Help Your Child Get the Most From High School

High school is when your child's education starts to get serious. How well a child performs in high school determines what they will be able to do with their future. If a student fails to successfully transition into the new academic environment, it could greatly affect their chances of going to the college they are interested in or other future opportunities.

Since students do not always know what to expect with the high school environment, it is important for parents to be supportive of this transition. There are many activities and techniques a parent can implement to help ensure a smooth move into the high school atmosphere.

Talk to Your Child

Ask you student what they want to get out of high school. What do they expect? What do they think will be different about it? By discussing these and other topics before the first day of school, your child can start to get into the mindset of being a high school student. Talking about their fears and apprehension can also help ease many of their worries about high school.

When you talk about your own experiences, make sure not to overemphasize them. You want your student to be successful with their own interests and hobbies, not for them to relive your high school experience.

Be Supportive

It is important to be your child's personal cheerleader, and to be enthusiastic and encouraging of their individual interests. Discuss the various elective classes available at their new school. Show them how they can develop their own academic interests and hobbies through the available classes. See if there is a list of all the clubs and extracurricular activities, or a club fair at the beginning of school.

Learn More

You should familiarize yourself with your child's high school classes. Many first and second year courses are prerequisites for honors and advanced placement courses. If your child is an advanced student and/or is interested in attending a college, completing honors and advanced placement courses is important.

If you are concerned that your child is enrolled in the wrong courses, discuss this with your student and their guidance counselor. Help your student get into the right track of courses to meet their future goals.

High School Orientation

Orientation is a great opportunity for your student to become familiarized with their new school's campus. Knowing the layout and where their classes are before school begins decreases their chances of becoming lost or late to class. Being lost or late on the first day is a fear of many students and creates a bad impression on new teachers.

Your child will be able to meet some new friends at orientation before classes start. They might also be able to meet some older high school students that can give them hints and tips with their new classes and teachers.

Emphasis on Education

Don't put too much pressure on your child, but make sure they realize that high school will affect their future. Discuss with them where they see themselves as adults. Ask what colleges or careers they think they are possibly interested in, and then research these fields together. Having even a vague plan for their future can provide the needed motivation to succeed throughout high school.