How to Prepare Your Child for a School Visit
Families considering a school change during the elementary school years often ask how to approach the application process with their child. Some children are open to the idea of change. Others have no interest in learning about other schools, much less transferring into one of them. Start the conversation with a tone of curiosity and possibility. Here are some tips on how to frame conversations with your child when exploring schools.
Touring or applying to schools is not the same as enrolling in one. Part of life is being open to the idea of possibility and change. Looking at different schools helps us better understand what we have, what we like, and exposes us to what else is possible. The first step is giving new places a chance.
Be a detective in the process. Give your child agency to experience schools like a detective. Invite them to approach a school visit like a puzzle to be solved and send them on their visit day with questions to be answered. Let them know you’re excited to hear what they discover. Ask them to be ready to tell you about…
Something they liked
Something that made them curious
Something they would change
Something that surprised them
When we practice hard things, we get better at them. Share a personal experience that mirrors what your child is doing, such as considering a new job or moving to a new place. Talk about your feelings (trepidation, excitement, nervousness, etc.). Normalize that feeling unsure or uneasy is part of it. Tell them you’re proud of them for trying something new.
When we know what to expect, we can utilize our skills and tools. One of the best ways to prepare your child for the process is letting them know what to expect along the way. Before attending a school event or sending your child on a student visit day, share as many details with them as possible. Communication from the school often includes details about what your child will be doing throughout their visit. The more they know, the better they can prepare.
Now that you’ve set a tone of curiosity, invited them to gather data (one of the first steps in making a big decision), and given your child agency, remind them that they are trying out the school as much as the school is getting to know them. Give them time to process their visit day and let them share details when they’re ready. They may surprise you with their insight and receptivity.