Helping Middle School Kids Adjust 

By: Margie Frisco, MA Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-SMiddle School can be challenging for the parents and the kids. Kids are trying to adjust to a new school with new people. Parents are trying to change to what can feel like a new kid. The transition to middle school will be one of the most complicated transitions children will experience. Different resources to help them adjust are available to help you. 

Ways to Help Your Middle School Kids:

Involvement is not just at home or school. There are many ways a parent can help their middle schooler. For instance, studies have shown that middle school kids do better with parent involvement. Parent involvement is most effective both at home as well as in school. 

Helping Your Middle School Kids at Home:

As your child grows, what they need from a parent changes. For example, a young child might need help changing or preparing their sandwich. A middle school kid might not need help with those things. But they might still need help at home with managing their time. Lots of middle school kids have difficulty adjusting to managing chores, grades, and doing things they want to do. Helping your child figure out what works best for them is one way to help. Another way parents can help at home is to be prepared for a change in their child. Many parents describe their middle school kids changing into a teenager overnight. Being ready for the change in attitude and behavior can be helpful for the parent. Lastly, it is ok to need help. If further assistance is required, group counseling might be an option. Group therapy allows middle schoolers to share their feelings, feel validated by their peers, and learn by seeing others' social interactions. In group therapy, the Center provides a space. We talk about healthy communication, ways to regulate their emotions, learning to celebrate small victories, and self-care. 

Helping Your Middle School Kids at School:

A significant change in middle school is the school work. Not only do they now have more teachers, but they have to go to multiple classrooms, the schoolwork gets more complicated, and they become painfully aware that multitasking is mandatory. Keep in mind the parent involvement will change too. Since your kid is getting older, they can be more responsible for their school work. They will still need help adjusting to taking on more responsibility. Middle schoolers can learn from watching you. They are watching how you react when you get discouraging news from work or when you have to work together with family members/co-workers. Setting an example of working effectively can genuinely influence your middle schooler. Is your middle schooler understanding and developing academically? Are they struggling in one subject? Then take that information and find resources that help your middle schooler directly—also, getting to know where your middle schooler is developmentally helpful. Even if they are acing all of their classes, are they involved in their school? Studies have shown that kids involved in after-school activities tend to adjust better in middle school. After-school activities can be anything, ranging from athletics, clubs, dance, or anything that interests your child.

Begin Counseling at Our Center in Katy, TX! 

If you would like more help with parenting strategies for raising a middle schooler, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! To begin counseling in Katy, Texas, follow these three steps: 1. Contact our office to set up an appointment or get more information on parenting. 2. Meet with one of our understanding therapists.3. Find other ways to help your middle schooler with therapy today! 

Other Therapy Services We Offer: 

Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men's issues, women's issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!