They grow up so quickly! Your child is at the threshold of middle school. It seems like it was just yesterday when they were timid about attending preschool. Now they’re off to sixth grade. Here’s how to better prepare them and yourself for the ‘next level’ of schooling.
Discuss Apprehensions
Going from grade school to middle school is a major shift. There are different teachers, harder classes, and additional homework. Plus, your sixth grader will be attending school with “teenagers,” older students in seventh and eighth grade. Your child is bound to reserve reluctance for something. Make them feel comfortable about discussing their thoughts and feelings with you. Most to-be sixth graders are excited, yet discussing any anxieties makes a parent more aware and ready to help.
Balance Life and School
Preteens are social and at an age when they like to be with friends (with limited parental guidance). Having friends and socializing is important to childhood development, yet encourage your young student to balance social life with the demands of school. In some cases, you may need to have conversations with your child and set limits regarding when they can go out (after homework and chores are finished) and how long they can stay out on a weeknight (until 8pm). Also, don’t wait to see a poor grade on a report card; ask your child how well they are doing in each subject and consider getting a tutor for the challenging subjects.
Talk About Bullying
Bullying is an issue during middle school years. This generation’s children have to deal with bullies at school and online; cyberbullying, being targeted by bullies on social media, etc. Let your kids know that it’s not okay for others to make them feel pressured, disrespected, or in danger. Remind them to let you know about any aggressive and unethical peer behavior.
Change Study Behavior
School becomes more difficult in middle school. Additionally, some schools have accelerated and honors classes. Kids need to form good study habits in middle school. A daily planner may help your child delegate time for each subject and homework assignments. Also, middle school is when students are given the PARCC test. Consider commercial and online study resources in addition to keeping an eye on your preteen’s study habits. Consider private tutoring, tutor services, or school-related aid too.
Keep It Positive
Ultimately, middle school is a great time in a preteen’s life. One grows more mature, develops a personality, and explores extracurricular and interpersonal interests. Be sure your child has a positive outlook about transitioning to a new school. Middle school invites opportunity to play a sport, join a club, and make more friends.
Visit the School
Visit the school with your child so both parties become familiar with the premises, number of levels, hallways, etc. If you already have your child’s roster, you can take a tour around the school and see the classrooms before the first day. Contact the school’s secretary to see if you can schedule a tour.
Tom Brookes is a teaching assistant who helps out at his son’s school 3 times a week. He writes about teaching, and parenting, sharing his knowledge with other moms and dads.
Great tips. Middle school is when the school waters start to get murky with things like more classes and the pressure to be popular.
Sixth grade can be a scary time. Everything changes all at once. Thanks for sharing these great tips.
I am laughing to myself,. We thought we were totally prepared for middle school, it was across the street from elementary school, and he was moving up with 20 friends. But, we did not know he would have different thoughts in his head. We got through a the first few rough months and now he is in 8th grade and King of the school. Having kids is a roller coaster ride!
Middle school is such a big adjustment for kids. It’s so important to talk everything over and be prepared!
These are all great tips. I had one just enter sixth grade this year and this list would have been a godsend for me. I was a wreck, but of course she’s doing awesome and then some, while showing me all my worrying was in vain.
I like the idea of becoming familiar with the school beforehand. Bullying is a concern as they move to higher grades. Keeping a positive mindset and explaining how to with our kids will help tremendously. Middle school is coming up next year so we need the advice.
These are great tips. I would definitely want to visit the school and do a tour.
Middle school can definitely be a difficult transition. My oldest was able to easily juggle multiple classes, but I know that will be a struggle for her younger sister when she enters the big leagues next year.
The anxiety is real when it comes to transitioning into middle school. These are great tips to help make the shift a little easier.
My friend’s husband says all the time that middle school was the worst. Kids need a lot of support through middle school!
I don’t know about everyone else, but 6th and 8th grade were okay. It was 7th that was awful! These are great survival strategies to share.
My nephew is in middle school and it is definitely drastically different. My nephew even has a few AP classes, but I am a little worried about him. He is starting to say he isnt given homework so hopefully his grades doesnt go down because the work is speeding up.
These are very helpful tips! It was never easy to prepare kids for middle school. That is why I love reading helpful tips. Glad I’ve found this!
My kids school is a called a middle school, its JK-8 so they don’t really have to do much to prepare but my one daughter will be heading to 6th next year and she will for sure need these tips as we will be moving and the next school she goes to will be 6-8 and her sister who will be in gr 5 wont be there with her!
These are great tips for middle schoolers. My oldest just started middle school this year. It’s been an adjustment.
I remember when my kids transitioned into middle school. These are great tips to get your child prepared.
Great tips! This is such a tough transition for kids to make. I know my kids struggled when they moved to Middle School.
These are great tips. I remember 6th grade being scary at first but it was a good time. I will remember these tips when my kids head into middle school.
Oh, this is very interesting. Middle school, 6th grade is not that easy. As parents, we should really prepare our kids.
Great tips for Mom and Dad! Middle school can be scary if parents don’t have a good preparation for their kids. Everything will be so new to our children and we need to know what the right thing to do if some thing happens to them!
Great tips. Middle school is an important transition for our kids and we should prepare carefully to help them do well. Thank you for sharing.
I remind my kids including my nieces whenever they start their school years even some time during school time. What I want to stress to them is bullying. However, thanks for all your share.