{"id":1080,"date":"2022-11-28T11:52:06","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T16:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/?p=1080"},"modified":"2022-11-28T11:52:08","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T16:52:08","slug":"supporting-your-childs-identity-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/an-anti-racist-reading-list-for-middle-schoolers\/group-of-students-using-mobile-phone\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1053\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1053 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"Group of students using mobile phone\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1106 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/MS2.png\" alt=\"Yellow highlighter circling the words &quot;Middle School&quot;\" width=\"130\" height=\"130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/MS2.png 200w, https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/MS2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 130px) 100vw, 130px\" \/>Middle school is a time of intense identity development. Your child may form a new relationship to their gender, sexuality, faith, race, ethnicity, immigration status, disability, or class status, among others. Supporting a child through this exploration can be challenging for parents, only because young people now have access to a much wider range of identities and vocabulary for these identities than many of us had when we were there age. The variety of options children have now is a good thing. It is up to us to learn these new terms and concepts, and to love our children unconditionally, no matter who they are. The following are a few guidelines to use when supporting your child\u2019s identity development.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Believe your child<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>When your child claims a new identity, do not dismiss it. Come from a place of curiosity and faith, rather than a place of skepticism. Some of the concepts your child shares with you may be new to you, but that does not mean that they do not exist. Even if your child\u2019s identity shifts over time, remember that change is natural, and that your child is the expert on their own life<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Educate yourself <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Read books, join support groups, call your school counselor, watch documentaries, talk to family members \u2013 in short, do whatever it takes to learn about what your child is exploring. Although it is okay to ask your child questions, remember that it is not their job to teach you everything. Doing background research will not only show your child how much you care, it will also alleviate some of their burden.<a href=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/a-queer-reading-list-for-middle-schoolers\/lgbt-asian-lesbian-couple\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1050\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1050 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-892516256-300x194.jpg\" alt=\"Young gay couple holding hands\" width=\"252\" height=\"163\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Create a nonjudgmental space<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Work with family members such as spouses, siblings, or any relatives who live in your house to ensure that they fully accept your child. Young people with non-mainstream identities often face bullying at school, online, or in their neighborhood. Your home should be a space where your child can feel safe, particularly as they are learning to navigate this side of themselves and their place in the world.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Make space to talk about your child\u2019s feelings<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Encourage your child to talk about how they feel about these transitions. Learn how to be an active listener, and do not discount what they are saying. If your child does not feel comfortable talking to you, find resources in the community like therapists, counselors, or identity groups that may be able to help your young person in the specific ways that they need.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Seek out therapy for yourself<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>As your child grows and changes, you\u2019ll be processing a lot of emotions. You may miss the child you thought you knew, or feel anger towards a world that isn\u2019t as accepting as you thought it might be. Although it is alright to share some of these feelings with your child, it is best to process them yourself, in a separate space, so that your child doesn\u2019t feel that they are troubling you every time they talk about themselves.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='author-shortcodes'>\n\t\t\t<div class='author-inner'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='author-image'>\n\t\t\t<img src='https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Coimbatore1_Santhosh-Ramdoss-Photographer-scaled-272462_60x60.jpg' alt='' \/>\n\t\t\t<div class='author-overlay'><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='author-info'>\n\t\t\tMathangi Subramanian, Ed.D., believes stories have the power to change the world. Her middle grades book, Dear Mrs. Naidu, won the South Asia Book Award, and her picture book A Butterfly Smile was inducted into the Nobel Museum by Laureate Dr. Esther Duflo. Her novel A People\u2019s History of Heaven was longlisted for the PEN\/Faulkner award, a finalist for the LAMBDA literary award, and named a Skipping Stones Honors Book. A former public school teacher, senior policy analyst at the New York City Council, and Fulbright Scholar, she currently consults for Sesame Workshop. She holds a doctorate in education from Columbia Teachers College.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Middle school is a time of intense identity development. Your child may form a new relationship to their gender, sexuality, faith, race, ethnicity, immigration status, disability, or class status, among [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"iawp_total_views":4,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10,24],"tags":[108,88,90],"class_list":["post-1080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family-resources","category-social-emotional-well-being","tag-identity","tag-middle-school","tag-middle-years"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.6","language":"pt","enabled_languages":["en","es","pt","ar","zh","vi","ht"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"es":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"pt":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ar":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"vi":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ht":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development | MASFEC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pt_PT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development | MASFEC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MASFEC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-28T16:52:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-11-28T16:52:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cambria\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cambria\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cambria\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0f22aafc77a5f650a83a5f675a5d1553\"},\"headline\":\"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-28T16:52:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-28T16:52:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":634,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"identity\",\"middle school\",\"middle years\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Resources for Families\",\"Social Emotional Well Being\"],\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/\",\"name\":\"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development | MASFEC\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-28T16:52:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-28T16:52:08+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0f22aafc77a5f650a83a5f675a5d1553\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/\",\"name\":\"MASFEC\",\"description\":\"Massachusetts Statewide Family Engagement Center\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/masfec.org\\\/es\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0f22aafc77a5f650a83a5f675a5d1553\",\"name\":\"cambria\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"pt-PT\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/fdb9b20e7a8b9b3f7bdf3b28f4a4a30bcfe4a5c61a6c2a2ab53a00fa8e07b4a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/fdb9b20e7a8b9b3f7bdf3b28f4a4a30bcfe4a5c61a6c2a2ab53a00fa8e07b4a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/fdb9b20e7a8b9b3f7bdf3b28f4a4a30bcfe4a5c61a6c2a2ab53a00fa8e07b4a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"cambria\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development | MASFEC","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/","og_locale":"pt_PT","og_type":"article","og_title":"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development | MASFEC","og_url":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/","og_site_name":"MASFEC","article_published_time":"2022-11-28T16:52:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-11-28T16:52:08+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"cambria","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"cambria","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/"},"author":{"name":"cambria","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/#\/schema\/person\/0f22aafc77a5f650a83a5f675a5d1553"},"headline":"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development","datePublished":"2022-11-28T16:52:06+00:00","dateModified":"2022-11-28T16:52:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/"},"wordCount":634,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg","keywords":["identity","middle school","middle years"],"articleSection":["Resources for Families","Social Emotional Well Being"],"inLanguage":"pt-PT"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/","url":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/","name":"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development | MASFEC","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg","datePublished":"2022-11-28T16:52:06+00:00","dateModified":"2022-11-28T16:52:08+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/#\/schema\/person\/0f22aafc77a5f650a83a5f675a5d1553"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"pt-PT","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"pt-PT","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/iStock-868758832-300x201.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/supporting-your-childs-identity-development\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Supporting Your Child\u2019s Identity Development"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/#website","url":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/","name":"MASFEC","description":"Massachusetts Statewide Family Engagement Center","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"pt-PT"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/es\/#\/schema\/person\/0f22aafc77a5f650a83a5f675a5d1553","name":"cambria","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"pt-PT","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fdb9b20e7a8b9b3f7bdf3b28f4a4a30bcfe4a5c61a6c2a2ab53a00fa8e07b4a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fdb9b20e7a8b9b3f7bdf3b28f4a4a30bcfe4a5c61a6c2a2ab53a00fa8e07b4a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fdb9b20e7a8b9b3f7bdf3b28f4a4a30bcfe4a5c61a6c2a2ab53a00fa8e07b4a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"cambria"}}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1080\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}