HECK AND BACK · PRETEENS
More of your own world.
Get ready for a new school, find words for a tricky conversation, or make something that is yours.
THE PARKING LOT MOMENT
Take a break on your terms
Try a pattern, make a picture, or leave the screen quiet. No explanation needed.
Choose a small activity →School, friends & your own space
Words for myself
Start with “What I wish someone understood…” or write whatever comes to mind. You don’t have to explain your feelings perfectly.
There is no send button. This activity does not submit or save your writing to the website. On a shared device, clear your words before leaving; browsers may restore what you typed.
You can choose your words
Someone at school is asking questions.
“That’s family stuff. I’m not talking about it right now.” Or: “I’ll tell you if I want to.” You can choose what you share.
I miss them AND I’m angry.
Both can be true. You don’t have to pick just one feeling or make it easier for everybody else to hear.
I want a straight answer.
Try: “Please tell me what you know, and tell me what you don’t know yet.” You’re allowed to ask again when an answer is confusing.
If you need help, choose a trusted grown-up you feel safe with. If one person doesn’t listen, you can try another.
Around a visit
Before you go
Ask what to expect and which rules your grown-up has checked. Think of one thing you might want to say or ask. You don’t have to plan every word.
When you leave
You might feel relieved, disappointed, happy, angry, or a mix. You can ask for quiet before talking.
“I want to talk about it, just not yet.”
Make some space for an ordinary thing you enjoy afterward, if you can.
A page with no assignment
Draw a place, try a pattern, or see where a line goes. There is nothing to hand in and no score.
An empty page is a place to start.
Prefer buttons? Make a pattern picture instead.
This drawing is not uploaded or saved by the activity. Clear it before leaving a shared device.
A pattern break
A simple matching game when you’d like something small to focus on. No score and no timer.
Choose a shape.
Getting ready for high school
New classrooms, new people, and a bigger school. You can be excited, unsure, or both. Start with one thing you want to know.
Find your way before the first day
- Ask whether your school offers an orientation or a tour.
- Look at your timetable and a school map together with someone who can help.
- Find the office, classrooms, lunch area, toilets, and a place to ask for help.
- Check your travel plan, arrival time, and what to do if your usual ride changes.
“I’m new here. Could you point me toward this classroom?”
You do not have to learn the whole building on day one.
Changing classes & keeping track
Try one notebook, planner, or calendar for assignments. Pick a place you will actually check.
Copy this little tracker: class / task / due date / first small step / done.
- Before leaving class, check what is due and where to find instructions.
- After school, choose one task to start. Break a big assignment into smaller steps.
- Pack what you need for the next day when you can.
If your plan stops working, change the plan. Organization is something you can practice.
Meeting people without becoming someone else
You can begin with a small hello or a shared question: “Have you had this teacher before?” “Is this seat taken?” “What’s this club like?”
Look for activities you actually enjoy. You do not need to join everything or find your people immediately. Notice who respects your boundaries and makes room for you.
Ask for help early
Find out who your school counselor, adviser, or another trusted staff member is. You can ask about work, friendships, accessibility needs, or finding your way.
“I’m not sure where to start. Could we work out the first step?”
“I’m falling behind in this class. What should I focus on first?”
If someone is bullying you or making you feel unsafe, tell a trusted adult. If the first person doesn’t help, try another. You deserve support.
Your family story is yours
You can ask for school help without telling classmates private family details. Try: “There’s some family stuff going on, and I could use help keeping up.” With a trusted staff member, you can ask what they would need to share and with whom before deciding what to say.
My first-week plan
On your own paper, finish these:
- One place I want to find…
- One question I want to ask…
- One activity I might try…
- One person I can go to for help…
- One thing I can do the night before…
No perfect start required. One day at a time counts.
THE PARKING LOT MOMENT
A pause, your way
You can do something small without explaining anything. If you are with someone, you can ask for a quiet minute. Talking can wait.
Make a little mosaic
Choose a color. Tap a square. There is no right picture to make.
Look & find
Look from where you are sitting. There is no need to get up or go anywhere.
No timer. It is okay to skip one.
A story can start anywhere
You can imagine it, say it, or draw it on paper. Nothing to turn in.
A page with no assignment
Draw a place, try a pattern, or see where a line goes. There is nothing to hand in and no score.
An empty page is a place to start.
Prefer buttons? Make a pattern picture instead.
This drawing is not uploaded or saved by the activity. Clear it before leaving a shared device.
A little company, without a big conversation
If you want company, ask: “Can we sit together for a minute?” You can choose an activity without talking about the day.
- Invent a club you would enjoy joining. What would it do?
- Draw a line on paper and let the other person turn it into a picture.
- Trade ideas for a playlist, a project, or a place to explore.
- Tell a story one sentence at a time.
Either person can say “Let’s stop here.”
What comes next?
Look for what repeats. Try an answer, or choose another pattern.
For the grown-up nearby
Stay with your child. Open the activity before handing over your phone. If you are in a car, use this while safely parked. This gives you something gentle to share; it does not replace supervision.
You can say: “I need a quiet minute. I’m here with you. You can play while I sit beside you.” When you are ready, offer a small choice: “Would you like to show me what you made, have some water, or sit a little longer?”