Exciting things are happening in your household — your child is heading to high school! How is your child feeling about it? How are you feeling?
There are probably a lot of mixed emotions going on there. Do you wish you could help your child feel more confident about this new adventure they are about to embark upon? Turns out, there is a lot you can do. Check out this guide to high school success!
1. Get Their Head in the Game
It’s no secret that high school homework is challenging and many new high school students are nervous about keeping up with the workload. Others are just totally unprepared and may get behind. Once that happens, it’s hard to catch up.
Students should expect to set aside a certain amount of time each day to work on homework. Doing this immediately upon getting home from school allows them to relax for the rest of the day.
Plus, encourage your child to reach out for help immediately if they aren’t understanding something. Ignoring it will only snowball as many of the concepts kids learn in high school build on one another.
Teachers, tutors, and other resources are available to help students excel — take advantage of them.
2. Be Prepared for School Early
You don’t have full control over your child’s study patterns (though you can help tremendously) but you do have control over their preparedness. Take your child school shopping early to stock up on everything they need.
Plus, suggest (or insist) that they pack their bag ahead of time. This will ensure they won’t be running around in a flurry on their first day looking for missing items.
3. Figure Out the New Morning Routine
Another excellent way to help your child start off on the right foot is to have their new routine organised ahead of time.
Have them start getting used to their new wake-up time a couple of weeks before. That way, their body will be used to it and they won’t feel groggy for the first few days of school.
Figure out how long it takes to get to the school from your house. If they will be going to school on their own, make sure they know the route. It’s not a bad idea to do a couple of practice rounds. This will help calm first-morning jitters tremendously.
4. Enjoy the Ride!
Yes, high school is a lot of work and you want to make sure your child understands they must take their studies seriously. However, high school can also be a lot of fun!
Encourage your child to make friends, try new things, get involved in different activities or sports. They have just begun figuring out who they’re going to be for the rest of their lives. Right now they have the unique opportunity to enjoy being a kid for a little while longer while prepping for the future.
Ready to Rock It?
Don’t worry too much about your child starting high school. Things might be rocky now and again, but that’s all part of growing up and learning how to maneuver in the real world.
Support your child in the best way you can and you will all make it!