Like New Year’s resolutions, the start of the school year is a perfect time for parents and teenagers to make resolutions in regard to goals, responsibilities, and expectations. It is an opportunity to think about what you and your teen hope to accomplish this year, but it is also a time to think about your household rules, making sure they are still age-appropriate (or appropriate according to the maturity of your teen).
Consider the environment your teen is about to enter. What precautions and advice can you give them? What should they avoid, and what should they strive for this year? How will this year affect their future, their college choices or their future career? Will this be an especially difficult transition year, such as moving to a new school or from junior high to high school? At such times, it is especially important to help make the transition as smooth as possible. I recommend visiting the school with an older student who is already familiar with the school as your tour guide, so your child can learn the ropes and understand what to expect, including the good, the bad and the ugly. Continue reading “Getting the School Year Started Right”
It’s back to school time — the time of year I begin to hear concerns from parents of young girls who’ve just entered middle school. They send their princess off to school with her crown neatly polished and her entourage intact. But rarely do two princesses happily exist in the same place at the same time, much less hundreds converging on a first day at middle school. So, battle lines are drawn.