The Fort Worth Zoo welcomed a male Grant’s zebra foal to the herd. At birth, the soon-to-be named foal weighed approximately 60 to 70 pounds and stood roughly 30 inches tall. When fully grown, he will weigh up to 650 to 750 pounds and measure about 44 inches from shoulder to hoof. This is the first foal for mom Roxie and the first zebra birth at the Fort Worth Zoo since 1996.
Whether your school district transitions students from elementary to middle school in sixth grade or seventh, it can be a difficult time for kids, and parents, as well. There are the obvious adjustments like a larger school building, use of lockers, loads of new faces, unfamiliar teachers and different rules. And the entrance into middle school usually brings about new pressures to wear the right clothes, say the right things and fit in with certain groups. Many childhood experts see this as the most difficult time, socially, for most kids. I have heard it referred to as the time to “eat or be eaten.”
So what can a parent do to help alleviate the pressure their children may experience during this time of life? There is no magic bullet that will ensure your child goes from elementary school into middle school experiencing no stress. However, if handled well, many of these experiences can end up being beneficial life lessons in the long run. As a parenting coach I often recommend the following formula.
We prepare children for all sorts of things in life—a new babysitter, the first day of school, the arrival of a new sibling. Preparation is important because children, like adults, find comfort in knowing what to expect. The same sense of security is critical to helping a child who is entering psychotherapy.
