Chapter Outline
Andre and his older brother Omar recently moved to Boston from Brazil, and it has been an exciting yet overwhelming experience for them. Although Andre still considers himself Brazilian, he now is expected to swear allegiance to the U.S. flag at the start of the school day. Omar is discovering that how people greet each other is quite different in the United States. In Brazil, children address teachers as “Tio” or “Tia” and use their first name. In the United States, children are expected to be more distant and respectful toward adults outside of the family.
Andre has pushed himself into his schoolwork and is trying to catch up. While he speaks English and Portuguese, he is struggling to read assignments in English, and this has made him quieter than usual at school. He used to have many friends, but now he has a harder time connecting with peers. Omar is less worried about school and spends most of his time talking and joking, even if the teacher asks him to stop. He just finds school so exciting, with all the social activities and new experiences, and after school he is always playing with new friends at the park.
Andre and Omar’s parents have recently met with the school principal to discuss how the boys are adjusting. They’ve been advised to be patient because Andre and Omar are adapting to a new culture in addition to a new school. The staff are encouraged that Omar seems to have found a group of other kids to play soccer with on the playground. The school counselor believes that Andre will begin making friends once he feels more confident with the social and cultural etiquette and learns more of the regional English slang popular among the middle school age group. For now, she recommends that both Andre and Omar join a local peer mentoring group to help with social and emotional skills while continuing to take their regular classes. The principal explained that because the schoolteachers and staff have training in cultural inclusivity and socioemotional development, the boys will have support to improve their social skills and adjust quickly. Although their parents believe this to be true and have already seen progress, they wonder:
- Will an increase in confidence make it easier to make friends?
- Will Omar and Andre lose their Brazilian identity as they become immersed in a new culture?
- How much do teachers or peers influence social and emotional development?
- What help will the boys receive from peer mentoring groups and other school programs?
In this chapter, you will learn about the significant social and emotional milestones and dilemmas faced as children in middle childhood, ages seven to twelve years, progress through development.