XxATLfan4l
Answer
Just make sure he KNOWS what is going on and what he is responsible for. He must also be highly organized and keep track of assignments and deadlines in an agenda (be sure that you check it every night).
Elementary schools tend to hand-hold kids, but once in middle school they are expected to be more independent. Just remember, in elementary school he had a few teachers and was in a class with maybe 25 - 30 kids. He will now have 7 classes/teachers a day who will each see about 150 students a day.
If he is absent, it is HIS responsibility to ask for the missed work...no one will hand it to him (or remind him) like when he was in elementary school.
If he is late to class without an excusable reason, this is cause for detention or a referral to the office (they don't play around in middle school).
Also, school lunches will be a little different. In elementary school, he maybe had a choice of 2 meals from the school menu. He will now have the option of eating french fries, pizza, and other junk food everyday if he chooses (most middle school cafeterias are like a mall food court - - - and people wonder why we have an obesity epidemic in this country!) ~ sorry to get on my soap box.
If your son is worried about being stuffed into a locker as is depicted on nearly every 'tween sitcom, there is no way that is possible. The lockers are so small, you can barely hang up a winter coat (don't buy a backpack with wheels either...it will never fit!). Have him practice using a combination lock at home so by the time school starts, he will be an old pro.
He will also have to get used to changing for gym class which he did not have to do previously (I think it is highly outdated, but I don't make the rules).
Finally, enjoy him for the next 2 years! Once he hits 8th grade, if he is like many boys that age, he will become possessed by hormones and do anything to get girls' attention. He will probably be highly annoying to you, but just know that it is a phase that will soon pass (even though it sometimes seems like an eternity).
He will do fine and within the first 2 weeks or so, he will really enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that he has.
Just make sure he KNOWS what is going on and what he is responsible for. He must also be highly organized and keep track of assignments and deadlines in an agenda (be sure that you check it every night).
Elementary schools tend to hand-hold kids, but once in middle school they are expected to be more independent. Just remember, in elementary school he had a few teachers and was in a class with maybe 25 - 30 kids. He will now have 7 classes/teachers a day who will each see about 150 students a day.
If he is absent, it is HIS responsibility to ask for the missed work...no one will hand it to him (or remind him) like when he was in elementary school.
If he is late to class without an excusable reason, this is cause for detention or a referral to the office (they don't play around in middle school).
Also, school lunches will be a little different. In elementary school, he maybe had a choice of 2 meals from the school menu. He will now have the option of eating french fries, pizza, and other junk food everyday if he chooses (most middle school cafeterias are like a mall food court - - - and people wonder why we have an obesity epidemic in this country!) ~ sorry to get on my soap box.
If your son is worried about being stuffed into a locker as is depicted on nearly every 'tween sitcom, there is no way that is possible. The lockers are so small, you can barely hang up a winter coat (don't buy a backpack with wheels either...it will never fit!). Have him practice using a combination lock at home so by the time school starts, he will be an old pro.
He will also have to get used to changing for gym class which he did not have to do previously (I think it is highly outdated, but I don't make the rules).
Finally, enjoy him for the next 2 years! Once he hits 8th grade, if he is like many boys that age, he will become possessed by hormones and do anything to get girls' attention. He will probably be highly annoying to you, but just know that it is a phase that will soon pass (even though it sometimes seems like an eternity).
He will do fine and within the first 2 weeks or so, he will really enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that he has.
Is my daughter materialistic or is this normal for tweens?
Mara
My latest shopping experience with my eleven year old DD was... Not what I expected. So, we had planned a day for just us two to go shopping. As usual, I drove her to the mall and took her to our usually starting place, JC Penney. She said, "Mom, I don't really want to shop here..." So I shrugged my shoulders, said, "Alright, let's check out The Children's Place." I glanced at my daughter for a split second just to see her face look mortified. My DD said, "I don't want to go there either." I then replied, "Well why not!"
DD: Because I will get laughed at at school!
ME: Nonsense! What about Old Navy?
DD: That's social suicide, Mom
ME: Well, then where do you want to go, Paige?
DD: Um... Let's try abercrombie! Then we can go To Forever 21, which is close by. Then we'll go upstairs and go to Aeropostale, Delias, and PacSun!
ME: Aren't those a bit mature for you?
DD: NO MOM. COME ON.
She said that in quite an angry way. We had no problem shopping at JCP, TPC, and Old Navy before. Stepping into these "tween" stores were quite a new experience for me. There was dim lighting and ear-pounding music everywhere! All in all, for my daughter's back to school shopping, we purchased one pair of jeans, a cardigan, and a hoodie from abercrombie kids, a dress from Aeropostale, two tops and a barette from Forever 21, one pair of jeans, a cardigan, and a t-shirt from Hollister, and a camisole, a dress from Abercrombie and Fitch, a backpack from PacSun (roxy brand), earrings from Claire's, and two shirts and jeans from Delias. However, I was shocked at the total everything came up to. Is it normal for my daugter to want expensive clothes from these stores? Is she materialistic or are you moms of tween girls also experiencing this?
Answer
This is normal for her age!
I know that back when I was 11, everyone, was so into growing up, and changing. Especially me, I was tired of how I dressed, I wanted to dress a little grown up.
But keep your eyes on her, because, if you let her get clothes that seem too grown up, her attitude will be horrible (by that I mean, she will change everything about herself, and become the type you do not want).
She'll get over it by 12, I know I did! Keep her focused on her school's, and maybe if you put her in programs like... math programs, she won't have time to focus on clothes, that are too grown up for her age, and she'll focus more on school ;)
Abrecombe, and Forever 21 aren't bad stores though, they're just not for 11 year olds, they're for teens! You can let her shop there, but make sure you know what she's buying, and if you don't like it, give her your opinion on it :)
Good luck!
xoxo: irina :)
This is normal for her age!
I know that back when I was 11, everyone, was so into growing up, and changing. Especially me, I was tired of how I dressed, I wanted to dress a little grown up.
But keep your eyes on her, because, if you let her get clothes that seem too grown up, her attitude will be horrible (by that I mean, she will change everything about herself, and become the type you do not want).
She'll get over it by 12, I know I did! Keep her focused on her school's, and maybe if you put her in programs like... math programs, she won't have time to focus on clothes, that are too grown up for her age, and she'll focus more on school ;)
Abrecombe, and Forever 21 aren't bad stores though, they're just not for 11 year olds, they're for teens! You can let her shop there, but make sure you know what she's buying, and if you don't like it, give her your opinion on it :)
Good luck!
xoxo: irina :)
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