An excellent guide to helping parents help their child start Secondary School with a lot less stress.
Transitioning from primary to secondary school is one of the toughest tasks our young children will ever do. Changes to learning style are difficult enough but add in new locations, new friends and biological changes, and the task becomes more and more daunting. Some students adapt to this quickly while others struggle to cope. If it is hard for the students, it is equally difficult for the parents (especially if this is the first time a child of theirs has done it).
Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg is no stranger to TV viewers (especially on morning shows like Sunrise and Today). His no-nonsense approach to child psychology and his ability to explain things as succinctly as possible have made him a favourite of parents for well over 20 years. He has written over 30 books in that time, covering all aspects of child psychology and this is his latest. In this volume, he is aided by Sharon Witt who provides some much-needed discussion from the view of an experienced teacher.
The book is methodical in its layout with many small sections for each individual area covered (a handy index in the back is good if you only need to read certain sections). The book pretty much delivers what the title suggests – a guide to helping your child start secondary school. It covers both the mental and the physical needs of the student and what can be done to ease the transition. It discusses how to deal with bullies, teachers, new friends (and their parents) and the part a parent plays in helping a child navigate this worrying time.
At no point does the book feel laboured or uninformative but there are a few minor quibbles that perhaps could turn some parents off.
It can be hard to know where Carr-Gregg ends and Witt begins, although the shift in writing tone can be obvious if you are paying attention. Carr-Gregg’s writing is at the same level as his TV appearances and parents will appreciate the honesty and experience from which he speaks. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for some of Witt’s contributions which can, at times, feel condescending and over the top – I am pretty certain that no modern day parent addresses their child with a sentence like “Skye, as your mother, I am so impressed you knew where to find that spare binder book we bought you!”. Although aimed at parents, at times Witt’s writing feels like you are in her year 7 class!
There are also testimonials from former year 7 students detailing their experiences but they lack any kind of measure as to how old the person giving the testimonial is currently – this creates a kind of confusion as to whether you are reading the thoughts of older teenagers or perhaps young adults.
These points however, are small in comparison to the many helpful things about this guide. The information and guidance given is absolutely spot-on and should help any parent struggling to cope with this difficult period. It never feels too academic and there is much that parents will get out of this volume.
Reviewed by Rodney Hrvatin
Twitter: @Wagnerfan74
Published by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: March 2020
RRP: $32.99
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