Annual switch of form class teaches kids to deal with change

Having different classmates during one's school year can help broaden one's network of friends and develop positive growth mindsets around learning

- Charles Chan

Whenever my wife and I attend the school events of our children, we find ourselves struggling to remember the form class that they are in. It can be rather embarrassing to hold up the queue at the registration area, trying to rattle off the names of classes and teachers that we can recall based on past conversations with our children.

Our excuse is we have five children and it is difficult to be kept up to date on the form classes our children are in each year.

At the end of each school year, whenever any of my children informs me that he or she will be changing form classes in the following year, I ask if there will be anyone from their current class in that new class.

There would usually be a few of such students. I am aware that this familiarity would help in the transition as it helps to reduce anxiety about the change.

Managing change is not easy, even for adults. Having familiar faces and friends is a good thing, and being open to new opportunities to learn and make new friends also helps to smooth this transition. It happens at work for adults, and children start learning to do this while they are in school.

I am pleased that my children get to change their classmates a few times during their school years. This broadens their network of friends and helps them to appreciate different backgrounds and perspectives.