Children’s middle school years can be the most positive time for self-discovery.  Together, middle school counselors, families, teachers, administrators, and community members can help students focus on the journey of transition through a collaborative effort using patience, understanding, and above all, caring. 

Internal changes of this unique age can be characterized by: being very active yet easily fatigued due to rapid physical growth; searching for their unique identity, turning more towards their peers rather than their parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to comments from others; and relying heavily on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval. 

These developmental changes, coupled with the challenges of our fast-paced world, define the goal of middle school counselors: to teach students skills to help them through this transformative stage of life and to encourage the use of these skills on a daily basis. 

Stanford Children's Health: Teenagers
HealthyChildren.org: What's Going On In the Teenage Brain?
KidsHealth.org: Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School
Very Well Family: A Guide to Your Child in Middle School