Raising Resilience in Middle Schoolers
Forgetting your locker combination. Making new friends. Getting lost in the hallway. Exploring new interests and activities. Middle school comes with a lot of new things to figure out. Some of these things may be challenging and scary, and others may be fun and exciting. Through it all, your middle schooler needs your help learning how to build resilience and cope with the ups and downs.
In this article:
Connecting with your middle schooler
As your middle schooler becomes more independent and spends more time with peers, you may not feel as close to them as you used to be. By intentionally making time for regular connection, you’re giving your child a chance to talk about what’s on their mind, express their feelings and share their needs.
Teaching your child about limits, screen time and safety
Your child may be learning to handle new levels of independence and all that comes with it. It’s not only natural, but it’s also important for kids to flex those independent muscles (e.g., trying things on their own)—it builds confidence! At the same time, kids this age are still struggling with impulse control, problem-solving and decision-making. They need our help learning appropriate limits and expectations.
Helping your child handle new experiences and feelings
As kids continue to grow and develop, they face new situations and experience new feelings. While your middle schooler might act as though they don’t need your help, they do! They still need help learning how to identify, express and cope with their feelings in healthy ways. Understanding how they feel gives kids a sense of control and helps them manage stress.
Printable Resilience Resources
Print out these resources to work on raising resilience with the children in your life.
If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225. You can also chat or text for support by downloading the MyGCAL app in the app store or on Google Play. For those outside of Georgia, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Any thoughts of suicide should be taken seriously.