Many older children and teens have a mixture of feelings regarding summer ending and school beginning again. Help your older child begin this school year in a positive way with the following tips.
1. Focus on the positive, even if last school year was a challenging year. For example, if s/he had difficulty last year due to organizational problems, make organizational skills a top goal. Have your teen write down assignments in an assignment book or daily planner and check off the assignments when completed. Remember that when learning a new skill, most people need monitoring and feedback. Be sure to watch how your teen uses the daily assignment book or planner and offer constructive feedback.
2. Give constructive feedback- Start by saying something positive you like about your teen’s efforts or new behavior. Next, suggest how your teen can improve his or her skills. Lastly, end your message with positive or encouraging words.
3. Offer to be available- Although teens may seem to need you less because they are more independent, surveys have found that teenagers wish for more time and contact with their parents. Offer to be of help, with study skills or other projects.
4. Use positive reinforcement- Kids of all ages need positive reinforcement. Use praise and communicate appreciation of your teen’s efforts, even when s/he does not succeed.
5. Know when to seek help- Most children can ease into the school year with a positive attitude. However, if your teen exhibits more extreme reactions, has problems that last for an extended period, or you suspect a specific learning or psychological difficulty, seek professional help. Discuss these issues with your child’s teacher, the school guidance counselor, social worker, and/or school psychologist. It may also be helpful to consult with a clinical psychologist who is trained to help children overcome these problems.
For more ideas about how to help in managing the transition back-to-school, link onto the article below published by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/home_school/b2shandout.aspx
or the article below published by Newswise Medical News
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/554529
Other Helpful Resources include:
Parent Information Center:
http://www.parentinformationcenter.org/
APA Help Center from the American Psychological Association:
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/
