- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preteenagers today articles
- preteenagers today q&a
- teenagers today articles
- teenagers today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
A Critical Stepping Stone
10 Tips to Help Your Child Breeze Through Middle School
By Kate Midden
As an elementary school wunderkind, a middle school failure and a tenth-grade dropout, I faced the consequences of my poor life choices at an early age. Married at 10, pregnant at 18 and working to support my two children at 24, I woke up to the value of education late. I got my G.E.D. and started taking classes at the local university at night. Nine years later, I received my degree. Middle school was the turning point in my downward spiral, my painful entry into the world of hard knocks.
Middle school is a critical stepping-stone in every child's life. Between the ages of 10 and 14, children experience one of the most emotionally difficult and academically challenging periods in their lives. The decisions they make during these formidable years will have a huge impact on their future success and happiness. Researchers have identified ninth grade as the most critical point to intervene and prevent students from losing motivation, failing and dropping out of school. How can parents help their children succeed and even excel through these difficult years?
I recently interviewed my daughter, a battle-tested middle school teacher and my mother, who supported eight children through the trials and joys of middle school, to attempt to discover the secrets to fighting the middle school blues. Addressing the topic from three different perspectives, we created a list of 10 important tips for parents approaching this difficult stage.
Teach your child the value of education – even when the subject matter doesn't seem applicable. Explore opportunities to generate new interests and foster ideas. If your child hates science, but wants to be a veterinarian, ask your veterinarian to spend a few moments discussing the importance of biology and physics. If your child loves rap bands, ask them to write an essay on a band and their music to help educate you. Be creative in your efforts – you might be surprised how much you learn.
Partner with your child to discover and explore their personal strengths. Reinforce their positive attributes daily. Don't go overboard showering undeserved praise, but make sure you recognize their accomplishments. Assist them with their weaknesses. For example, if your child is heavy and needs to lose weight, teach them the importance of balanced diet and exercise. Better yet, start a healthy-living plan at home for the entire family, change your meal focus and start walking or exercising with your child. Kids are unkind to each other at this age, tackling things together will help your child develop the self-esteem and confidence to persevere.