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<\/p>\nTHE TOP worries parents have when their children start secondary school include bullying, whether they\u2019ll make friends \u2013 and peer pressure.<\/p>\n
A poll of 1,000 UK parents of children aged nine to 16 revealed the 30 main anxieties mums and dads share at this important transition.<\/p>\n
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They include them walking to school alone, not always knowing where they are or what they are doing, school safety and their child taking the bus alone.<\/p>\n
Other concerns were their offspring accidentally getting into trouble, the volume of homework and the influence of older pupils.<\/p>\n
The survey, commissioned by location sharing app Life360, showed 66 per cent of parents were worried about their child starting secondary school.<\/p>\n
While 53 per cent reported being more anxious about their child being less safe than they were at primary school.<\/p>\n
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Parenting expert Sue Atkins said: \u201cThe move up to secondary school can be a daunting time \u2013 not just for the kids themselves but for parents too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re feeling worried about your child starting secondary school, be sure to remain positive and optimistic when speaking about the move.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave an open and honest chat with your child about any concerns they might be having and reassure them that feeling anxious is totally natural \u2013 everyone will be feeling this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study also found 49 per cent of parents of older children, already at secondary school, said they found it hard to judge what rules to put in place.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n And 34 per cent agreed that after their child started big school, trusting them to be where they say they will be was the biggest challenge.<\/p>\n However, they worried less about bullying after the child had started.<\/p>\n FABULOUS FIVER: SPEND \u00a35 AND GET A \u00a325 WELCOME BONUS<\/strong><\/p>\n And they also became less concerned about how their child would cope in a stricter behaviour system than they may have been used to at primary school.<\/p>\n But on the other hand, after a term or so in secondary school, parents are\u00a0actually slightly\u00a0more likely to stress about whether their child will make friends.<\/p>\n Going to secondary school also does not have a significant impact on when parents believe kids should get their own mobile phone \u2013 with both groups suggesting it should be around the age of 10.<\/p>\n Almost six in 10 (58 per cent) parents said they will be monitoring their child\u2019s location via a mobile phone by the time they start secondary school.<\/p>\n This includes 32 per cent who already did this when they were at primary school.<\/p>\n David Rice, International GM and CSO for Life360, added: \u201cParents often worry more than children when it comes to making the move to secondary school.<\/p>\n \u201cLocation-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.<\/p>\n \u201cIn turn, this also allows kids to enjoy the new-found freedom that comes with starting secondary school.\u201d<\/p>\n To help kids transition to their new school, 39 per cent suggest talking to them about their own experiences, according to the\u00a0OnePoll.com\u00a0figures.<\/p>\n Nearly half (47 per cent) make sure to tell their kids what to do if they\u2019re being bullied, and 30 per cent will make sure their bag and school gear is up to scrutiny from their peers.<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0Bullying<\/p>\n 2. Will they make friends<\/p>\n 3. How they will settle in<\/p>\n 4. Whether they\u2019ll be happy<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Peer pressure<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0The influence of new friends<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0Managing your child\u2019s anxiety\/ mental health<\/p>\n 8. The influence of older pupils<\/p>\n 9.\u00a0How they will get on academically in general<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0Walking to school alone<\/p>\n 11.\u00a0\u00a0Whether they\u2019ll like their classes<\/p>\n 12.\u00a0The volume of homework<\/p>\n 13.\u00a0Not always knowing where they are or what they are doing<\/p>\n 14. School safety<\/p>\n 15.\u00a0Whether they\u2019ll be a little fish in a big sea<\/p>\n 16.\u00a0Keeping their belongings \/bag safe<\/p>\n 17.\u00a0Increasing pressure from social media<\/p>\n 18. Whether they\u2019ll like their teachers<\/p>\n 19. They wouldn\u2019t have any primary school friends in their classes<\/p>\n 20.\u00a0How they\u2019ll cope with a stricter behaviour system<\/p>\n 21.\u00a0They won\u2019t know how to get around the school layout<\/p>\n 22.\u00a0Whether the secondary school will make the same allowances for their needs as primary school<\/p>\n 23. How they\u2019ll perform in exams<\/p>\n 24. Whether the teachers will get to know them as well as primary school teachers<\/p>\n 25. Taking the bus alone<\/p>\n 26.\u00a0Whether their phone will be stolen<\/p>\n 27.\u00a0They\u2019ll start pushing the boundaries in terms of their independence<\/p>\n 28.\u00a0Them getting into trouble generally<\/p>\n 29.\u00a0How they\u2019ll navigate the school lunch system<\/p>\n 30.\u00a0Whether they are responsible enough for their first phone<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/prince-harry-heart-invictus-trailer-841130479.jpg\")
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