Your teen’s private school experience is about much more than just their education. These years are crucial to their growth and development and the opportunity for them to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become well-rounded, cultural, and gifted adults. When it comes to education, you and your teen are a team. Consider the following tips to ensure they get the most out of their time in private school.
Stay Involved and Informed
Although your teen might not always express it, they want you to stay a part of their lives and be invested in their education. That means attending parent-teacher conferences, staying in touch with their teachers and advisors, and regularly checking in to see how they’re doing. By playing an active role in your child’s education, you’ll be better equipped to help them navigate any challenges they may face and have a deeper connection with them.
Life isn’t always going to be perfect. Your child might struggle to make friends, encounter bullies, find certain subjects difficult, or feel overwhelmed. They need to know that you’re there. While 24% of public school teachers report that lack of parental involvement is a problem in their school, only 3% of private school teachers have reported the same issue. Therefore, you are part of a network of parents that are as up-to-date as you, which will encourage a culture of teens being open with their parents about their experiences.
Encourage Participation in Extracurricular Activities
Private schools have a diverse range of clubs, sports teams, and other activities, meaning your child is guaranteed to find something that interests them. They are activities that help your child develop new skills, socialize, and develop outside the classroom. If they aren’t sure what club interests them, talk to them about trying a few until they find something they like. This will be an excellent way for them to grow and help them later when they’re looking at colleges.
Schedule Regular Dental and Physical Exams
As a parent, it’s your duty to prioritize your child’s medical care, even as they get older. Routine exams are a great way to ensure that your teen is developing and growing healthily, and without them, it’s easy to miss underlying issues that may become more severe later. During the school year, they must be in the best physical shape possible to cope with playing sports, rigorous exam schedules, and dealing with stress.
Dental care is also critical, as 51 million school hours are lost each year due to a dental-related illness, according to The Center for Health Care in Schools. Your teen should know basic dental care and regularly brush and floss, but they might stay quiet when they have a toothache until it becomes severe. Make sure you take them for a cleaning every six months so that you both know that their mouths are healthy.
Celebrate the Big Moments
Don’t forget to schedule fun activities. These are days that your teen will remember for the rest of their lives, and big events like school dances, sports matches, school musicals, prom, and graduation should all be celebrated. Attend every occasion that you can and plan celebrations around them. Your teen will remember the effort you made.
For a big event like prom, consider getting a limousine for them and their friends. It’s a day they’ll never get back, and they should enjoy every second of it, which begins when they depart for the venue. 40% of the revenue the limousine industry generates is for parties, high school events, or weddings.
Your teen is growing up, which is hard to accept as a parent, but they still want you to be involved in their lives and education. Work with them to ensure their private school experience is positive by staying involved, keeping them healthy, and celebrating every moment you can.