Whether the move is one floor up or three miles west, the transition from elementary school to middle school is significant. Since middle school teachers often expect more from their students in terms of workload and subsequently give more difficult exams or assignments (such as *gasp* research papers), new eating, sleeping and study habits could be necessary for transitioning children to remain successful in school. Although details vary from school districts and states, students across the country will encounter similar hurdles as they enter into middle school this fall. The best way for a parent to prepare their child is by knowing what to expect when that back to school bus rolls around the summer bend.

Harder work and more of it! Hopefully your child’s middle school teachers will not throw massive amounts of difficult reading, exams, and essays at the class as soon as the students return. Many teachers understand that their new middle schoolers are still in elementary school mode and will nicely aide in the transition process, easing the children into what’s required of them. However, this is not always the case and it is important to prepare your child for the worst. Explain to them before the first day of class that they will be given harder assignments this year and more of them. However, for those parents with academic children that stress about school work, be sure not to let your child get overwhelmed before school even starts. Explain also the perks and benefits of middle school such as the helpful guidance counselors, or the improved resources in the library.

Bright eyes and bushy tails! To succeed in middle school, it is even more important for kids to get right amount of rest. Many sleep experts believe that middle schoolers need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Sleep patterns and academic success often coincide because the brain stores and secures information learned during the school day during the night, as well as replaces chemicals and problem-solves. Because of this, parents should start their children on a regular sleep schedule before school starts, in case the schedule isn’t easily adapted. Also, since the brain works on problems throughout the night, ensure that your children work on homework at night, preferably before bed, but especially not during breakfast or the bus ride to school.

Cafeteria food= junk food! Although this problem could have begun in elementary school, your child will certainly encounter a number of unhealthy food options in their middle school cafeteria. It is impossible to avoid the junk, but healthy eating habits are important for kids of all ages. Especially for growing children in middle school, a healthy diet is essential; it can decrease stress and depression, and improve kids’ focus and grades in class. Anticipate that your kids will make poor cafeteria choices (what self-respecting middle schooler would choose an apple over cheese fries?) and take steps to improve their diets. Make sure your middle schooler is awake every morning with enough time to eat breakfast (the benefits of breakfast are well-known, so there is no reason to detail them here), but also try to insert a fruit into the meal—such as by cutting up a banana to mix-in with a sugary cereal. The same applies to dinner, except push vegetables during this meal. Allow your kids to choose what they eat in the cafeteria a few times a week, if they get some freedom to eat junk it won’t seem so appealing to only eat junk when they aren’t being watched. Pack a lunch for your child a couple times a week as well; this will give you some control of what they eat at lunchtime, but also give them some freedom of choice throughout the week.

Middle school is certainly new territory for many children. It is a transition that is imminent and unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or traumatic.

Talk to your kid about what to expect: more work, a different grading scale (As and Bs instead of check-pluses or “good jobs”), bigger classrooms, diverse clubs and activities. Be honest: explain the good, the bad, and the scary of middle school. The more they know going in, the less likely they are to be shell-shocked. Throughout the school year pay attention to your middle schooler and look for signs of bullying, stress, and/or depression. Take steps to avoid any potential problems your child might encounter in school by communicating with them daily, insisting on healthy sleep and eating habits, and celebrating their achievements.

Stop by www.artisticsensations.com for back to school essentials for your new middle schooler this season and visit this link on the PBS website for some great tips geared towards kids, not parents, on surviving middle school.

Posted by Jessica on Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at 12:54 pm.