Well, you got your child through the preschool years, made it through elementary school, and now it's time to move up to middle school. Some children look forward to attending middle school while others absolutely dread it. Middle school marks the end of the childhood era, yet it's not quite into adulthood. Peer pressure in middle school can be overwhelming to a youngster, especially if they lack self-confidence. Many of the friends that they spent all the years with in elementary school will be attending different schools, and they are faced with the daunting task of making new friends.

It's perfectly natural for a child to feel nervous about entering middle school. It's completely different from anything he has known. For one thing, elementary school was spent in one classroom, while middle school usually requires one to attend classes in a different classroom for each subject. Fear of getting lost and looking foolish will bother your child. It's recommended that your child attend any orientation days that the school offers, so that he can become familiar with the locations of the different rooms.

Activities will be quite different also. Sports, clubs, after school functions, and so on are all part of middle school. It's a good idea for your child to find something he is interested in and join the club, thereby meeting students who share the same interest. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but children usually settle in after a few weeks and feel right at home. Your child is not the only one with these fears. All middle school students are new at this, and generally feel the same.

Talking honestly and openly to your child will help him establish a clear picture of what middle school will be like. Tell him how you felt on your first day. Let him know that it's okay to be nervous and that everyone feels the same way when going into something new and different. Ask, but don't insist that he tell you all about the first days. It's better if he can work it out on his own. Be there if he wants to talk about anything, but don't push.

Homework is another big difference between elementary and middle school. Set aside a time for all assignments to be finished and let him know that you will help if he needs it, but the work will be completed by him, not you. Some parents make the big mistake of thinking they are doing their child a favor by completing the assignments for him, and they are not. The child won't be learning anything and upon entering high school will find that he is hopelessly behind.

Your child will also discover a social life that he never had before. You might not like it when the phone starts to ring all the time, but it's all a part of growing up. You just have to grin and bear it because that's what parenthood is all about.