On Your Mark, Get Set, GROW!

The time has finally come for your child to transition from primary to pre-adolescent students. For many students and parents, the transition from elementary to middle school comes with lots of excitement and a few stressors. From this point on, parents will begin to see their children develop the skills needed to grow into young adults. This new milestone can be overwhelming for some; The George Lucas Educational Foundation provided some advice for students and their families as they prepare to embark on their new, exciting journey into middle school.

1.      Use your plan: Encourage students to go over their assignments and syllabus daily to keep up with deadlines and requirements. Purchasing a planner or using a planning App is a great way to teach your child to stay organized.

2.      Reach out to teachers: It is important for students to become comfortable with speaking with their teachers. If students are confused about an assignment, encourage them to send an email to their teacher or practice at home how to ask for help while at school. Students should be empowered to be their own advocates.

3.      Loosen the reins: As students begin to grow into their newfound independence, encourage them to handle tasks on their own, step aside, and allow your child to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Watching your child grow can be incredibly nerve-racking. Adolescent years come with many changes. You may start to see changes in your child’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Having conversations early on about puberty, peer-pressure and bullying will help prepare students for the all-too-common middle school scenarios. Provide a safe space for children to address any issues or concerns they may have early on and introduce additional resources if they ever want to talk to someone outside of their family structure.

For additional tips and resources, you can visit: https://www.edutopia.org/