By P. Humbargar

Leaving elementary school and starting middle school is an exciting yet anxious time in every child’s life, and many of us have a niece or nephew who is, or soon will be, making this big transition. Besides going from being the “biggest fish in the pond” to the littlest, our nieces and nephews will be surrounded by many new students and teachers and a whole new way of doing things. A bit of worry and fear is to be expected as they learn to deal with life at middle school, and as Savvy Aunties, we can play a part in helping them make a successful adjustment.

1. Be there for them.

Perhaps the most important thing we can do for our nieces and nephews who are beginning middle school is to simply be there for them—talk with them about their concerns and interests in a non-judgmental way and listen more than speak. Whatever experiences we may have had in our middle school years are likely much different from what children today go through, so it’s best not to assume that we understand what they are feeling. Children at this age often worry about things of which we may never have even imagined.

2. Open up the lines of communication.

Of course, getting children to talk about school is much easier said than done! Simply asking, “How was school today?” will almost always get the standard one-syllable reply, “Fine.” And asking too many direct questions can make them feel as though they are put on the spot—and thus make them reluctant to reply at all. Sometimes, a more indirect approach works better to get the conversation started, like mentioning something silly that happened during the day. They might then respond with something funny (or not so funny) that happened to them. No matter what our nieces and nephews may choose to talk about, we can keep the lines of communication open by showing genuine interest and providing the caring support they need.

3. Offer to help with complicated homework or project.

The increased workload that comes with middle school is one of the biggest changes they will have. Inevitably, our nieces and nephews will have complaints about at least one “mean” teacher who gives too much homework. And they will likely be faced with writing a paper or doing a project of some type for the first time, which can cause a lot of anxiety. Many of us have an area of expertise, or subject we are knowledgeable about, and sharing our thoughts in a fun way on a matter a niece or nephew is struggling with could be the new perspective he or she needs to effectively deal with the challenging topic.

4. Get involved with their interests.

The transition into middle school often comes with new interests—school sports, band and orchestra, drama club, and other extracurricular activities. Attending events our nieces and nephews are involved in is a great way to let them know that we care about them and share their interests.

5. Try to stay connected, especially if you’re a Long-Distance Auntie (LDA).

Aunties don’t always live nearby, so frequent phone calls, a special gift, or even text messages just to let our nieces and nephews know that we are thinking of them and are interested in what’s going on in their lives is important too.

In whatever ways we are able to share in the sometimes trying years of middle school, our nieces and nephews will without a doubt benefit from having cool aunties who care!

Photo: michaeljung
Republished: September 21, 2016