Starting Secondary School: How to Help Your Child With Friends, Homework & the Big Transition

Ask Rachel anything They're the oldest in their primary and suddenly our babies have to cope with being the youngest in their senior school. It's a big leap, and it comes just at the point when our kids are becoming much more aware of themselves and others with a big dollop of puberty-driven insecurity. It's easy to worry about them making friends, coping with their newfound indepenence; complicated timetables, different classrooms, homework, buses and remembering their passwords. Here to help us figure it all out is Katherine Radice, author of the Parents Guide to Exam Stress long time teacher and mum of two teenage boys. Just five of things we cover in the episode are: Realistic expectations for starting secondary school Why trying to make the “perfect” first day backfires Teaching kids that “lumps and bumps” are normal and part of adjustment Identity, uniform, and appearance How brands/clothes (e.g., specific shoes, jackets) are tied to teen identity and belonging When and why it’s worth listening and sometimes compromising on these wants Extracurricular activities and balance Benefits of clubs for confidence, community, and friendship-building The risks of over-scheduling and how to judge when it’s “too much” Emotional turbulence in the early weeks Tears, anger, door-slamming, and exhaustion as expected reactions How to respond with empathy, rituals of comfort, and not jumping into “fix-it” mode too fast. Communication: with teens and with school How to get teens talking: low-stakes questions, rituals, “super silence,” and active listening When to see something as a “blip” vs a real problem, and how to approach schools constructively Friendships: How to talk about making friends without turning it into too much of a big deal Hopefully, by the end of our discussion you'll have a much clearer idea of what you can do and also what you don't need to be doing to support your children through the turbulent teen school years. Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack: My email [email protected] My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook