Parent Toolkit is a one-stop shop resource that was produced and developed with parents in mind. Judy Willis Aug 25, If your middle schooler is no longer recognizable from the sweet, funny, and pleasant child you knew during the elementary school years, you are right. The middle school brain is undergoing a massive re-wiring, which will continue for several more years. But you can avoid your own aging, and support that brain development — as long as you are armed with the right strategies. Events or changes most adults think inconsequential may seem huge to adolescents as they experience inexplicable mood swings. Similarly, concerns that you consider obvious and important may be interpreted as inconsequential by the still-incomplete frontal lobes section of the brain of adolescents. Frequent circuit overloads and disconnections are part of the transformation as their adult control networks evolve and mature. The good news lies in the outcome of their brain reorganizations. This means that the guidance and opportunities you provide to put these networks to work will power-up and enhance their growth and ultimate potentials.
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Children of all ages regress -- act like a younger child than they really are -- from time to time. From the toddler who picks up the baby bottle that she gave up a year ago to the sixteen year old who suddenly has to have a hug and kiss from Mom before leaving for school in the morning, regression to an earlier stage of life is a normal part of childhood. Yet parents often panic when their child exhibits behaviors that they thought were extinct. The worry that accompanies even a mildly panicked state may lead parents to demand that the child "grow up" and "act their age". Also likely is the possibility that a parent will ignore the behavior, often making it worse in the process. Children regress for a variety of reasons. The most common explanation is that throughout childhood children undergo developmental "surges" -- a sort of internal "pushing" towards independence, maturation and psychological growth. When they act on this urge and take more responsibility by becoming more independent their action is often accompanied by a mild feeling of fear. Think of it being similar to the toddler who walks away from you on the playground without looking back, then suddenly realizes when she's at the opposite fence that you're not with her, turns around and runs back. She scared herself a little with her newfound independence.
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Teachers are technically hired to teach content—math, science, English, history. But over the course of a normal school day, we teach so much more. For years, I ignored the habit of baby voice and upspeak because while it is irksome, I was grateful my students were speaking up in class at all. I appreciate how hard it can be for some kids to open their mouths in class and risk embarrassment, so I did not want to do anything to instill more self-doubt or dampen their enthusiasm for my class. Besides, baby voice works on some people. I tried to look past the habit, hoping it, like most trends, would pass into history. But after a few years of listening to girls make smart and insightful points with tentative, childish voices, I felt compelled to intervene. I became even more concerned when I realized that the trend could be interpreted as something more sinister than mere vocal affectation. But when the trend spills over to real year-olds, who may or may not understand what the world hears and imagines behind that baby voice, I feel obligated to help them move toward a more mature means of communication that does not sacrifice content to its delivery. Middle school girls often have very high-pitched voices that may or may not develop into a deeper chest voice with time.
The age of maturity keeps changing. At one time a child was considered an adult when they reached puberty. Then it was moved to 18 years old. Now, a child can live at home and act like a dependent up until they are 26 without any problem. Adolescence is an artificial extension of childhood; a segment of society of adults that are still treated like children. The problem with extending a teens childhood years can be frustrating for everyone involved. The result is anger and depression in most cases. With all the potential being bottled up it starts to boil over into society and into the families.
