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11 Ways to Help Your Middle Schooler Have a Peaceful School Year
An Excerpt from The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe and Get Along
By Naomi Drew
8. Have your child think of at least two things that help her relax and de-stress. Exercise, playing with the dog, reading a book? Whatever it is, encourage her to do something relaxing for at least 10 minutes a day. Middle schoolers need antidotes to the tensions they experience daily.
9. Keep an eye on things and set reasonable limits. Know where your child is at all times and who she's hanging out with. Don't be afraid to set limits. As much as they might complain, kids depend on us to set limits for them until they're old enough to do so for themselves. Setting reasonable limits creates a safe and secure foundation.
10. Make sure your child isn't over-structured. Kids need time to breathe, and so do we. If your child has too many activities, time to relax, reflect and unwind disappears. Over-structuring leads to stress, exhaustion and being overwhelmed. Better to have only one or two after school activities that leave open spaces of time for sanity.
11. Love your child unconditionally and don't be afraid to show it. You may need to be more private and discreet in your expressions of affection, and never take your child's reticence to return hugs as a personal rejection. Love is still the most powerful force on earth, and that's true for people of all ages.
