Normal Teen Behavior Just Before High School Graduation

High school graduation can be quite exciting for teens as they prepare to celebrate the previous four years̵7; achievements and say good-bye to friends who are perhaps headed in different directions. The final weeks before graduation can be demanding and emotionally draining, causing some teens to behave a little differently than they typically might. It̵7;s normal for behavior right before graduation to be a bit high-strung or inconsistent, but parents should keep a close eye on their teens to make sure safety doesn̵7;t become an issue.

  1. Stress

    • Shortly before graduating, teens tend to become stressed, wondering if they are prepared for the next stage of their lives, states Kevin Dowling, principal at Lee County High in Georgia. Teens might worry about moving to a new city for college, living on their own or preparing to enter the workforce. Parents can help by asking their teens if they would like to discuss their concerns and by offering to assist with items on their teen̵7;s to-do list. Not getting enough sleep is an issue for many teens. Providing a calm, supportive home life during the countdown to graduation can help your teenager rest between activities.

    Grade Fatigue

    • After four years of high-stakes testing and rigorous academic challenges, teens might begin to experience grade fatigue. Emotional exhaustion and overwhelming academic requirements can create grade fatigue, according to Grad Resources.org. Feeling academically burned out might result in turning in lesser-quality work before graduation. Teens might want to finish strong, but struggle to prioritize academic, social and family obligations. Parents might help teens create a to-do list for each class in the final weeks so that no important deadlines or requirements are missed. If you̵7;re worried that your teen might not pass a class, contact the teacher directly and ask how you can support at home.

    Senioritis

    • Some high school seniors come down with a case of ̶0;senioritis,̶1; often as soon as they find out that they̵7;ve been accepted to college, according to Bethesda Magazine.com. Skipping class, avoiding homework and not taking school seriously is more tempting just before high school graduation, especially if a teen believes he has reached his goals and is burned out. Check your school̵7;s attendance policy to make sure your teen isn̵7;t inadvertently setting himself up for failure.

    Parties

    • High school graduation is often associated with underage drinking. Explicitly let your teen know that you don̵7;t consider partying to be a normal or acceptable behavior during the graduation season. If you̵7;re hosting a graduation party, serving alcohol to minors could result in fines or jail time, according to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Teens might want to ramp up their social calendars just before graduation in order to say good-bye to friends and make some final high school memories, but make sure no alcohol is involved. It̵7;s fine to call parents hosting graduation parties to ascertain that teens won̵7;t be served alcohol.

    • When you’re eager for your child to embrace spirituality and develop a relationship with his creator, you might want your adolescent to join you at church. While this is a worthy goal, it might take just the right approach to inspire a teenager
    • Depending on how sick you are, you might be out of school for days or weeks. Although rest should be your first priority, if you find yourself feeling well enough, there are some fun and constructive things you can do to help pass the time.
    • Ingratitude can be especially difficult to stomach when it comes from your adolescent. When your teenager appears ungrateful for the comforts and privileges bestowed upon her, she may just be viewing the situation differently from you. With patience