9 Tips For Helping Your Kid Transition From Primary To Secondary School 

Transitioning from primary to secondary school is a significant milestone for both students and parents in Singapore. The change in environment, increased academic demands, and new social dynamics can be challenging albeit exciting, presenting an important period of adjustment for your young teen - and even for you as a parent. Here are some valuable tips and insights from experienced moms to help your child navigate the early months of secondary school with confidence. Just remember that stumbles are inevitably part of the growing up process so celebrate the small wins and stay positive!

1. Start supportive communication early

Your child is navigating the big changes posed by teenhood and uncertainties of a new academic and social environment - you need to show from the get-go that you have his or her back. Mabel L., a mother of two advises, "Start the conversation early to prepare your child, discussing the changes they might encounter. Discuss this new phase of life with them, explaining as much as you can what they may experience at secondary school, their upcoming routine and friends. Keep the lines of communication open, and encourage your child to share their feelings, being ready to listen without judgment. Try your best to always keep this open channel of communication with your child, as it can help you stay close and involved in the coming years."

2. Get familiar with the school

A bigger school campus can be overwhelming initially, so encourage your child to attend orientation programmes and explore the campus before the school year starts. Mabel shares, "My daughter felt lost in the beginning. We visited her new school during the holidays, so she could familiarise herself with the layout. It made a huge difference." Explore the school together if possible. Knowing where their classrooms, the canteen, and toilets are can help alleviate some of your child’s anxiety on the first day.

3. Encourage independence

Entering secondary school means having to take greater responsibility for themselves and their personal belongings and learning time management. Hence, teaching them to practice organising their own belongings and managing their schedules is essential leading up to the transition. These are important skills that will serve them well into adulthood. You may also consider equipping your child with organisational tools like a planner or digital calendar, and teaching them how to use those to keep track of assignments and deadlines. 

4. Embrace technology in learning

Technology plays a huge role in education these days, and Secondary One students in Singapore regularly use personal learning devices. If they’re not already exposed (though unlikely), ensure your child is comfortable with digital tools and has access to the necessary devices to do their learning and homework. If you haven’t already given them a mobile phone or equivalent, now might also be the time to consider introducing one, since this will help ensure you can stay in touch with them when they’re out for longer hours during the day. 

5. Embrace technology in safety and surveillance

To put your mind at ease,  consider installing a live tracking app on your child’s mobile phone to ensure his or her safety at all times. V.T, a mother of two, shares that she installed the Life360 app when her son was in Primary 6, “I preemptively introduced the app, explaining that it would help me better time school pickups so that he wouldn’t feel like his privacy was being encroached upon later on in secondary school. It’s really reassuring to know that I can find out exactly where he is if the need arises.” 

6. Monitor screen time and access

Needless to say, along with this marked increase in tech savviness and usage, your child will also need to learn new limits and boundaries. V.T adds, "Balance is key for both their health and keeping on top of schoolwork. I personally believe that parental interventions are necessary since they’re really too young to exercise the necessary self-control. We lock his iPhone from 10pm to 7am, and block certain apps on it. YouTube is a bit of a struggle and conundrum because a lot of school learning these days takes place on that platform.”

7. Establish a routine

A good routine provides structure and reduces stress. As soon as possible, adopt a schedule that factors in time for homework, extracurricular activities, relaxation and play. Playtime is still crucial for “big kids” to foster creativity, problem-solving skills, independence and perseverance.  If your child is a gamer, be sure to get in some physical activity as a family as well.

8. Understand the academic shift

Angela F., a mother of two says, "Students can expect significant changes in their academic experience when moving from primary to secondary school. Their curriculum becomes more specialised and the workload increases. Also, co-curricular obligations increase and school hours are much longer, which leads to more stress. It’s important to check in regularly on your child’s new experiences, help set realistic expectations and offer extra help such as tuition if needed. When your teenager starts to test boundaries, as most of them do, you will also need to adapt the rules and guide them in navigating their newfound freedom responsibly.” 

This article was originally published on Dec 21, 2023 and updated on Dec 27, 2024.