How to Help a High School Freshman Succeed in School

A teen's freshman year of high school can be intimidating and overwhelming. We have all been there and been a little scared during those first few weeks. There are ways to help your high school freshman deal with this transition into high school. Following are some skills you can teach them to help them cope with situations as they arise.

Instructions

1. Start getting ready halfway through their eighth grade year. Most middle schools are set up for this anyway. There are often field trips to the high schools and meeting with counselors to help the transition. Be involved in their education by meeting with their teachers to see if there are areas that need improvement. Know your teen's social skill levels to ensure that they are ready to deal with the pressures of high school.

2. Talk to your teens about which high school they will attend and about their expectations based on what they have heard about it from their friends. Ask them what they would like to gain from high school.

3. Plan for their extra-curricular activities ahead of time. While some middle schools offer school activities, most high schools have double that amount with greater sports involvement. Student activities are often promoted during the first week of school, so help students get information ahead of time to decide what activities they would like to be involved in. If they do sports, try-outs are often before the school season starts, so get information about this during the summer.

4. Address any questions or needs they may bring up, especially if it is about their social life. Are they worried about dating yet? What about the pressure to have sex? Girls need to be aware of the pressure to be thin and guys of the pressure to use steroids. Talk to your teen about all of this before they are put in an uncomfortable position.

5. Point out the exciting things to come, like learning to drive, attending school dances and preparing for college. Always stress the importance of grades, even during their freshman year.

Tips & Warnings

• Some middle schools are implementing programs to aid in the transition into high school. Ask personnel at your teen's school if they offer anything to help the students get ready for the transition.

• Many high schools also offer transition programs, such as two day camps to help the incoming freshman acclimate and a staggered start to the school year, which gives the incoming freshman a first day to themselves, so they can learn their way around.