Making the Transition

Help your child navigate these typical middle-school challenges.

Ages

11-13

Making the Transition

For many kids, the transition to middle school couldn’t come at a worse time. Just as your child is wrestling with her own rollercoaster emotions, just as she’s struggling to understand and accept the physical changes in her body — all of which make her alternately distracted, forgetful, anxious, self-conscious, and argumentative — everything about the school day is changing too.

While most children look forward to these years and don’t spiral into emotional turmoil, that doesn’t mean it’s always smooth sailing. By staying involved in your child’s life, you can anticipate difficulties and be better equipped to help him roll with the punches. Here, three common challenges middle schoolers face, plus ways you can help your child meet them:

1. She has a different teacher for each subject. Instead of the supportive setting of elementary school where she had just one teacher who challenged her strengths and understood her weaknesses, she now has several teachers, each with his or her own teaching style and expectations.

What you can do now:

  • Most schools offer tours for prospective students in the late spring. Take advantage of that time to visit with your child so he can meet some of the teachers, hear how the day is structured, and learn the layout of the school so that he at least knows how to find his locker, homeroom, and the cafeteria.
  • Meet your child's advisor. Many middle schools assign an advisor, or counselor, to every student (or one for the entire grade). That person, who should be steeped in the developmental needs of early adolescence, acts as mentor, troubleshooter, and advocate.

2. Friendships shift. At the same time that your child is going through puberty and wrestling with changes in his body and swirling moods, he’s trying to figure out who’s in, who’s out, and where he stands on the social ladder. If he's attending a new school, he may be sharing a lunch table with youngsters from one or more elementary schools — kids he may not know and who don’t know him.

What you can do now:

  • Help your child manage his stress by making sure he eats right, exercises regularly, and gets enough sleep. Show him how deep breathing, visualization, or yoga can help him relax.
  • Remain approachable. Encourage your child to open up about what's going on in school — but don’t interrogate, and give advice only when asked. Your goal is to keep her talking so she realizes she can count on you.
  • Bolster social skills. If your child says she has no friends, help her find new ways to get to know classmates better. Replace “No one likes me” with “I’ll be a better listener” or “I’ll invite someone to the basketball game this weekend.” Some children miss social cues and could benefit from professional counseling to become more aware of the way their words and behavior affect others.

3. He's down on himself. Perhaps he's distracted, irritable, and doesn’t even try — and his grades show it. Perhaps he’s confused by the subject matter or, on the other hand, not challenged enough. Or perhaps he’s stuck in a rut of low self-esteem.  

What you can do now:

  • Don't overreact. Remind yourself that your child’s behavior is not unusual. Empathize with her frustrations (remind her of some of your own school difficulties). Of course, chronic lateness or forgetfulness or consistently low grades may also be a sign of a deeper learning or motivational issue. If your child continues to struggle, schedule a conference with the teacher so you can figure out what steps to take.
  • Help silence his inner critic — the little voice that tells him he’s a loser. The child who doesn’t feel good about himself will have a hard time doing well academically. To oust negative thoughts that keep him stuck, role-play how to substitute positive messages. If he says, “I can’t do anything right,” suggest that he say to himself: “Mistakes are a chance to learn. I’ll ask the teacher for help and do my best.”
  • Maintain family traditions and rituals — especially family dinners. Your tween may sit silently, but these little events will add to her sense of security and remind her of how much she is loved. Middle schoolers take a lot of hard knocks and need to know their parents are on their side when they get home. That alone can help keep your child on course.
Social Skills
Back to School
Age 13
Age 12
Age 11
Back to School Experiences
Adolescent Issues
Social and Emotional Development
Feelings and Emotions
Middle School
Transitions