Consider this advice for helping your child ease into his first year of high school.
Going to 9th grade is a huge transition for most children. In many cases, children are not just changing grades, but changing schools. The school is not the only thing that is changing, however- so are the challenges, the expectations, as well as the children themselves as they begin that rocky road that goes from childhood and leads to adulthood. Here are some tips to help you help your child through 9th grade.
You can help by beginning to prepare your child before the first school bell rings. If your child has been having any trouble with reading, writing or mathematics, it might be a good idea to work with them on their weak points over the summer, or consider hiring a tutor. The work will only be getting more difficult in high school, so make sure your child has a good grasp of the basics.
As teens grow, sleep often becomes a major issue. More than half the children in this country are sleep deprived, due to their changing biological clocks. Their bodies begin getting tired at a later hour, but they still need a full night sleep. Before school even starts, encourage your teen to go to bed at night at a reasonable hour. Enforce a winding down time in the evening, which your child should stay away from stimulating activities, such as video games, television, or sports. Let them engage in light reading, or listen to soft music, so they develop a good routine that they can keep once school begins.
Going from being a big fish in a little pond to a little fish in a big pond can be an unnerving- even frightening- experience. If your teen is going to a new school in which he will not know anyone, see if the school has any summer programs that your teen can participate in. This will give your child the opportunity to begin meeting students at his new school so he will not feel so lonely when he begins.
Once your child starts school, get in touch with your child's teachers and guidance counselor. Call, or write them a note to introduce yourself, and tell them how they can best get in touch with you if they need you. Voice any concerns, such as if your child is having problems in a particular subject area, very shy in class, or forgets to do homework assignments. If it appears your child is having any problems with classes, homework or social situations, schedule meetings with educators or guidance counselors. Opening the lines of communication with the teachers will help you to stay on top of how your child is adapting and nip problems in the bud.
Don't stop checking a child's work just because they are in high school. Ask to see their assignment notebook, check their home work in the evenings, and ask for test grades and report cards. As teens become more independent they may begin to turn less to parents with their school work. Show your teen that you are still interested, and if she resists, explain to her that you love her and it is your responsibility to see that she is continuing to do well in school. If any signs of problems show up, take action- they can only get worse, and are not likely to go away on their own. Any bad habits or problems that develop in the ninth grade become a danger, as your child may continue them throughout high school.
Social demands can become a big problem for teens starting high school if you are not careful. Teen relationships become more personal and complex than when they were younger- they may feel the need to spend more time with their friends. The abundance of extra curricular activities offered in high school can cause some freshmen to bite off more than they can chew. Often, very busy schedules will cause students to compromise their sleep or study time. Help to teach your child to balance her social life, work, home life and sleep so that she is not neglecting any areas. Talk with her about setting limits on extra curricular activities so they don't interfere with her work or deprive her of much needed rest.
On the flip side, if your teen seems to be socially withdrawn once she begins high school, encourage her to seek out at least one or two activities so that she will have the opportunity to work in smaller groups with students who have similar interests outside of the classroom.
While ninth grade can be a major transitional year for children, you can help him coast through it by teaching him to handle the new challenges responsibly, keeping on top of his progress, and keeping the lines of communication open.
