Is your child ready for the next school year? Academically, your child may be ready and if not, we have numerous tutoring service and in-school support services. What do you do, however, if your child is shy or has some social anxiety about the new school year? Does your teen have the emotional intelligence to navigate social situations at school?
The first thing to do is to assure your child that most pre-teens and teens feel some anxiety about who is going to be in their classes, who their teachers will be, and the general atmosphere of the school. This anxiety is particularly prevalent when the teen is attending a new school or transitioning from elementary to middle or from middle to high school.
Make sure that your child has all the necessary tools for schools. If they have plenty of paper, notebooks, pens, and pencils, they will feel that they are off to a good start. You cannot anticipate everything, but at least provide your child with the basics. Does your child have a quiet place to work, which is free of distractions and noise? Try to agree on a place which is conducive to getting homework done.
Having attractive, comfortable clothes will boost your teen’s self-esteem. If a child feels like he or she looks nice, it is one less thing to worry about. Check to make sure that clothes for the week are clean and easily accessible.
Remind your teen of their positive qualities to boost their confidence. Let them know that you are there for them and that there are people at school that they can turn to if they are experiencing challenges with their peers. Does your teen know what to do if he or she is the victim of bullying or is a witness to bullying? Does your child have the confidence to ask questions and seek help from teachers and guidance counselors? Many students miss out on receiving free help just because they are hesitant to ask for help.
How are your teen’s organizational skills? Teens can be very intelligent, but if they can’t organize their notes and prioritize, they will experience academic challenges. Review organizational skills with them or have a professional coach them in this area, if it doesn’t come naturally to them.
Sometimes teens need more training than you can provide, as a parent. Some teens need coaching to feel more self-assured and confident around their peers. Gaining confidence in the social arena can make all the difference in the world in the happiness of your child. Good social skills also lead to success in college and in the workplace.
Have you and your teen sat down and discussed how your will communicate about their academic successes and challenges? Does your teen have personal and academic goals clarified for this next upcoming year? Is your teen clear on your expectations? A frank discussion with a defined game plan will get you and your teen off to a great start for the new academic year.
Connecting, Inc. provides social skills coaching to middle, high school and college students who are shy or lack confidence in social situations. We meet in public places, rather than an office, to make our sessions more fun. Check out the topics we cover at our website : www.connectinginc.net or e-mail kathy@connectinginc.net or call Kathy at 954 294 9708.