As the beginnings of the identity development emerge, your middle school child needs lots of opportunities for positive self definition. Because his identity is developed in the context of his environment, it is a complex process that involves individual characteristics, family interactions, and peer, school and community influences.
Listen with your child's ear to the messages she is receiving. Discuss your values often and teach critical thinking about negative cultural influences. Your child's character is being formed and you are still the guiding influence in her moral and ethical development. Take advantage of this opportunity to help her develop an identity that will form a strong foundation for adolescence and adulthood.
Middle childhood begins the balancing act between self identity and family, peer, and cultural influences. Remember taking little personality quizzes in magazines when you were a teen? Your child is constantly evaluating who he is and will for many years. High expectations, clear boundaries, and unconditional love from parents help him form a healthy, balanced identity.
