The Question at the School Gate

In the first weeks at a new school, children are often too tired to answer questions at the gate.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 9 to 13.

Where to start

Give your child food and an hour before the first question.
Ask something small and particular: “Which lesson felt longest?”
Give your child a chance to miss their old friends as well as make new ones.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

Coram Family Lives, on the move to secondary school; Rice and colleagues, the School Transition and Adjustment Research Study (Nuffield Foundation, 2015)

It goes with

The Move to Secondary School. For parents whose child is about to go from being one of the oldest at school to one of the youngest.
When They Stop Talking to You. For parents whose teenager hardly talks to them any more.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Transitions. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
School stress. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

The rest of the library

The Parent Book is a library written by therapists: chapters on the situations parents bring to our therapy rooms most often, quick tips for tonight, things to do together, and every sheet to print. One subscription opens all of it, from the day you join.

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If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.