Recommendations for Parents, in all realms:
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Talk to your children, often -- about what you value; about what they value. Remain approachable. Firm, but caring, involved parental support is key to keeping a child on course during the middle-school years.
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Find a mutually convenient way to communicate with your child's teachers.
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Participate in back-to-school nights and PTA meetings. Peer relationships can seem more important than family, but students need to see that you actively care about their education.
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Take advantage of the tours most schools offer for new students in the late spring. Your child will meet teachers, see how the day is structured, and get to know the layout of the school, the lockers, and so forth.
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Give your child roles of responsibility in your household. Treating youth as responsible people helps them respond with mature behavior.
