Parents play a big role in how successful their kids are at school. Staying informed can go a long way to helping your child succeed now, and it can set them up for success in later years.
While teens may be looking for more independence at this stage, staying involved is important to help them do well in school. There are several ways you can do this.
Talk to Them about Their Educational Goals
If your child goes to a traditional school, they likely spend much of their day away from you, especially if you also work during the day. It can be hard to stay connected with your child when everyone is going in different directions during the day.
Even though it’s important for your teen to have the time to spend with extracurriculars or jobs, it’s also important to make sure you offer guidance along the way. Make sure you are listening to your student, so you know what their future goals are.
Perhaps they are thinking about working in a specific industry and have some idea of what steps they need to take to get there. Other times, they may have no idea what they want to do and may need some guidance in the right direction. If they are thinking about going to college, talk to them about education financing options, such as student loans.
Cosigning on a student loan can help them get approved faster. Take the time to talk with your child each day so you know what’s going on. This also shows your teen that you care about what happens when they are away at school. When they know you care, they will also know they will be accountable for their academic work.
Help Them Stay Organized
When students learn how to get organized, they can be more likely to see their work through to the end. They will also stay more focused on the task at hand. However, many high schools do not teach organization skills. Instead, students are expected to learn them on their own.
You can help them learn how to manage their time most effectively. Have them keep class information and assignments together in folders, notebooks, or binders that are organized by class. They can also use a calendaring system to keep track of class times, exams, projects, and other assignment deadlines. They can also put their extracurricular activities on the calendar.
Offer Help with Studying
Planning ahead will ensure your child knows how to study and will be able to juggle multiple assignments at once. High school grades are important when it comes to getting into a good college, so it’s important to work with your child to plan study time.
If they are busy with other activities, it’s even more important to carve out enough study time. If your child feels they don’t have enough time to spend studying, talk to them about dropping one or more extracurricular activities. Help them break up their study time into manageable chunks.
