Back to School Tips for Relocating During the School Year
The first week of school is always filled with excitement, possibly some relief for parents and often a lot of nerves for the whole family! When families are considering making a move, timing doesn’t always line up perfectly with the start of the school year. Moving is never easy, but it is especially stressful if you are moving to a new neighbourhood during the school year. Here are a few tips to make your relocation a little easier.
Research schools: There are many public and private school options available in Toronto. Begin by researching nearby schools and enquire about their enrolment process, registration details and dates, and it never hurts to find out if there is an active parent council supporting the school. You can also research different schools academic ratings and see where it scores in relationship to other nearby schools. Once you decide on a school and are enrolled, request a tour for your children so they can become familiar with the building and potentially even meet some new friends or their soon to be teachers.
Get familiar with the area: Driving around the new neighbourhood is always a good idea to familiarize your children with the location of the school. Spend some time at a nearby park, or local restaurant to help make them feel more comfortable.
Social media: There is usually a Facebook or twitter group specifically for your neighbourhood and often for your school. Consider joining some of the local social media platforms to get to know other parents, to ask questions and to get real time updates on the happenings at your childs new school.
Routine: Switching houses, neighbourhoods and schools is hard on the whole family. Maintain rituals that routines that help the family adjust and remind your kids that even though you are in a new location, not everything in their world is changing!