Middle schoolers have it tough. They face puberty, school drama and tougher academic goals all at the same time. It's no wonder so few people have fond memories of the middle school years.

As a parent, there's plenty you can do to help your child through these years of transition. For starters, support your tween's academic challenges and try to avoid placing too much emphasis on his middle school GPA. GPA is important, but really the goal in middle school should be to help your child develop strong study skills for high school and to embrace learning. You want to encourage him to stretch out of his comfort zone, and to know that he can do it with your support and assistance.

If grades begin to drop, take action. Contact his teachers and guidance counselor to develop a plan of action. And remember, colleges won't look at middle school grades, so keep your focus on helping your child establish good habits and grow his enthusiasm for learning.

More on Middle School

• Your Tween's Middle School GPA

Has your tween starting planning for Halloween? Mine has. She's researching costume ideas and asked me to buy one of those seasonal Halloween magazines at the grocery store the other day. So I did. Watching her plan the fun of Halloween is all I need to enjoy the event. Now that she's old enough to make her own costume and even plan for a Halloween party with friends, makes it all that much more fun for me.

And, as the saying goes, it only happens once a year. So why not make the most of it. How about you, have you starting getting ready for the Halloween season?

It's that time of year -- when schools open their doors to parents and guardians for back to school night. Back to school night is just as important in the middle school years as it is in elementary school, which is why parents should try to attend, even if it's inconvenient.

What will you learn at back to school night? You're likely to learn a lot about what your child's school day is like, and you may even get some insight into potential academic challenges your child will face this year.

In addition, many teachers offer up ideas on how parents can contribute to the class or school throughout the year, even busy working parents. Most of all, you'll be better able to understand what your child's school year is going be like, and how you can support your child through it all.

• What You'll Learn at Back to School Night

Have fall sports and extracurricular activities taken over your family life? You're not alone. A common complaint I hear from parents is that they have no time for family meals, down time or time to do all those fun family activities they've been dreaming of doing with their children.

Extracurricular activities are often to blame. Don't get me wrong, I love enrichment activities and both my kids are involved in clubs or activities outside of school. And I know the stress that comes from running from one commitment to another.

Experience taught me to take a balanced approach to extracurriculars. Less is more, at least it is this year. And my children seem happier for it.

How about you? Did you reduce or cut out your family commitments this year. Have you ever thought about it?