact that the school isn’t meeting the child’s needs, but it’s also about making sure that our child is ready to start again in a new place. Some of the things you need to consider include:

Is it right? You have to remember that trying to deal with issues before the move can help them to feel more settled before they go.
Has your child been involved in the decision? It’s important to make sure that your child feels involved, especially in an age-appropriate manner.
Can you homeschool them? Many parents have had to do this recently and will be for some time. But moving your children when they’ve already started in one school is going to unsettle them even further.

We learn many lessons as a parent, and when we start to think about moving our child from one school to another, it’s not just about the bigger picture, but it’s about making sure that their emotional and mental needs are met in the process.

This is a collaborative post.