Adolescence can be a challenging time… both for parents and for kids! As parents, we typically see our teens turn towards more self-centered behaviors. This really is a normal stage for kids and is totally survivable by parents. Helping your child develop empathy is well worth the time and effort.

Recently I was talking with a parent about their child and how they are only focusing on their own feelings and emotions, not those of their family or friends. The parent was struggling with how to help their child show empathy towards others. This is certainly a struggle my wife and I face with our own teens. Why aren’t you considering other people's feelings before you … (insert activity here) text, say something, post something, criticize your sibling…

So I did some searching and found several good resources, but this article is the one I liked the best. For Families: 5 Tips for Cultivating Empathy gives 5 great ideas to help develop empathy with your child:

• Empathize with your child and model empathy for others.

• Make caring for others a priority and set high ethical expectations.

• Provide opportunities for children to practice empathy.

• Expand your child's circle of concern.

• Help children develop self-control and manage feelings effectively.

The article also gives some practical tips on things you can do to help build this important skill. Raising strong kids is tough! But with work, our kids will grow up strong and understanding the feelings of others.

Tim

Busses do not leave until 10 minutes after the bell rings so there is time for students to go from their 8th-period classroom to their locker and then exit to catch their bus.

Please remind your student of this expectation.

Dear Parents:

In the past few years, we have seen some significant increases in issues related to cell phone and social media use in our schools. I found this article on a website called “Wait Until 8th”. The website share stories and encourages parents to wait until at least 8th grade to allow their kids to use social media or have a smartphone. As a school, we have seen the harm that comes from kids on social media and using their phones in ways that even their parents don’t expect.

With the holidays coming, many of you may be considering buying your child a cell phone. Frankly, I would discourage it. We have found that 99% of our middle school kids are not ready for the responsibility, or how to react when things go wrong in social media. And even our parents are not sure how to monitor what their kids are doing on social media.

If you want your eyes opened, I would suggest you read this article. Titled, “Middle School Misfortunes Then and Now, One Teacher’s Take,” it explains how social media has changed the social-emotional landscape in our schools and in the lives of our students.

I have been in middle schools for about 24 years. In my career, I have never seen anything like the damaging power of social media on young people. And this is coming from a strong technology advocate. Certainly, technology can have some strong points, but it also must be used at the right age. At the elementary and middle school levels, kids are not emotionally prepared for what may happen. The longer you keep your kids off social media and off smartphones, I think you will find the happier they will be. (I get that they may be mad in the short run, but that is what being a grown-up is all about.)

The easiest solution… blame me and tell your kids you are going to “Wait Until 8th!”

Thank you-

Tim Loversky, Principal

Wredling Middle School

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