Fourth Grade, Already! A little of what to expect...

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Tomorrow my oldest starts the Fourth Grade! What happened to that little bundle that I brought home from the hospital? The little girl that I used to walk into Pre-K and the Kindergartner that insisted that I drop her off at the front of the building?

What happened? She grew up. She is now almost 9 years old and only two years away from middle school! I remember back when she was a toddler, and fourth graders looked so big. Well, fourth grade also contains another leap: toward independent work. Fourth grade is usually the first year in which homework will take on big weight and include long, home-based projects. Don’t be surprised, when you have to deal with a panicky kid at the end of the weekend because a project you didn’t know about is due tomorrow.

As you prepare for fourth grade, it’s always good to have an idea of what’s coming up. Many students will be assigned their first “big project” in 4th grade, but don’t assume you’ll be helping your child construct a diorama. These days, your child might be just as likely to create a multimedia presentation. But, the goal is still the same. The purpose of the big project is to teach your child to work independently over time to achieve a goal.

What concerns me a lot though are the social growth occurring this year.
Kids who are not quite teenagers used be called preteens, but now that phase of being acutely aware of peers and pop culture starts even younger. It can begin as early as 4th grade for some children, while others hold dearly to childhood. My daughter is stuck in the middle, you never know what to expect from day to day.

For kids who move on to the tween phase, the year is marked by a greater interest in fashion, pop music, and celebrities, all of which can be a huge distraction to schoolwork. However, naturally, kids still possess a natural curiosity and love of learning. The key is to find ways to make learning engaging and fun. For example, having them work in pairs or groups may hold more appeal than working by themselves. The challenge, of course, is getting them to work.

This is also the year when curiosity about the opposite sex may reach fever pitch. Parents can help navigate these choppy waters by being willing to listen and to show an interest in their child’s social life while guiding her toward educational pursuits.

Students also start gravitating toward their preferred extracurricular activities in 4th grade. Some choose a sport, soccer for my oldest, others music, and some want to do everything. But, some children will have trouble finding even a single activity that interests them.

It is the parents’ role to decide how many activities their child can handle and to make sure the child’s life doesn’t become over-scheduled and chaotic. Activities offer a great opportunity for a supervised social outlet, and they allow kids to blossom in areas outside the classroom. Too many activities can lead to burnout, however. (My husband is a stickler for one outside activity at a time, since he is a 5th grade teacher, I respect his expertise in this area.)

With high expectations at school this year, an increasingly demanding social life, and the pull of extracurricular activities, it may be harder than ever to schedule family time. But children of this age still need time with their parents even if they don’t realize it. They need a chance to talk about their day, their life, and their worries. This is where a “family dinner” or even just some talk time in the car between games can be beneficial.

Overall, I expect my blossoming fourth grader to have a lot tugging at her this year, but I also relish the idea of watching her grow and blossom with this being a big step towards the adult she will one day become.