Anyone have any tips for getting my year 6 child ready for secondary school?

[Guest]

She still has a year to go but unlike my eldest she is very babyish (carry’s a teddy round at home/wants to take a toy out with her/pretends to be a cat most days/etc!) and I do worry about her more.

[Lorna]

What's she in to, my daughter loves horses and sending her off on organised pony days etc had been really good for her independence.

[Sharon]

Even my giant grown up year 6 has moments of adolescence…. Won’t get rid of her dolls and plays with them on occasions. She I’ll find her feet I’m sure. Just keep talking to her and showing how excited you are for her next chapter.

Talking and being open is key! Xx Good luck xx

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[Leanne]

Growing her self confidence by doing things independently. If she's getting a bus, what bus she needs to get, how to pay, where to get on and off. Getting her to organise what she needs to be ready each morning (son y8 and still having to nag him to make sure he has everything).

Generally, though most kids within the first 3 weeks are fine (I work in secondary), they adjust and adapt pretty quickly.

[Lara]

Honestly don’t worry. They change a lot in year 6, and again in year 7. She may need some of those comforts to help her with the transition. Maybe do the walk to school with her in the holidays as a practice run.

Also get into good habits now, bags ready the night before, homework etc. x

[Laura]

My daughter is like this at home, has her fav teddy with her all the time, pretends she’s a cow (her nickname is moo) and is generally a complete nut job !

She has just started secondary this time and has settled in really well, she’s completely different there than at home.

We didn’t really do anything to prepare except the visit days she went on.

Explore these too: My 6yo boy (just gone into year 2) is refusing to go in class!

[Julie]

Aww my eldest was abit like that very grown up in some ways but the cat thing lol was defiantly her . She did struggle to adjust the first year she couldn't understand why everyone was just sat about on there phones ect ...... x

[Donna]

Honestly from December - July my daughter changed so much and more since she started. I would not worry to much. We did read DR Alex kids mental health book from January which helped

[Sara]

Sorry the pretending to be a cat comment made me ! My year 6 daughter also has these moments. I wouldn't worry too much. Let them be. They grow up way to fast once High school hits!

[Jenny]

I just like to say that is fine she a child and everyone is different they can grown up a lot over the summer holiday. She will will find her own click of friends that are more like her when she starts also they do grown up a lot over the course of y6.

The best thing you can do is help with organise skills. And you can have a chat with her next year if you still feel that she needs to be aware but they do transition and taster days so that get an idea what it’s like.

I wouldn’t worry to much x

[Rebecca]

My eldest is exactly the same, she's 12 and just gone into year 8. I say just go with it. My daughter is thriving at secondary school, she always got a fidget or toy horse in her bag even though her handbag she takes out with her friends! X

Just let her be herself and she will thrive x fidgets are a better toy to carry around though as if someone finds it in there nag it not as bad as a "proper" toy x

[Paris-Jayd]

I thought exactly the same about my daughter before she started secondary school & was panicked I’d have to make her more mature, but actually she’s done that on her own over the first half term. She has the responsibility to walk to and from school with her friends, so I think that has made her more mature.

She still has her teddies at bedtime and I still need to put her to bed, but that’s because she’s still my baby, but at school she’s definitely more mature & it’s definitely very reassuring to know that.