The transition from elementary to middle school is a tough one for many children. Between learning the layout of a larger campus, getting more advanced schoolwork, and being in a new social circle, it is easy for them to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are ways you can help your child prepare and get them excited about this big step.

How to Prepare for Middle School With Your Child

1. Take a Tour

Once you receive your child’s schedule with their classroom assignments, visit the middle school and scout out their daily route. Find their locker and show them everywhere they’ll be spending time to acquaint them with the new campus, so they’ll avoid getting lost on the first day. Bring some of their friends along for the tour to make it more of a fun event.

2. Choose an Extracurricular

Whether or not their elementary school friends are transitioning with them to their private middle school, the new school year will bring a lot of new faces into your child’s life. Encourage them to meet more people and make new friends by selecting an extracurricular, which could be anything your child is interested in, like the chess club, band, or a sports team.

3. Support Their Schoolwork

Your child may be transitioning from one teacher to multiple, and their schoolwork will increase. This is a vital time for parents to be supportive and positive. Work out an organizational schedule with your child to help them keep up with competing responsibilities, and encourage them to write it down in a planner. Attend all parent-teacher conferences and sit down with your child a few weeks into the school year to discuss how they are feeling. If you notice a dip in their grades on the first report card, do not be alarmed; stay positive and work with them to improve in the future. 

If your child is approaching the end of their elementary school journey, get them ready for middle school at Hawaii Baptist Academy. They’ve taught a rich tradition of academic excellence based in the gospel of Christ since 1949. Their teachers provide a safe and engaging learning environment along with a wide range of extracurricular programs to cultivate your child’s unique skills and interests. Learn more about their middle school program online, or call (808) 595-7585 to inquire about the enrollment process.