How to Help a Teen Prepare for the First Day of High School
The adolescent years are a time of change, and the level of anxiety in anticipation of the first day of high school is on par with the first day of preschool or elementary classes -- only your kids have grown a few feet in the ensuing years. The secondary school experience creates new kinds of stress, including doubts about fitting in with other kids at school, changes in social groups and the fear of the challenges presented by the new coursework. You can help your teen prepare for the opening day of school by partnering to review the requirements for the new year and helping your child feel that everything is under control for day one.
Instructions
Compile a clothing inventory with your teenager and make up a list of new purchases needed for high school. Select a special outfit for the first day from your two lists, and clean and press first-day items from the present inventory so your teen has comfortable clothing for the opening day. Review the lists of suggested supplies, equipment, study aids and books from the high school with your teen and locate places to rent, borrow or buy the items. The Women's and Children's Health Network recommends teens use a timetable or diary to keep up with assignments. Talk about using a semester calendar or planning table and practice using the organizers so your teen can enter new homework and assignments without any help. Set the ground rules for getting to and from school during the week, and establish home policies for school projects and bedtimes. Conduct a dry run of the first school day on the weekend. Set the alarm for the appropriate time, ask your teen to put on the clothing selected for the first day and then eat breakfast. Use a clock to time each activity, including morning bathing, so your teen understands the pacing needed on school days. The Women's and Children's Health Network suggests packing your teen's backpack or book bag the night before to minimize stress during the morning of the first day. Make the drive to school, if you or your teen must provide transportation on the first day, to estimate the time needed to arrive on time. Visit the high school campus during the weekend, if allowed, so your teen can become familiar with the school layout and the organization of the classrooms on campus, and the location of important places your teen needs to visit on the first day, including the cafeteria, front office and sports offices. Have a pep talk with your teen the day before high school starts to build self-esteem and confidence to handle secondary school. Let your teen talk about expectations for school and the first day, and listen more than offering advice. Express your confidence in your child's abilities to handle anything that comes up at school. Parents can reinforce their willingness to listen to any fears or anxieties their child might have about the first day of high school by reminding kids that the door is always open to talk about anything.