The leap from elementary to middle school is the beginning of
the most stressful time of their young lives. A new school, new
rules, new friends and trying to fit in; all of these are of
paramount importance to tweens and young teens. "The most
important thing for parents to realize is the middle school
years represent the transition from children being parent-
centered to peer-centered. In third or fourth grade, they turn
to their parents first. By the time theyíre in eighth grade,
they are more involved with what is going on with their peers
than their parents," according to Dr. Paul Norton, a
developmental behavioral pediatrician at Greensquare
Developmental Specialists/Childrenís Medical Group in Glendale.
It can often seem like parentsí and kidsí concerns are at odds
during this critical time. "Parentsí main worry is their kidsí
security, and kids are becoming infused with the idea of wanting
freedom," Norton says. "They are entering into a culture where
they donít have all the rules or donít understand t