Getting Ready for High School Begins in Sixth Grade
High school prepares a student for college, and middle school in turn prepares him for high school. Grown & Flown has created a concise list of middle school tips that allow “kids to perform at their best and enjoy their four years to the fullest”.
Here’s the first bit of advice.
1. Do one thing well
I would make sure, if possible, that my child was above average at a sport, music, art or another activity. Not get-recruited-at-a-D1-school good, but get-picked-for-the-JV-team good. Part of high school is finding your place and that is much easier to do if you are selected for the orchestra or given a role in the school play. I know educators advocate the benefits of being well-rounded, but competence and accomplishment breed self-esteem and social well-being.
While I agree with this idea, in reality it can sometimes be really hard for a middle-schooler to find his “one thing”. Many kids are still trying out activities, and as much as parents try they may not be able to make them stick with just one or two. Sometimes the reasons are legitimate, but sometimes a lack of persistence is the cause for a young person’s fickleness. Parents should keep guiding and emphasizing the importance of practice and hard work, but some kids still never find their one thing until later in life.
Don’t despair, because the counter argument is “that if you want to raise a really successful child, you should let them quit things”. No doubt, there are many paths on the road to success.
Here is the rest of the list, and for more details you can go to the Grown & Flown site.
2. Sleep is an elixir
3. Look away from the screen
4. Good food will always be good
5. Everyone needs a trip to the deep end
6. Self-control is modeled, not taught
7. Body beautiful, take care
8. Get it together
9. Character is everything
Cost of College 