Sharp said jokingly that one of the greatest services sixth-grade parents could perform is helping their child clean their locker once a week. If you want to see a black hole, go to a sixth-grader's locker. You wouldn't believe what they can stuff in there. Jennifer Boyce, an LCPS school psychologist, said parents can expect their child's focus to change during middle school. Teachers and parents have been the focus of their life for so long and suddenly that's going to take a dramatic change.
Peers become so important and they have to deal with the issue of peer pressure.
Middle school parent Jane Pallister, a member of the Middle School Study Panel, said, despite this change, parents have to stay focused on their child. Our kids will pull away, but boy at the same time do they need hugs. The safest place to get them is from us, their parents.