Middle school — it’s more than just lockers and lunch lines. It can be a whirlwind of emotions, shifting friendships, and identity exploration.

For parents, it can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Sheryl Ziegler spoke with CBS to unpack this critical phase and offer guidance from her new book, “ The Crucial Years : The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12).”

Dr. Ziegler describes middle school as a “social minefield,” where kids are learning who they are while trying to fit in.

“Everybody’s trying to figure out their identity while they’re growing at different rates,” Ziegler said. “Some are putting makeup on, and some want to be older, and some want to be still little kids. That mismatch is part of what

See Full Page