As parents, guiding our children through life is the most important thing we can do. These ways to help your kids transition to high school can lessen everyone’s burdens. They give you just what you need to make sure your kids are happy, healthy, and safely headed toward a successful high school education without the drama and struggles that often cause frustrations at this age.
Open communication.
Nothing will help them or you as much as good open communication. That means you have to be willing to listen without anger sometimes. Build a level of respect and open communication with them so they know that no matter what is happening, they can come to you for help.
Encourage their strengths.
If they excel in academics, sports or the arts, work with them so they will know you are proud of them and supportive of what they want to do with their future. Invest time and money into their growth in those things so they have something to feel confident about. Look for clubs, groups or teams at the new school that they can tr to join. If there are tryouts required, find out when they are and what is required to participate. Then help your child grow, learn new things and be the best they can at those things so they have something to feel confident in at their new school.
Keep in touch with friends.
If moving to high school means they are leaving some of their friends behind at a different school, make sure you help them keep in touch with their friends. Arrange weekend sleepovers, movie dates and time so they can catch up and still do things together outside of the school setting.
Buy the brand name.
Sometimes in life, you have to just do the popular thing. Appearances should never be the most important thing in life, but as high school students look at brand names for status at times, you may want to give your kids something they can wear to fit in. It isn’t about not being themselves. If they truly want it, sometimes you can make a way to give them some of those popular clothing styles, shoes, and hair colors so they feel like they are in the crowd. Just make sure the entire time they understand that true friends won’t care what they wear, and appearances should never be their focus.
Prepare for more classwork.
High school always comes with more classwork and homework. Since your kids will likely have extracurricular activities as well as school work to juggle, you’ll want to give them extra time and encouragement to complete things. Create a homework area at home, and make sure your no-electronic devices rules are in place.
Don’t hesitate to seek counseling.
Sometimes this transition just gets to be too much for a teen. The struggle of handling a new environment, harder classwork and new friends can cause depression, anxiety and fear in many teens. Add to that the changes in their bodies, hormones and how to handle budding romances, sometimes a counselor is just what they (and you) need. Don’t hesitate to look into a quality counselor in your area to help them with this transition.
Get involved.
Take the time to volunteer at their school, or with their teams. Don’t invade their privacy or time, but give them the encouragement they need by knowing you are there and available. Before you start getting involved though, take some time to talk to them about it. If they prefer you don’t, then respect their wishes and help from a distance.
These ways to help you kids transition to high school are sure to keep them and everyone else in the family happy during this exciting and fun time of their lives.
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