Middle School Mary Poppins Listeners’ Guide

***COMING SOON: Episode Takeaway Guides - Download & Discuss! Coming 20 Jan 26!

The Family & Kids’ Middle School Survival Guide

Middle school is a big transition — for kids and for the adults who love them. Emotions run higher, expectations change quickly, and what used to work can suddenly feel confusing or ineffective.

The Parent & Kids’ Survival Guide is a calm, practical resource designed to help families make sense of this stage together. Written in clear, accessible language, it explains what’s happening in the middle school brain, why emotions and behavior can feel more intense, and what actually helps — at home and at school.

This guide is not about fixing kids or blaming parents. It’s about understanding development, building emotional skills, and reducing unnecessary stress during one of the most misunderstood stages of growing up.

Created by Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW — a veteran middle school teacher, school therapist, and educational sociologist — this guide blends real classroom experience with developmental science and compassion. It includes sections written specifically for parents, kid-friendly explanations, and tools families can use right away.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, this guide is meant to be a steady companion — something you can return to when middle school feels overwhelming.

Middle school is a season. You don’t have to navigate it alone.