Parenting Programs for the Middle School Years

Expert-Led Virtual Programs, Clear Guidance, and Practical Tools to Help You
Respond Thoughtfully and Stay Connected as Your Child Grows
Expert-Led Virtual Programs, Clear Guidance, and Practical Tools to Help You Respond Thoughtfully and Stay Connected as Your Child Grows

Middle school brings big changes emotionally, socially, and developmentally. Making the Middle™ offers expert-led, virtual parenting programs that help you understand what’s normal, respond with confidence, and stay connected as your child grows.

Led by licensed therapist and anxiety specialist Kara Friedman, these programs combine research-backed insight with real-life experience. The guidance is practical, reassuring, and designed to fit into the realities of everyday family life.

Start Here:

Making the Middle™ Masterclass

The Making the Middle™ Masterclass is Kara’s signature online parenting course for parents navigating the middle school years. It’s designed to give you clear guidance, practical frameworks, and expert insight you can return to whenever things feel uncertain. Inside this course, you’ll learn how to:

  • Tell the difference between typical middle school behavior and signs that your kid needs more support
  • Respond to emotional ups and downs and peer changes with confidence
  • Build stronger communication without power struggles or overreacting
  • Support your middle schooler's independence while staying connected
Check Out the Masterclass
laptop showing the Making the Middle™ masterclass

Support that Grows with You

The Making the Middle™ Masterclass gives you a strong foundation. From there, Kara offers additional resources to continue supporting you through the middle school years, including:

Parenting Webinars
(coming soon)

Focused, topic-specific sessions offered throughout the year.

On-Demand Resources & Downloads

Practical tools and conversation starters you can use right away in real-life moments.

The Blog

Expert articles on the questions middle school parents ask most. Explore the blog here!

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Who are these programs for?

parent helping middle school son with homework
Kara's programs are for middle school parents who:

Feel unsure how to respond to big emotions, anxiety, or sudden changes in behavior

Want to stay close and supportive while their child is pushing for more independence

Care deeply and want to feel more confident in how they show up as a parent

What You Can Expect

When you join a Making the Middle™ program, you can expect:

Expert guidance grounded in real clinical experience

Clear explanations without judgment or fear-based messaging

Practical tools you can come back to again and again

Support that fits into real family life

Kara is here to support both parents and kids—helping you
grow together through the middle school years and beyond.

Kara is here to support both parents and kids—helping you grow together through the middle school years and beyond.

Check Out the Masterclass

Kind Words

The Resource Families Have Been Waiting For

"Kara is one of the most trusted and gifted experts I know when it comes to the tween and teen years. Her ability to support girls and guide the parents who love them comes from a rare combination of deep clinical expertise, genuine empathy, and a calling to serve during these formative middle school years.

As a speaker, therapist, and educator, Kara communicates with clarity, warmth, and real-world wisdom. She has supported our national organization in countless ways: volunteering on our advisory board, helping lead curriculum development, contributing to The Drama Years (Simon & Schuster), and serving as our on-site licensed therapist for our summer camp. Girls adore her and parents trust her.

As the founder of Girl Talk and a mother of two daughters, I consider Kara “once in a lifetime.” Making the Middle is the resource families have been waiting for."

Haley Kilpatrick Dozier
Founder of Girl Talk

Combines Deep Expertise with Warmth and Humor

"Kara has a gift for delivering hard truths with kindness and humor, and parents walk away with real-world strategies they can use right away. As a mom of four, I’ve found her advice incredibly practical and compassionate. I’ve heard her speak to several parent groups, and every time the room leans in. At a recent school presentation, the principal texted me ten minutes in: 'She is awesome!'

If you’re a parent looking for straightforward, preventative guidance from someone who truly understands teens and family life, I can’t recommend Kara enough. She is a rare speaker and clinician who combines deep expertise with warmth and humor. Parents leave her talks feeling equipped, hopeful, and entertained."

Nannette Bell
Ladue Middle School Parent Association President

Exactly What Parents Needed to Hear

"Kara created a light-hearted, safe space for parents to ask real questions and gain practical tools to support their children—our middle schoolers. The strategies shared were simple and grounded in empathy—helping our incredibly supportive parent community feel more confident in navigating the rollercoaster that is adolescence.

Most importantly, our collective focus on building resilient, self-assured kids gave me both hope and a clear path forward. I walked away eager to see the impact of Kara's strategies showing up in big ways in the personal and academic growth of ALL learners at Ladue Middle School."

Angela Thompson
Ladue Middle School Principal

A Trusted Voice for Supporting Adolescents

"Kara has a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with the adolescent population.

Whether meeting with a client or speaking to an audience, Kara has a warm and kind demeanor that facilitates openness and learning. She is a trusted resource for our community!"

Dr. Sarah Garwood

Unmatched Expertise Delivered with Empathy and Care

"Kara's exceptional empathy, professionalism, and expertise in working with individuals with anxiety and OCD are unmatched.

She creates a safe, supportive environment that fosters genuine growth. Her positive impact and dedication are palpable. I recommend Kara without hesitation."

Mindy Horwitz
Owner of Mindy Knows

A Deeper Understanding That Changes
How Adults Show Up for Kids

“I invited Kara to speak to my staff about mental health. Her conversation went beyond what you can read in a book as she shared some of the ‘real’ thoughts and feelings that kids have when they are struggling.

This allowed my staff to have a much deeper understanding of how mental health disorders impact the students we work with. My staff gave Kara rave reviews and shared that her presentation was invaluable to their work.”

Mindy Grossmann
Program Manager, CHADS Coalition St. Louis

Practical, Grounded Support Parents Can Rely On

“Kara is an authentic and reliable source of information when it comes to supporting the turbulent middle school years.

Her wealth of experience working with adolescent clients and their families makes provides an expertise at supporting the development of practical strategies to manage anxiety, compulsive thinking and social communication. Kara’s approach is practical as she provides perspective along with resources as to how to talk with and support your child.”

Mead Ploszay, MS, LPC
School Psychologist, School Counselor, & Licensed Professional Counselor

Give these years the attention they deserve.

Check Out the Masterclass
Free Glovebox Scripts - Making the Middle (1)

Free Download

Start with a simple chat in the car.

Car rides can be a great opportunity for kids to open up, but many parents get stuck with one-word answers. You know: "How was school?" "Fine."

Kara's Glovebox Scripts give you simple, supportive language for prompting conversation about 10 of the most common situations that come up with middle schoolers in the car. You’ll know exactly what to say in the moment and can keep these scripts right in your glovebox for when you need them most.

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