As a parent of two middle school children, I’ve recently fielded several calls, emails, and texts from friends asking if it’s “too early” to think about college. Like many parents, they are curious about how they can help their children prepare for high school and set themselves up for success. As we’ve mentioned before in TTA webinars and blogs, middle school often feels like a nebulous time- too early to talk about college, but too old to engage solely in playtime. The good news is that middle school is the perfect transitional time to lay a foundation for long-term success and empower your child without the pressure of college looming.
MIDDLE SCHOOL: LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Embrace Exploration
Most middle school students are still figuring out what they love. One minute my younger child is reciting facts about marine animals to me, the next he’s asking about the Boston Tea Party. This makes it the perfect time for students to deepen current interests or try something new. If your middle school offers clubs, encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone. If your child has aged out of your local camps, look for summer programs at colleges or try new hobbies. Is there an art studio nearby that offers courses or a sustainable farm they could visit to learn more about environmental science? For a deeper dive into STEM or Business, consider working with a mentor in our 10-session Research Immersion Program.
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Build Skills and Habits
If you’re like me, you’re running your children to several activities, but middle school is also an important time to support any weaknesses your child might have and accelerate their strengths. If your child struggles with organization or working step by step through projects, an executive functioning coach can be a game-changer, setting them up for success in high school. It’s also important to build vocabulary and math skills. If your child is strong in math, consider accelerating them over the summer so they can be a year ahead of their peers. In the wake of COVID, increased screen time for tweens, and generative AI, there have been recent reports that younger students are lagging behind in reading skills. Encourage your child to read twenty minutes a day in any subject and consider vocabulary building programs to build skills and healthy habits.
Writing Mentorship Program
Begin your journey toward stronger, high-impact writing!
Our Writing Mentorship Program helps students boost their reading and writing skills by providing personalized, one-on-one support. Through tailored feedback, students will work on developing their writing techniques, whether for creative or analytical projects. The program focuses on improving writing mechanics and helping students produce high-impact projects, like creative portfolios or award-winning essays, that highlight their individual talents. This mentorship ensures students receive intensive, outcome-driven guidance at each stage of the writing process, ultimately enhancing their academic performance and preparing them for future success.
Discuss Goals
Without college on the horizon, middle school is a great time to have open, pressure-free conversations about the future. Don’t focus on goals or college. Instead, discuss your child’s strengths and interests. Are there any careers that excite them? And stress the importance of goal setting: what steps would you need to take to achieve this? Remember to keep the conversations centered around curiosity instead of expectations for college and beyond.
Top Tier Futures: Private Counseling
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Reinvent Summer
Summer planning for middle schoolers can be a challenge because many have aged out of day camps. However, there is so much you can do beyond screens and the local pool! There are many academic oriented summer school programs your child could take advantage of both in person and online. Beyond that, dig into your local community. Are their museums, historical sites, or nature reserves you could visit? Encourage hands-on projects for your child: start a garden, write a story, or visit your local library to inquire about teen opportunities!
Interested in coding? Save the date for our Top Tier Coding Boot Camp: Learn Java. Code with Confidence, which will run July 21 – August 1, 2025.
Keep Perspective
Your goal as a middle school parent is to foster a growth mindset. Middle school is full of academic and social challenges, but if you can promote resilience and a growth mindset, your child will be set up for success in high school. Celebrate effort, help them reflect on their disappointments and how to take action to improve, and set small goals to build confidence. At the same time, keep college in perspective. Instead, encourage your child to explore without fear of failure and remind them that these years are about self-discovery. You shouldn’t be focusing on mapping out every step of the college journey before a child is in high school. Foster curiosity and exploration and build foundational skills. Finally, enjoy this time with your child! They will never be the same age again!
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