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From
Elementary to Middle School
Helping your child make the transition |
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The transition to a new school can
be daunting, whether you're in elementary school or college. So
it's no wonder that many soon-to-be-former elementary school
students have mixed emotions or experience stress when it's time
to move on to middle school.
"Many elementary school students are used to the comfort of one
classroom and one teacher," says
John R. Worrel, M.D., a
pediatrician with The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC). "The new
structure of middle school can make children nervous, because
for some students it will be the first time they have to move
from classroom to classroom and keep their own schedules." |
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Parents can also have difficulty
with the growing independence of their children. Children often
reach puberty about the same time that they head to middle
school, so there are many changes occurring in a short period of
time. This can be tough on both parents and children.
Before the first day
Before the first day at a new school, you can help your child be
prepared by visiting campus, finding out where all of his or her
classes will be, and looking at the bell schedule. Your child
might feel more comfortable going to the new school if you've
already visited the classrooms, gym, and cafeteria together.
Bell schedules, or class schedules, can seem very complicated at
first to new students. Students who are going to a school with a
block schedule may have different class periods or lunch times
each day, and keeping track of complex schedules can be
overwhelming. Spend time with your child reviewing the bell
schedule before the first day of school so he or she knows what
the daily schedule will be like.
Dress codes and rules about cell phones in middle school may
differ from those in elementary school. Some children may be too
shy or embarrassed to ask about the rules, but knowing them
before school starts can help students make a smooth transition.
Parents can also help things go smoothly by introducing
themselves to their children's teachers and encouraging
communication about their children's performance and progress.
"That way, if problems develop, you will know about it right
away," says Dr. Worrel. "And if you have a good relationship
with your child's teachers and school administrators, it will be
easier to find a solution to the problem together."
Easing the transition
"Parents should focus on being supportive and listening to their
children's concerns," advises Dr. Worrel. "Encourage your
children to talk to you about their day at school, and be
persistent. Often children will be more forthcoming if you ask
open-ended questions. As they get older, adolescents may become
more hesitant to share information with parents, so parents
might need to try new approaches to keep the lines of
communication open. "
Encouraging daily communication and maintaining a structured and
calm home environment can help you maintain a close relationship
with your child. This can be important, especially if your child
does have problems with the transition to a new school.
"Children this age may be particularly susceptible to bullying,"
reminds Dr. Worrel. "Be sure your child knows that no form of
bullying is acceptable and that all schools should have a zero
tolerance policy for bullying. Your child may not want to
confront the bully but should let you and school administrators
know immediately if they witness or experience any form of
bullying."
Establishing routines
Middle-school-age children can benefit from learning to be more
responsible and to follow routines, especially when it comes to
homework and studying since homework assignments often greatly
increase in middle school.
"Children can become stressed by the amount of assignments and
the necessity of keeping track of each class separately. They
might not have learned scheduling skills in elementary school,"
says Dr. Worrel. "Parents can help by sitting down with their
kids and helping them plan out their study schedules."
As the youngest children in middle school, sixth-graders often
look up to the older seventh- and eighth-graders, and may begin
to assert their own independence. Parents can support their
children's needs and give them more responsibilities as they
begin to transition to young adults. You can give children more
chores at home, or help them to discover volunteering or other
social outlets in their community.
Staying focused
As children experience the stresses of middle school, they need
to get enough sleep, exercise, and eat a nutritious diet so they
will stay healthy. It's up to parents to enforce bedtime to make
sure that children are well-rested and focused at school.
"If your children take lunch to school, help them plan out their
meals for the week," says Dr. Worrel. "Take this time to help
teach children about healthy food choices, and allow them to
make more choices on their own."
Watch your children for signs of stress during the transition to
the new school. Sleeplessness, lack of attention, a sudden dive
in grades, or behavioral changes can indicate a problem.
New opportunities
Middle school can be an exciting and rewarding time for
children. They have the chance to participate in more
extra-curricular activities, meet new friends, and have more
freedom. It also means new challenges and social situations.
"Sixth-graders are often establishing a new social circle, so
parents should stay in-the-know about who their children are
spending time with, and what activities they're becoming
involved in," suggests Dr. Worrel.
Though children in middle school may act more grown-up, they
still need parental guidance and advice, perhaps even more so
than they did in elementary school. A smooth transition from
elementary to middle school can help children be better prepared
for adjusting to change in the future. After all, they will soon
be moving on to high school! |
John R. Worrel, M.D., is a
board-certified pediatrician at the ADC Family Practice and
Pediatric Center, 2400 Cedar Bend Drive. ADC is a
multi-specialty clinic with physicians representing 24 medical
specialties at six locations throughout Austin and Central
Texas.
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