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Preparing for the Middle School Transition |
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By Nancy Brown, Ph.D.
The transition to middle school may be one of the toughest transitions during childhood for both parents and kids. Some families glide through undisturbed, but for others, this is a rough road that will smooth out as everyone adjusts to the new expectations and rules. The most important thing to remember during this period is to not cut your middle schooler loose quite yet. They are not really ready for the same independence teens are given, and they need you to help them with this transition.
In general, it is not uncommon during the middle school years for kids to drastically change their effort or performance in school, and be loving one minute and aloof the next.They may also prefer peers to parents (at times) and think that parents are completely out-of-touch with their reality.
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Additional Articles |
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Recommended Web Sites
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ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Campaign: June 21
www.paxusa.org
Simply talking to your child about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone's home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it. PAX, in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, created the ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign. ASK is a national public health initiative that provides parents with real things they can do to keep their children safe. Based on the fact that over 40 percent of homes with children have a gun, many of which are kept unlocked or loaded, the ASK campaign encourages parents to ASK if there are guns in the homes where their children play. It is a simple idea that saves lives. To learn more tips to make ASKing easier, visit the PAX Web site.
Fireworks Safety Month: June
www.preventblindness.org
Independence Day celebrations can be a lot of fun, but families also need to be mindful of safety. Prevent Blindness America and other organizations are sending out safety messages to millions of Americans during the 2007 Fireworks Season. Since most of the reported fireworks-related injuries can be avoided through safe and responsible use of fireworks, the organizations advise people to treat fireworks with respect, read all of the cautions and warnings, obey local laws and use common sense. Even sparklers can be dangerous and are the second highest cause of fireworks-related injuries requiring trips to the hospital. For more suggestions on safe and responsible use of fireworks, visit the Prevent Blindness America Web site.
Home Safety Month: June
www.homesafetycouncil.org
During the month of June, the Home Safety Council embarks on a campaign to help families, communities and companies to take some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment. Learn how you can be hands-on with home safety during Home Safety Month. This year's Home Safety Month campaign theme -- Hands on Home Safety -- asks the public to take some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from such leading hazards as falls, fires and burns, and poisonings. Visit the Home Safety Council’s Web site to learn more about how you can create a safer home.
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| Featured Physicians |
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Margie D. Lim, M.D.
is a physician at PAMF’s Redwood City Center. Dr. Lim received her M.D. degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1995. She completed her residency at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. She is board certified in Internal Medicine.
Glara G. Kang, M.D.
is a physician at PAMF’s Fremont Center. Dr. Kang received her M.D. degree from the University of St. Louis in 2001. She completed her residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. She is board certified in pediatrics.
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