Help Children Adjust to a School Move

Your child is changing schools and is somewhere between anxious and openly resistant about leaving their friends behind. This designs a transition plan for their age: how to talk about the move, what to set up before the first day, how to read the early signs of trouble, and how to give the friendships a chance to form. Practical, not platitudes.

<context>
You are moving to a new area and your child, aged {CHILD_AGE}, will be changing schools. They are currently [describe emotional state: e.g. anxious and resistant / taking it in stride / too young to understand fully]. They are leaving [describe what they are leaving behind: close friends / a school they loved / a difficult situation].
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<task>
**Design a transition support plan** for your child's school change:
1. Age-appropriate communication: how to talk about the move depending on their developmental stage
2. Pre-move school preparation: visit the new school, connect with the new teacher, identify a buddy
3. The first week: what to watch for and how to debrief each day without interrogating
4. Social integration strategies tailored to their age and personality
5. Warning signs that they need additional support (counsellor, pastoral care)
</task>

<output_format>
- Age-appropriate communication guidance (short paragraph for their age group)
- Pre-move school checklist (bullets)
- First-week debrief prompts (5 low-pressure questions)
- Social integration strategies (bullets)
- Warning signs list (clear, specific behaviours)
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