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Helping Your Child Navigate Middle School
One of the hardest times of my life, before adulthood that is, was when I was in middle school. My family moved around a lot, and I am sure that did not help much. This is a time when children are becoming teenagers, and all of the hormones in their bodies are beginning to change. They enter this time as the youngest in the school, and the age differences are very pronounced. These years can be hard, but parents can help in some small ways. Before you child goes into middle school, talk with them about growing up. This does not have to be the birds and the bees talk, but things will be different for them with peers and older teens alike. Make sure it is known to them that they can talk to you about anything. Remind them that feeling confused about their bodies, their friends, and the opposite sex is common, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. You want to know that when they run into trouble and confusion in middle school that you are going to be there with them if they choose to open up to you. On a lighter note, homework is going to be a bit different for them when they go into middle school. They may not have much while in elementary school, and the new responsibility of having a lot to do each night may be overwhelming to them. Some districts will help with this by having some small amounts of homework before they hit middle school, but even then, the amount and the responsibility can be overwhelming to a child. You may have to help them and encourage them for a while before they get used to having so much more work to do when they get home at night. Middle school is also about growing and learning, and there are some things that parents should not get involved with no matter how hard they try. Friends will come and go, and fights will happen. As long as they are not physical in nature, or go on for more than a few days, parents should butt out and allow the kids to sort it out on their own. This can be tough, as a parent’s first instinct is to help take away the pain, but this is an essential learning tool for growing up. Those in middle school and beyond are going to learn a lot more when they go through some of these things on their own. In fact, they will be better and stronger adults in the end. Offer support, but let them figure out the solution on their own.
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