MIDDLE SCHOOL SURVIVAL TIPS

HOW TO HELP YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER

The Middle School Age is Unique

Puberty drives it all

The limbic brain develops before the relatively undeveloped prefrontal cortex

Who Am I?Time of identity formation

Intensely social time - hunger for belonging, community, social status, and emotional closeness

Separation from family; peers become more important

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL ISSUES

YOUR CHILD MIGHT DEAL WITH:

Issues with Self Esteem

Academic Pressure

Drama

TemptationDisappointment and Rejection

Issues with Self EsteemIssues with Self

Esteem

Five elementary schools

Larger group to compare

"Imaginary audience"

Trying to find who they "are"

Academic Pressure

Managing seven classes and expectations

Organization

Adapting to different teacher

styles

Striving for the number, not the

knowledge

Thinking ahead to high school, SATs,

college

Drama

Bullying, including cyberbullying

In group fighting

Social media/cell phones perpetuate

drama

Anti-social behavior, including

aggression and anger

Temptation

First time many

experiment with

substances

Peer pressure

Curiosity caused by

media

Disappointment and Rejection

Competitive extra-curricular

activities

Fewer opportunities for limelight

Possibly the first broken

heart

Not part of their "chosen" group

WHAT IS CTMS DOING?Wolf Strong, etc., building community

Counselors - life skills lessons, open door policy, guidance lessons, ad hoc

groups

Caring relationships with teachers and staff

Variety of school activities

Understanding the special social issues of middle schoolers

Well designed lessons appropriate for the social and emotional needs of middle schoolers

Recognizing and valuing individual students

What Can Parents Do? Keep lines of

communication open with positive

presuppositions - stay informed

Teach self advocacy - find the balance

between support and rescue

Help her/him find a group outside school

Help them say no and be true to themselves

Help him/her explore a wide variety of activities and interests

Recognize and value their uniquenesses

Continue to instill and talk about your family's core values

Find opportunities for him/her to volunteer and serve others

MONITOR CELL PHONE AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE

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