You’ve probably noticed the sales popping up everywhere – it’s back to school season. While some kids are really excited for the new school year, others aren’t so happy about leaving summer behind. If your middle schooler is feeling anxious about returning to school, it can help to ease them into the change before the first day. By starting to change their habits early, you can make the back to school transition easier for your child and yourself.  Attend Orientation Days Before the New School Year Is your child moving from elementary school to middle school? This is a big adjustment ..read more

Every parent hates to hear the words “I’m bored.” All year long our kids count down the days to their summer break. But as soon as they find themselves with no structure, you’ll start to hear the question, “What are we doing today?” The lack of structure can sometimes lead to summer boredom. It’s our job to help kids see boredom as an opportunity. It’s a chance to take on a project, explore something new, or build skills. Teach your kids to entertain and motivate themselves instead of looking to you to swoop in and solve the problem. Here’s how to guide your child, while giving them room to ..read more

Are you raising a middle schooler who is learning English? Middle school is hard for anyone. Learning English as a Second Language (ESOL) at the same time can feel overwhelming. You can help your child learn to speak the local language fluently – even if your own English language skills aren’t as strong as you’d like them to be. Use Your Native Tongue According to the U.S. Department of Education, using your native language at home is not detrimental to your child’s ability to learn English. Actually, if your child has a strong foundation in their native language — meaning they can speak ..read more

Middle school is a tough environment for our children, particularly socially. They’re surrounded by cliques and feeling pressure to conform. Your child may doing whatever they can to fit in, whether that means dressing the same as everyone else, buying the same products, or behaving inauthentically. You know that your child is an individual with their own unique talents to offer the world, so it can hurt to see them losing themselves in order to blend in. Being just like everyone else won't help them earn recognition and leadership roles. You can help them develop the confidence they n ..read more

Tantrums, shouting, crying over small issues. If your child is sharing their emotions in unsuitable ways, you’re probably frustrated. Everyone has big feelings sometimes, but how we share them says a lot about us. Kids with good emotional control have fewer behavioral issues and are more likely to be seen as mature and capable because they know how to deal with emotions. Help Them Communicate Their Feelings Can your child tell you how they feel? Help them identify what they’re feeling and then discuss different phrases they can use to explain those feelings without resorting to a tantrum ..read more

Every year parents and teachers worry that their students will forget most of what they learned over the previous school year. It’s a pattern known as the summer slide. To set your child up for success next year you don’t have to enroll them in an intense summer school or fill their break with lots of homework. Instead, prevent summer slide with these fun and educational summer activities for kids. 1 Practice Math Skills with Baking This is a particularly great summer activity for kids with a sweet tooth or for parents looking to spend some time with their child. Baking is an activity tha ..read more

Middle schoolers are going through overwhelming physical changes while also facing societal pressure. This combination of trying to adjust to a growing body while conforming to the expectations of peers and social media can quickly lead to confusion and dissatisfaction with their bodies. You can help your tween win their struggle with body image by changing how you speak about their body – and your own. Take the Focus Off the Physical Try saying: “I love the way your mind works.”  Sometimes the best thing to say about someone’s body is nothing at all. Make it a household rule th ..read more

Navigating the teenage years can often feel like a challenging journey. With so many changes happening—academics, friendships, family dynamics, and the inevitable physical transformations—it's understandable to occasionally feel uncertain about your body. However, it's essential to remember that you are incredible just as you are. Here at LeadYouth, we’ll provide you some practical strategies to help you cultivate a positive body image and enhance your self-confidence. 1. Understand What Body Image Is To begin, let's clarify what body image entails. It refers to how you perceive yourself ..read more

If your child is in middle school, or even elementary school, you’ve probably had heated debates about when they’re old enough to go on social media. It’s hard to say no to your child’s request to join TikTok or go on YouTube when most likely all of their friends are online.  But there are dangers to social media. It can create insecurity in your child in terms of how they view their body, their social life, and even their mental health. If your child is using social media or wants to create an account, arm yourself to fight the myths perpetuated by these apps with facts.  Most ..read more

Many students spend their summers doing nothing but relaxing. While we all need a little time off every now and then, it’s important to balance their vacation time with activities that will not only lead to personal growth, but will help them succeed in the next school year.  Leadership and public speaking summer camps for middle schoolers are a great way to boost your child’s confidence and skills. With so many different camps out there, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your child. We’ve compiled our top three choices to help narrow down your options.   Le ..read more