Tips for Parents with a Child Transitioning Into Middle School

As a parent, there always seems to be milestones that happen in your child’s life that you need to be prepared for. From the day they were born, you’ve more than likely had situations and varying obstacles pop up that you’ve had to overcome, embrace and communicate with them about. If your child is transitioning into middle school for the first time, your new goal and focus will be on making certain that they make the transition with as few bumps as possible along the way. While it may not be easy, it is absolutely possible! Try a few of these parenting tips to help you and your child with transitioning into middle school in a positive light!

Ways To Help Your Child Transition Into Middle School Successfully

The start of middle school means so many changes for you and your child! In order for you both to succeed in this new chapter of both of your lives, these tips may help you find that footing that you need!

Talk to your child about homework expectations

Now that they’ve left the land of elementary school and transitioning into middle school, homework will start to become a more regular event. If your child has never had a teacher prior that gave homework, this can be a massive wakeup call to them! Before the start of middle school, sit them down and talk to them about the importance of homework and how there will more than likely be more work done at night as well following a full day of school. Communicating with them beforehand will help to prepare them when the day comes that they are lugging home a bag full of books for their homework assignments.

Be engaged and involved with your child

From the moment that your child walks through those doors to their new middle school, things will change. It may not be sudden or happen overnight, but it will. They’ll start to become a bit more independent and will start to want to explore different activities on their own. While that’s wonderful and a great way for them to start finding out what they like and who they are, remember that you still need to hold on to them as well!

Be active in their activities and show interest in their interests. Just because your new middle schooler may start to act as though they are older and more mature, that in no way shape or form means that they need you any less. Be there for them when they need you and always be there for them waiting in the background as well. You may think that it goes unnoticed, but it doesn’t!

Communicate with your child about bullying issues

No parent ever wants to think that their child will be on the giving or receiving end of bullying issues, but it happens. Starting a new school means that the hallways will be filled with all new people as well. Some of those people your child may get along with, and some they may not. Start the conversation with them before school begins about the importance of communicating early with someone in charge if bullying is occurring.

Sit down together and read the middle school’s policy and stance on bullying issues so that your child understands that it’s a serious matter that the school, and you don’t take lightly. It’s never an easy conversation to have, but it’s absolutely an important one. Support your child, their thoughts, and their emotions so that they know if anything type of bullying does start to happen that they are 100% confident and comfortable to come and talk to you about it.

Understand that you’ll start to see less of your child on a daily basis

With starting middle school comes an abundance of outside factors and extracurricular activities. When your little one was in elementary, whatever activities that they did outside of school you were right there with them, watching on the sidelines. In middle school, it’s not quite like that. The difference is that they’ll still want to be involved in activities before and after school, but they will be doing these activities more independently and on their own.

You’ll still be driving, dropping and picking them up, but you won’t find the want for you to hang around from your child any longer. It’s nothing personal, at all. It’s just another indicator that them starting middle school is the first step in them starting to become a bit more independent.

Be Excited For Them Transitioning into Middle School

If the thought of your child transitioning into middle school worries you, relax! You’ve spent the last several years preparing them for this day, while also unknowingly preparing yourself. Every lesson, talk, and moments that you’ve spent communicating with them and talking to them about life, you’ve also been learning from yourself as well. If you feel that you aren’t ready for them to start middle school, you are! Be happy for them and their new chapter in life, and just remember to be there with them for every step of the way…even if that means you’re walking a few steps behind to give them space for their newly found independence.

Winona Rogers

Winona Rogers is the author of Life Family & Fun a national blog focusing on parenting, easy recipes, Home & DIY, Lifestyle, Family Fun and Travel.Her site was nominated as the Top 10 Parenting Blogs in Atlanta, Top Disney Blog, Family Travel Expert and has been featured in media on 11Alive Atlanta & Company. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family and cook. Winona and her husband have four children and five grandchildren living in Atlanta, Georgia.