.Parenting: Easing the change to middle school
August 20th, 2008, 6:49 pm Hobbies News
Halfway through the month of August, thoughts turn away from summer fun toward school preparation, and for parents of kids making the transition to middle school, there is typically a bit more angst and preparation required. The kids are contemplating their new territory, social scene, higher academic demands, and of course, the de rigueur new outfit that will provide that important boost of self-confidence to help them navigate the first day of school.
This is the time for parents to consider what pre-teens may be worrying about, and to do what you can to help prepare them and yourself for this important transition.
It’s helpful to think about two areas of change: pre-teen development and the school environment.
Twelve-to-13 year olds bring with them their own set of developmental milestones, and many parents will already have noticed some of the intriguing — as well as the less desirable but albeit transitory — changes in emotional development over the last while.
These early adolescent years are a time of rapid physical, emotional, and social change. Much of this culminates in their inability to show you how much you are still needed, but please know that you are still very much needed!
During this stage, children develop a deeper capacity to understand the world around them. They develop the ability to see how things are connected conceptually, to think more abstractly. This translates into the type of learning they will be required to engage in at school.
If you are the parent of a 12-year-old girl, you may have already noticed physically changes such as breast development, body hair, and differences in fat distribution. Menstruation may have begun and, depending on your daughter’s preferences and sports activity (swimming, for instance), she may need mum’s guidance in the “pad versus tampon” area. This is a critical time to support your daughter’s healthy and positive self-image. Girls of this age are at greater risk for developing eating disorders than boys, and worries about appearance and weight are a common way girls of this age express their low self-esteem.
Research tells us that one in four 13- to 18-year-old girls in Ontario report engaging in at least one symptom of an eating disorder; and a significant amount of both male (25 per cent) and female (30 per cent) children, including those as young as 10 to 14 years, are dieting to lose weight despite being within a healthy weight range.
Tags: 13 year olds, body hair, critical time, developmental milestones, emotional development, first day of school, month of august, pre teens, school environment, self confidence, two areasRelated posts
