How to succeed in the transition to upper secondary school – even for your "big" child
12.8.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Martin Rupf
Is your child starting upper secondary school soon? This is a big deal for many parents – both emotionally and organizationally. At the very least, we can support you with practical tips.
The start of school: It is a special day not only for the children, especially those entering kindergarten or the first grade. No, for many parents, this day also marks a turning point.
As far as I am concerned, and I am surely not alone in this feeling, the start of school was and is always an extremely emotional moment. Even more than on New Year's Eve, as a parent, you clearly notice that another year has passed. And just as the years of one's life feel shorter and shorter, the school years also race by faster and faster.
For instance, I feel like I just sent my daughter to kindergarten yesterday, and this year, as a sixth-grader, she is already among the oldest in primary school. And who were all those (young) parents in the schoolyard at this year's start of school? Suddenly, you belong to the old guard in this role as well and have to make room for the next generation of parents.
But it is not just emotionally that the start of school gets to many parents. It also brings organizational and practical challenges. This is even more true if you are already struggling to get back into the daily grind after the holidays.
Typically, a few days before school starts, the children or the parents realize that a new school bag is needed and there is only one blunt pencil left in the pencil case. Oh yes, and my son could have told me sooner that his sneakers no longer fit!
The school bag and digitalization
The start of school is particularly challenging – and not just emotionally – when the transition to secondary school is imminent. This happened with my son last year. After eight years at the same school, including kindergarten, the big step out into the wide world was ahead of him – to the neighboring village about six kilometers away.
Needless to say, the backpack he had worn for six years from the brand Ergobag wouldn't do anymore. The pencil case, which was barely recognizable as such, had to be replaced, and my son didn't want to show up for gym class in his worn-out Mickey Mouse T-shirt anymore.
Our hope that the days of school bags disproportionately large for the child's body size would be over in secondary school was quickly dashed when buying a new backpack.
The digitalization of teaching does not seem to have affected the volume of teaching materials yet. Or has it, at least in part? For many manufacturers, a laptop compartment is now standard. Either way, popular secondary school backpacks are also voluminous.
We finally decided on this model. Not cheap, but hopefully it will last for three years (or longer).
The same applies, by the way, to the expensive Ergo-Pack sets. At least after six years of use, we can confirm that the things are worth their price.
Is a black hole responsible for the disappearance of school supplies?
Of course, it wasn't just a new school bag that was needed, but also a modern pencil case. Because Paw Patrol or Stitch definitely don't go down as well in secondary school anymore.
Instead, more neutral (and sometimes even larger) pencil cases are in demand.
Pencil cases
Only-Bags.Store Pencil Case with 3 Compartments Large Capacity Pencil Case Pencil Case for School & Office
Since an empty pencil case doesn't make much sense, it has to be filled with all kinds of school supplies. By the way, this is something that doesn't just happen when transitioning to secondary school. It is astonishing how many pens, rulers, or erasers get left behind (where, actually?) during a school year.
If you want to save yourself a trip to the stationery store, you will find over 2000 products for class on Galaxus.
When body odors suddenly become a topic
So: The school bag and pencil case have been purchased appropriately for secondary school. But unfortunately, that is far from all.
The mandatory indoor shoes are no longer needed in secondary school, but gym class continues. At least the gym bag from primary school usually still works for secondary school.
But because teenagers sweat significantly more – and with a more intense odor – than children, a switch from cotton T-shirts to synthetic shirts and pants is almost mandatory. Although, strictly speaking, that is a fallacy: Even though synthetic fibers like polyester or polyamide (nylon) transport sweat well away from the body and dry quickly, they are the perfect breeding ground for odors. But: Among the younger generation, synthetics are simply more trendy than cotton. What can you do?
In addition, you will find a large selection of sneakers for the gym on Galaxus.
Now nothing stands in the way of the transition to secondary school. But wait: What about those odor emissions that you didn't know about from your child before? So that classmates can stand each other in secondary school too, deodorant is worth it.
Unfortunately, our son swears by the good old spray from the brand Axe, which he preferably uses in such a way that the whole house smells of «Africa». Memories are awakened, not only for colleague Michael Restin.
But if this remains the biggest problem in secondary school, we look forward to the rest of his time in secondary school with ease. At least more relaxed than the transition of his little sister to this very secondary school in a year. That will be a challenge again, not just in practical matters, but we parents will certainly shed a tear or two of unstoppable letting go.
Header image: Shutterstock / ORION PRODUCTION
Martin Rupf
Senior Editor
martin.rupf@digitecgalaxus.chHalf-Danish dad of two and third child of the family, mushroom picker, angler, dedicated public viewer and world champion of putting my foot in it.
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