Big School Time

Tips For Parents to Help Their Kids Transition to Middle School

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

My daughter just graduated from the 5th grade and is excited to finally be a middle schooler. Despite all of her excitement, she's also pretty nervous. She said she's heard the middle school teachers aren't as nice as they are in elementary school, and that the 8th graders are mean to the 6th graders. Do you have any advice for how I can help her make this transition?

Sincerely,

She's a Big Girl Now

A:

Dear She's a Big Girl Now,

Congratulations on your daughter's 5th grade graduation! This is a very exciting time in her life, but like all transitions, anxiety can come into play.

Tips for parents to help their elementary school grads transition to middle school:

1. Visit the middle school during the end of elementary school. If a class trip can be arranged, that's the best situation. This will allow the student to get a real vision of the new school while the "big kids" are in session there, rather than relying on fantasy and horror images conjured up.

2. Take a tour of the school during the summer to point out key venues -- like bathrooms, cafeteria, library, entrances and exits, principal's office, etc. Your child will probably be mortified at going with you, the parent, so do it with a couple of his or her peers and their parents too. You won't seem as much of an embarrassment.

3. Help your child be prepared. Get them a backpack ahead of time. School supplies should be bought ahead of time, and the backpack stocked with pens, pencils, erasers, etc. for the first day of school. Send lunch money and some food -- either a packed lunch or some snacks. Sometimes kids are intimidated by buying lunch. Sometimes the food isn't good. Sometimes they have a nervous stomach. Sometimes they lose their lunch money.

4. When clothes shopping let your child guide the decisions. Even if you think his or her choices are ridiculous, outrageous or crazy, let him or her buy some trendy things -- stopping short of breaking the bank or exposing flesh that is inappropriate. Peer pressure is real for your child. Let them feel cool because of a shirt or a pair of shoes -- at least on the first day of school.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

© 2004-2009 AskApril.com, LLC. All rights reserved. AskApril®, AskApril.com®, and Ask April® are registered trademarks owned by Masini Enterprises, Inc. This material can only be republished and redistributed if it is kept in it's original form, including, but not limited to, all AskApril branding, banners, links, books, and credits.