If you thinking of pulling your pre-teen from public school or you are embarking on the junior high years for the first time, fear not! it can be done. Here are some tips to keep your head in the game.
- Pre-teens are beginning to question the world around them. This is completely normal and is their natural bent. Capitalize on this natural curiosity. Take time and energy to engage them in discussions. Resist the desire to lecture but rather help them draw their own logical conclusions. Large classroom settings do not usually allow for this but if you are wanting to expand their discussion group find a classical co-op. We use Classical Conversations and find it to be perfect for teaching students tools for evaluating the information coming at them.
- Be prepared for some (or a lot of) balking. This is not an indicator you should stop homeschooling. Press on! I often hear moms talk about making sure their teen is always happy with the schooling situation whether it be the co-op they are in or a curriculum they are using. Life doesn’t work that way. Some flexibility is fine but don’t wear yourself out trying to make them happy. Sometimes they need to figure out how to adapt.
- There are many online and in-person options for classes and activities. This is where homeschooling can really shine. Outschool.com offers live classes that are so exciting and diverse. I have had my pre-teen students take baking classes, a semester-long class on outdoor activities, or an in-depth study of the Westward Expansion. In-person activities could include volunteering, child development (aka babysitting), or art, dance or music classes.
- Let your pre-teen learn hands-on and experiment. Their favorite YouTuber is doing a Slime experiment and they want to replicate it? Let them go for it. Once a wise woman overheard me complain about messes my kids were making. She said she always let her son build or make what he wanted because if he couldn’t do it at home, where was he going to do it? I have tried to remember that when my daughter is making slime for the tenth time in a month. Plus living in a world where we are always competing with screens, creativity with their hands should become a priority.
- Watch for signs of anxiety or depression. I was bullied in seventh grade and went from being a carefree pre-teen to suicidal in a matter of three months. That was decades before social media. My heart truly breaks for what the social media pressure is doing to our young people. Even the most secure and confident young person can be driven to feelings of desperation when either bullied or stressed. Anxiety and depression can look different for everyone but parents need to be on high alert. The research on the gut microbiome’s effect on mental wellness is growing. If your pre-teen is stressed, takes their medicines, eats a standard American diet, or is exposed to chemicals in our environment, chances are their gut microbiome is out of whack. Research has found 90% of our feel-good serotonin and dopamine are made in the gut. If the microbiome is unbalanced those hormones aren’t made properly and they aren’t reaching the brain. Amare Global offers a natural line of supplements that corrects the gut microbiome and effectively works to stabilize mood and decrease feelings of anger and sadness.
The junior high years can be challenging. I am right in the middle of it as I type this article. My prior experience homeschooling my older children did not prepare me very well for this particular child. But those experiences have helped me see the rewards on the other end. So I press on and I encourage you to as well.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This advice is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the guidance of a medical professional before making any changes to your routine.
Kathy Davis is a mom of four who began her homeschool journey in 2006 when her oldest started pre-school. In May 2021, she graduated her oldest. She is passionate about helping moms stay the homeschooling course while not losing themselves in the process. She mentors burn-out moms and helps them not only survive but thrive! In April 2020, she launched her website and started working with Amare Global to offer practical support, solutions, and community for moms who don’t want to lose their dreams and passions during motherhood. Feel free to email her HERE. To try Kid’s Line by Amare Global that includes Kid’s Fundamentals, Kid’s Mood and Kid’s VitaGBX CLICK HERE. Kid’s Fundamentals is an all-natural supplement that specifically rebuilds the gut microbiome to support mental wellness. Kid’s Mood provides significant benefits for mood, stress resilience, cognitive performance, calmness, focus and positivity in both kids and adults. Kid’s VitaGBX is a multi-vitamin designed to support the gut-brain axis.
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