Top 30 worries parents have about their kids starting secondary school
Bullying is the top concern that parents have when their kids start secondary school, research has found – followed by how they will settle in, and whether they will make friends.
Peer pressure is another common worry for mums and dads as their youngsters move up to “big school” – as they fret about the influence of their child's new friends, or even older pupils.
And the survey of 1,000 parents, of 9-16-year-olds, found that they simply worry about whether their child will be happy – and managing their anxiety or mental health as they transition to the next stage of their academic life.
It emerged that two-thirds of those polled are worried about their offspring starting secondary school – with 53% saying their main concern is their child being less safe than they were at primary school.
But after their youngster has started at their new school, fears about bullying tend to subside – although worries about them making new friends actually increase about a term or so in to their new school life.
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The research was commissioned by location-sharing app, Life360 – as it emerged that 58% of parents admit they will be monitoring their child’s location via a mobile phone by the time they start secondary school. And 32% of those said they were already doing so when their youngster was at primary school.
Whether they will make friends is a top concern for mums and dads (SolStock/Getty Images)Parenting expert, Sue Atkins, said: “The move up to secondary school can be a daunting time – not just for the kids themselves, but for parents too.
“If you’re feeling worried about your child starting secondary school, be sure to remain positive and optimistic when speaking about the move. Have an open and honest chat with your child about any concerns they might be having, and reassure them that feeling anxious is totally natural – everyone will be feeling this way.”
The study also found 49% of parents of older children, already at secondary school, said they found it hard to judge what rules to put in place. And 34% agreed that after their child started “big school”, the biggest challenge was trusting them to be where they say they will be.
However, it also emerged that parents soon become less concerned about how their child will cope in a stricter behaviour system than they may have been used to at primary school.
And letting them walk to school alone is another common worry (SWNS)Going to secondary school also does not have a significant impact on when parents believe kids should get their own mobile phone – with parents of both older and younger secondary school pupils suggesting it should be around the age of 10.
David Rice, International GM and CSO for Life360, added: “Parents often worry more than children when it comes to making the move to secondary school.
“Location-sharing apps can provide parents with a sense of security, and give them peace of mind by allowing them to monitor their child's location in real-time, especially in emergency situations. In turn, this also allows kids to enjoy the new-found freedom that comes with starting secondary school.”
To help kids transition to their new school, 39% suggest talking to them about their own experiences, according to the OnePoll.com figures. And nearly half (47%) make sure to tell their kids what to do if they’re being bullied, while three in ten will make sure their bag and school gear is up to scrutiny from their peers.
TOP 30 WORRIES FOR PARENTS WHEN KIDS START SECONDARY SCHOOL:
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- Bullying
- Whether they will make friends
- How they will settle in
- Whether they will be happy
- Peer pressure
- The influence of new friends
- Managing your child's mental health/anxiety
- The influence of older pupils
- How they will get on academically in general
- Walking to school alone
- Whether they will like their classes
- The volume of homework
- Not always knowing where they are or what they are doing
- School safety
- Whether they will be a little fish in a big pond
- Keeping their belongings/bag safe
- Increasing pressure from social media
- Whether they will like their teachers
- They won't have any friends from primary school in their classes
- How they will cope with a stricter behaviour system
- They won't know how to get around the school layout
- Whether the secondary school will make the same allowances for their needs as primary school did
- How they will perform in exams
- Whether the teachers will get to know them as well as primary school teachers did
- Taking the bus alone
- Whether their phone will be stolen
- They will start pushing boundaries in terms of their independence
- Them getting into trouble generally
- How they will navigate the school lunch system
- Whether they are responsible enough for their first mobile phone
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