Middle Years

The magic years (years 6-12)

Do you remember your best friend and your favourite teacher from primary school? How about your least favourite teacher and your worst enemy? Your best holiday? Your best favourite present?  Your worst 'telling off'? Your most exciting adventure? Those middle years of our childhood were vital: they formed us. We learnt who we are, what we are good at and what we are afraid of.  We settled on what we believe to be right and wrong. In many, many ways, the people we are today were created in those vital childhood years. So, for our own children going through this stage, our role is very important. They are learning facts, hearing stories and having experiences, and they need us as coaches and mentors to make sense of their world and to form values.  That all sounds serious stuff, but at The Parenting Place we believe the secret ingredients are always fun, love and creativity.

As parents, the middle years of the parenting journey can be a delightful stage.  They can be so much fun it's almost a pity that they have to go to school and we have to go to work!  Even though they have many mates and distractions, you are huge in their world. Your affection, attention and approval are the most important things in their world.  This is the stage when they become acutely aware of 'family' – it's their base, their brand, their identity. The Parenting Place specialises in helping parents create a wonderful family environment. Our resources, events, courses and advice will help you make the most of these brief, wonderful years.

• The tricky combination of love and discipline
• Helping them thrive at school
• Challenging behaviour
• Forming social skills and a moral compass

There are a huge range of resources on this website for parents of children in the middle years, with more being added all the time. We hope that you will look here often.