By Maureen Leming — The Hun School
Original article: Navigating Middle School: 7 Tips for Student Success (Hun School) — hunschool.org The Hun School of Princeton
Overview
Middle school brings new academic, social, and personal challenges. Students are more independent, but they still need guidance and support. The article offers seven practical ways parents and students can work together to make this period more manageable and meaningful. The Hun School of Princeton
1. Set Realistic Expectations
Transitioning is hard. Remind your child that mistakes and missteps are normal. Working together to set achievable goals helps reduce frustration. The Hun School of Princeton
2. Develop Organizational Skills
With more classes and assignments, students need systems to stay on track — planners, folders, color-coding, sticky notes. It may take trial and error to find what works best. The Hun School of Princeton
3. Seek Out Teacher Support
Encourage your child to ask teachers for help. Teachers often want to support students and can guide them to helpful resources. The Hun School of Princeton
4. Build a Supportive Network
Friends, mentors, family members — having a circle to lean on makes challenges feel more manageable. Remind your child they aren’t alone. The Hun School of Princeton
5. Cultivate Resilience
Mistakes will happen. What matters is how a student responds. Encourage reflection, growth, and perseverance. The Hun School of Princeton
6. Practice Self-Care
Taking care of one’s body, mind, and emotions is key. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, hobbies, and downtime all matter. The Hun School of Princeton
7. Embrace Growth Opportunities
Challenges are chances to grow. Encourage your child to try new things, even ones that feel hard, knowing the effort itself builds strength. The Hun School of Princeton
Closing Thought
Middle school is a time of big changes and learning — for both students and parents. By supporting realistic goals, organization, asking for help, resilience, care, and growth, families can help make the journey a little smoother.
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