BellaOnline Forums Family Daughters How's everybody's daughter handling school so far?

My oldest entered middle school so my articles have focussed on some research I did in that arena, but certainly can apply to all grades.

Bact to School Transitions

Homework Expectations

What are you doing to ease your daughter into the new school season?

Has homework even started for her yet or are you still filling out all those school and PTO forms?

My daughter went into first grade this year and she has had homework already! She really likes her teacher this year so that has helped.

She's a little less mature than she should be in first grade. Maybe I should have held her back from starting kindergarten another year. Her birthday is right before the cut off so she'll always be about the youngest in her class.

I've been doing to school to eat lunch with her once a week too. I guess I like it as much as she does-lol.

My 6th grade daughter is moving from a tiny religious school to a large public middle school. So far, so terrible! She cries every morning, goes to nurse's office every day. We moved her because her sister was victimized by clicques and the admin at the "christian" school did nothing, but now what? Any advice to help her?

My daughter started kindergarten this year. Her older brother is in 3rd grade at the same school. She acts like she doesn't know him in the lunch room or in the halls but bugs him to play on recess LOL it is funny. She is loving school so far. She is still having a little problem adjusting to the schedule and not being able to flit from one activity to another like she was able to do in preschool. She loves packing her lunch too. It is exciting to see another child go through the excitement of beginning school.

donnalu, welcome to the forum!
"Rosie"

Thanks! Great 2 b here! I've been reading Bella forever, but never been on the forum before. Been reading the posts -- they're great. Can't wait to get to know y'all!

donnalu, welcome to the forums!

I'm sorry your daughter is having a hard time. The first course of action would be to talk to the school counselor. They are equiped to handle all kinds of transitions. I recommend going to some of the links in my articles that were geared toward middle school issues.

Also, when I went to back to school night at my daughter's school last week, one of her teachers introduced herself to the class of parents as the Beta team leader. If your school has teams, one of the teachers may be a leader. It is possible you could talk to that teacher as well and see what they recommend.

I know nothing breaks a mom's heart more than a child who is not happy. Please keep us up to date.

Hi Donnalu,

I would also add: (my daughter just started 6th grade, too)

This is just an emotional time for little girls this age. Hormones are going berserker right now, puberty starting and all that. I never know when my daughter is going to break out in a "weepy" mood.

So this is a lot of changes at once.

You might just have a "girl's day out" with your daughter and talk with her about all of this. And I mean make it a really girly-girl day out. Go get a manicure and pedicure done together, have lunch (or maybe brunch at a tea shoppe - this is very lady-like). Just make it a really relaxing a day - and talk.

Another thing that might help is to check with the school and see what type of clubs are available. Anytime a child gets involved in a club - she finds friends with similar interests, and doesn't feel so alone. My daughter jumped at the chance to join the drama club. And a lot of middle schools are starting clubs for girls that focus on self-esteem. The one at our school is called the "BEE club" (I have no idea what BEE stands for).

But the biggest thing is to set up the lines of communication with your daughter so she always has a safe haven to come to. Plus it's just fun to get back in touch with your little girl sometimes. We don't have them for a whole lot longer!