7 tips to help guide your teenager through high school
As a former teacher and a mother, I understand all too well the trials associated between adolescent children and education. For parents, teachers and teenagers, this passage of time isn’t the easiest but it is one of the most important. Through collaboration, understanding and mutual respect between all three parties, our children will develop into successful and confident young adults. As the adults, parents and teachers must take the lead of this three way relationship and can do so by following these 7 simple tips.
1. Work together
I cannot stress enough how important it is for the parents, teachers and young adults to work together. The relationship with school is fundamental in a child’s development and in growing resilience. Sometimes the relationship between the teenager and school can be volatile but it doesn’t need to be. The parent and the teacher need to collaborate in order to guide the young adult throughout these difficult years. A positive relationship provides great potential for the young adult to see the value in education and a good teacher.
2. Get involved
It is extremely important for us as parents to stay involved in our child’s education. By having engagement and awareness of our child’s progression throughout their school life, we have a better understanding of our child’s development and their abilities. Knowing their abilities and limits enables us to better guide them in choosing appropriate subjects and making academic decisions. Teachers want us to be involved. Having two adults from different environments who are on the same page strengthens the development and educational benefits to any child or young adult.
3. Trust the teacher
Trust the teacher: they are ensuring all necessary aspects are being covered. Understanding feedback from teachers and being active in our child’s education will help build this imperative rapport and trust.
4. Don’t criticize
A positive relationship with school and the young adult needs to be encouraged by the parent. Criticising the school or the teacher can be extremely detrimental. By criticising a teacher to a child, the parent is giving licence for the child to criticise the teacher also. If you disagree with the teacher, it’s best to discuss this with them privately.
5. Don’t demand instead ask, listen and guide.
No-one likes being pushed into doing something they don’t want to do, so why should we do this to our teenagers? We will get so much more out of our young adults by not pushing. We must instead ask questions and wait for answers. Listen to what our child wants and what they like. By putting out a listening ear, we are not only teaching them responsibility but we are creating an adult relationship where our child feels able to answer, seek guidance and respond. By allowing our child to explore their interests we are allowing them to discover who they are.
6. Let them make mistakes
Making mistakes is a part of life. It is as simple as that. Young adults need to make decisions for themselves, even if it isn’t the right one. When mistakes are made, lessons are learnt. As parents, it is our role to help our child pick up the pieces and move forward. Sheltering them from hurt and making choices isn’t helping their development into an adult. We must allow our child this ‘freedom’ to discover who they are and give them the ability to learn for themselves.
7. Stay positive
Even as adults a negative comment or a negative result makes us feel terrible. For a teenager it is the same, if not worse. They are at a vulnerable stage in their life and negativity has a much bigger impact on them. Therefore, it is important for teachers and parents to focus on the positives. Not every child is the same – some are more academically able than others but this doesn’t mean a child who doesn’t get a high ATAR can’t achieve in other areas. Teachers and parents need to collaborate to look at all the options available for each child’s abilities. It is important not to dismiss options and explore all avenues. Have achievable goals. As individuals, no matter what age, there are certain goals we are unable to achieve. However, there is much we can achieve and as parents we need to be really positive and stress this to our children.
Comments are closed.