Help!
Aliens Have Taken Over My Kid! I am so overwhelmed by my class schedule and school assignments. Middle school can be overwhelming for many students. They are swiftly given more independence and responsibility. Most students report to six or seven different teachers, change classes, keep up with multiple assignments, and juggle sports and other commitments – and their social relationships. So much drastic change would be overwhelming for an adult, much less someone in the 11-14 age range. As a parent, it is important to work with your child on organization. Developing this skill set will not only help them now, they will use these skills throughout life. Does your middle school student own and routinely use a calendar or student planner? If not, they need one. It can be a regular calendar or you can download a calendar app. Many kids feel very comfortable with technology, so you may want to review the various organizational apps currently available online. Encourage
them to fill in their calendar and review it on a daily basis. Doing this will help them remember upcoming tests, quizzes and other important events. This one strategy alone can greatly help minimize a middle school student’s stress and overwhelming feelings.
My parents are driving me crazy. They don’t know anything about me anymore. Many of us can think back to our own early teen years and remember being moody, easily irritated and sometimes downright angry. Some young teens feel like their parents don’t understand them and so they don’t feel comfortable talking with them. It is not uncommon for students to come to the counselor’s office to complain about their parents. They feel misunderstood, micromanaged or insignificant. Many kids often complain that their parents are out of touch with what’s going on in their world. This thought process is nothing new.
What can parents do here? It’s important to make time for your middle school student. Sit down together at dinner or plan an outing so you can spend time talking about what is going on in your child’s life. Be sure to listen and not judge. Many kids just want their parents to listen! Do not ask them questions or give them feedback – unless personal safety issues are involved. Keeping the lines of communication open is key to maintaining a healthy relationship with your kid. Don’t react to everything they say. Give them lots of choices. Even if they don’t like the choices, it will give them the sense of having some control over their lives. If they ask questions, answer them honestly. They will open up and share with you when they know their thoughts and opinions will be honored and not judged harshly.
I like this boy/girl but I am not allowed to date. What do I do? A lot of middle school students want to “date.” Bear in mind that yesterday’s definition of “dating” and today’s definition can be very different. To most middle school students, dating means they are texting one another and seeing each other during locker breaks. This is most common by eighth
Learning for Life At Westminster, we grow as lifelong learners who serve and lead in a changing world. Scan this QR code to hear a student share her experience.
1424 West Paces Ferry Road, NW | Atlanta, Georgia 30327 | 404-609-6202 | www.westminster.net The Westminster Schools celebrates diversity and practices a nondiscriminatory admission policy. A Christian school for boys and girls, Westminster welcomes students of all faiths.
70 Atlanta Parent January 2013
[ Focus on Education ]
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