Is your child starting his or her first year of middle school or high school? Congratulations on this important milestone in your child's life! We polled our Facebook audience to get a few tips from some experienced parents. Here are some of the responses*:
- Encourage your child to try an elective that they really have an interest in, then if your child doesn't like it, they can switch before high school. Utilize the communication system your school offers. The kids can communicate with the class group or email teacher directly. Parents, too. ~ Kristine V.
- Encourage your student to try out for a bunch of different clubs/sports...even if they have no experience. Your student will never know what they'll end up liking. Encourage your student to go to the dances. They are lots of fun and not intimidating....just a big fun get together with friends! Let your student have responsibility with regards to their assignments/projects. ~ Kimberly L.
- As your student enters their new school, there will be many new faces. Some personalities will mesh and others may not. If ever your student comes across a problem or situation that they're unsure of, offer to listen. ~ Lisa N.
- Change isn't bad. It's scary for the students and adults, but just like any new thing, be open to new experiences, don't be afraid to talk about your worries with each other (parent to student and vice versa) and know that your school has resources for all parents to use to help your kids get through! ~ Megan B.
- Limit social media. Make contact with the teachers at the first of the year. Let the teachers know you, as a parent, are available to talk. Sign up for parent portals and actively check your child's progress. The middle school years bring huge changes! ~ Emma W.
- Your child DOES have homework... check the online parent portal (or the like) OFTEN! From an educator: don't let your kid walk around school smelling like Pigpen. ~ Simone S.
- Avoid sleepovers with more than two girls after elementary school! Seriously - I had four daughters. Don't! ~ Lynn H.
- Be patient! This is a period of adjustment and will come with some difficulties. Just support them the best you can and let them know you're there for them. ~ Charlynn L.
- Advice to the parent: They have enough friends. They need you to be their parent! ~ Suzie S.
- Be an active part of your child's school. Be involved. ~ Karen S.
We want to add these tips:
- Encourage your child to use the combination lock you purchased for his or her P.E. locker. His or her belongings are not necessarily safe in a backpack just because it's closed. We learned this the hard way when one child's phone was stolen, and another child's phone was completely stripped of all information.
- Talk to your child about phone responsibility. Past the regular "don't send inappropriate photos of yourself," they also need to know that they should avoid allowing peers to surf their phones. They can send the picture text or an inappropriate message from your child's phone or social media accounts, and your child can be held responsible.
- Middle school and high school are NOT the same as when we attended 20 or 30 years ago, so try to limit, "when I was your age, we did this or that." Some of the experiences are universal, but today's teens deal with the additional pressure of social media - measuring up to someone else's Instagram life, fear of missing out (Are all my friends hanging out without me? Why wasn't I invited?), and the fact that EVERY little thing that they do can be posted immediately. We need to be understanding of that and offer to listen as needed.
- Mood swings. There will be mood swings.
- Now more than ever, we encourage you to reduce your own phone time and listen. Your child won't open up as much, but when they do, be ready to actively listen.
*Responses have been edited and/or condensed for publishing.
