The Parent's Guide to Your Teen's Senior Year of High School

The Parent's Guide to Your Teen's Senior Year of High School

Just as quick as the end of their junior year came about and family vacations and lazy summer day plans went under way; the signs of senior year have begun to sprout up. This time is one that brings about great hope, dreams, concerns and reservations from every parent whose son or daughter will be embarking on their final year of high school; because it is not the fact that you and your child will be making plans for their collegiate education that will bring about the most headaches and woes, your pains will come from learning how to interact with your senior as an adult.

One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to let go and not be the 24 hour walking reminder of what your high school senior needs to do. By backing off slowly you will find what responsibilities you're teen and can and cannot handle. For instance if you did not have to remind your teen when projects and tests were coming up during their junior year and they did well; take an even greater step this year and let them discuss what is going on with you. However, make sure you at least let them know that you are still invested in their future. I suggest after the first week sit down with your teen and discuss their classes and what is expected from the teachers. Ask you're teen if they are concerned about anything and let them know what your expectations are from them and end it with a sincere "at anytime you feel overwhelmed or need help let me know." This is very important because your senior needs to be able to determine what their limits are prior to college so that they are not taking on a heavy course load their first semester in college, feel as though they suffice in their work and have an unsuccessful freshman year. This happens too often in college and the most important part of freshman year is adjusting to being solely responsible for their own work with no constant reminder of what is due and when from mom and dad.

Another important step you should take with your teen is enabling them to manage money on a budget. Money management is a huge factor throughout college and for the rest of their lives to be frank. If they do not have a savings and checking account by now, take them to go open one. When doing so consider if the bank of your choice will be available in the area they may go to college at. This will help avoid tam fees and the delayed time of waiting for money to transfer and post from one bank to the other. A very good suggests is for both you and your teen to have an account at the same bank, so when a monetary emergency occurs they will receive the money faster. You will also need to assess your teen's maturity with handling money on a budget and set your expectations of their spending also. This way when they go broke, and they will, they cannot say that you never told them to put up 60% of their money a month.

Coinciding with managing money, it is time for your high school senior to get a job. The job does not need to be full time or even 24 hours a week but they need to go out there and learn how to work with different personalities. This is a huge learning experience and you will be surprised how a job can mature a teen. Also this will let you know if your teen has an unrealistic ideal on the workforce. With the economy being stagnate I high encourage your teen to volunteer. Although they will not get paid in cash they will gain an insight into those who are less fortunate than themselves.

While you are stepping back and letting your high school senior take on these new responsibilities remember to keep or begin an open dialogue with them about their life. Yes, parents, they do have a life, aside from classes and your family. By talking with them and just being there you will give them the reassurance that they can count on you no matter what and this is important when you and your student are miles apart during their collegiate years and so forth. One of the biggest mistakes that parents make during this transaction time with their teens is not seeing them as an individual and a young adult. Although it is hard to put aside the memories of superman and Barbie lunch boxes and the need to remind your child to do something; it is time to start seeing them as an adult so that they do not become and adult child.