5 Strategies to Manage Stress in Middle School
Updated by Rivkie Berger, OTR on 10/10/2024.
3 min read
The return to school each year, though exciting, can bring about strain and worry for students. Particularly tweens are in a transitional state; starting middle school comes with many new things– new classmates and teachers, new routines, sometimes a new building and the anticipation of a heavier workload. Being able to regulate their stress can make a big impact on your child’s year.
Everyone carries their stress differently. It may manifest as physical pain, emotional outbursts, fatigue, anxiety and/or changes in behavior. What previously worked to reduce your tween’s anxiety might not be effective anymore. They may need your help discovering how to self-regulate in stressful situations. Being a proactive, aware and active listener puts you in a great position to co-regulate with your child and help them learn to manage their stress.
Here are some of our occupational therapists’ strategies to help cope with stress in middle school.
1. Organization
Staying organized creates a strong foundation for your tween by taking out unknowns. While this is easier said than done, it will go a long way toward helping the days and weeks flow better. Initial setup and some check-ins might be needed at first, but your tween will soon be able to take full responsibility for their organizational skills.
Hang a dry erase board with a weekly and/or monthly setup at your child’s workspace. They can add due dates and reminders to keep them on track. By keeping it visible they don’t need to worry about forgetting or losing the slip of paper that they wrote their schedule down on.
2. Make a Workspace
Set up a location that is conducive to work and study. For some children this needs to be a quiet area without distractions. That’s not always possible at home, so use Noise Reduction Headphones and a Study Carrel to block out the surroundings. If your child thrives when they’re in the thick of things, then make sure that there is a surface and comfortable chair available for them to work at!
3. Time Management
Have your kids estimate how long they think an assignment will take to complete. Once they’re actually working on it, time how long it actually took. This comparison allows them to better manage the time they spend on assignments. You can set up a visual timer so that they can see how much time is left for their work before going to socialize with friends and have downtime.
4. Fun(ctional) Fidgets
Research shows that fidgets can increase concentration and focus. In order for fidgeting to be a functional practice, it must be intentional and not distract your tween from their primary focus. If those two requirements are met, then utilizing fidget tools can make a big difference in reducing stress for your middle schooler.
They can usefoot fidgetsat their workstation to encourage paying attention to their work while staying in their seat. There are also a variety oftactile fidgetsto occupy their hands and free their minds. There are many benefits to usingfidgets to help kids transition, no matter their age.
5. Access Tech
Many teachers have a website or class group where they can post assignments and reminders in a central location for parents to access. While knowing what your tween’s class is learning and doing, it’s important to give them autonomy to exercise their newfound desire for responsibility. Stay aware of what is going on at school but let your child ask for help when they need it.
Navigating the tween years can be a challenge. Employing good work habits and being an empathetic ear for your child can make a big difference along the way.
Find the rightsensory tools for your tween to make their middle school years as stress-free as possible!
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