Equipping Your Middle-Schooler for Adulthood

Written by Elisa Hawkinson ~ original post 10/03/22
repost 08/07/2023

This information is still revelant today!

Learn new habits and routines to carry them
into High School, College and Beyond!

Middle school brings many new changes and challenges to a young person. It’s the best time to introduce routines and habits to impact their whole life. That is new to my granddaughter entering middle school this Fall. Learning how to create new habits sets that young person on a path to success so they can be on time to school, work or church.

It is good for a student to understand how long it takes to do everything needed to get out the door and be on their way. Let’s identify what might be included in morning habits.

1. Wake up time
2. Brush teeth
3. Take vitamins/medication (if applicable)
4. Make bed
5. Dress
6. Eat breakfast

The order can be personal. Knowing it takes at least 45 minutes to get ready helps your student figure out when they have to get up or go to bed earlier to make mornings easier.

Clothes can be selected the night before, adding it to the night-time routine:

1. Clothes/shoes ready for the next day.
2. Shower/bath and wash hair as needed.
3. Wash face and brush teeth.
4. Turn off electronics 60 minutes before bed for the best sleep.

Homework needs a routine also. Having a personal desk and sitting down at a regular time sets the brain in the right mode for studying. It may take time, but the brain will learn. Some students snack after school, then hit the homework, so it is done. They can then have a relaxing remainder of the day. Or they may have an after-school snack, relaxing time, and then do homework right after dinner.

The habit of sitting at their desk to do homework puts them in an optimal state for completing homework. Drinking water will cause bathroom breaks, so walking to the bathroom gets the blood circulating and helps with alertness.

The desktop should be clear except for paper, pencil, book or computer. Probably best not to have a clock on the desk so they don’t stress. Having the clock near the desk may help them to realize how long they have been doing their work and may incentivize them to ‘beat the clock.’ Soft music may be helpful but avoid TV/video game playing or loud music which can be distracting.

Make sure the homework is in their notebook/backpack in such a way it is handy to find and turn in the next day.

These habits have proven to help students stay on top of their schoolwork and get higher grades.

Students will do better in school if they are taught new life skills and are encouraged/rewarded for sticking with new habits and routines. These can help calm chaos for the whole family, helping all function better together, thus everyone wins.

"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

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