Staying Involved in the Middle School Years

Research shows that parent involvement begins to decline at the onset of the pre-teen and adolescent years. To maintain strong involvement in their children's lives, parents should:

• Keep the lines of communication open and supply teenagers with honest and accurate information about the many issues teens face. Encourage important decisions-about smoking, drugs, sex, drinking-even if the topics are embarrassing. Don't wait for teens to come to you.
  
  
• Set fair and consistent rules that help children learn that with their new independence comes responsibility.
  
  
• Support their future. Even if parents don't feel they can help with homework, they need to demonstrate that education is important to them and their children's futures. It's important to know children's teachers and to create a home environment that supports learning.
  
  
• Be an example by demonstrating appropriate behaviors. Show concerns for and be involved in the community and the school. Maintain regularly scheduled family time, whether it's having dinner together every night or attending movies, sporting events or museum exhibits together.
  
  

The National PTA's Middle School/High School Parent Involvement Kit is available online (pta.org/programs/hsmskit.htm).