We parents play a vital role in helping our teens succeed in life starting at home and extending to the learning institute we enrol them in. While teens love the thrill of seeking independence, we can still play the part of support and guidance.

The secondary level is a fantastic stage that can make or break a teen’s college expectations to a degree, so enrolling your kid in the right school whether it be a public one in your area or an international school that offers IB Programme in Singapore has. The latter is the usual choice for both expats and parents who wants to develop a well-rounded, internationally-minded student.

In a more practical sense, here are some of the ways you can foster a college-going culture in secondary school.

Put importance on the social and emotional development of your teen 

A school is a place of experimentation that teaches kids how to interact with peers and authority figures. Secondary school is a fascinating time for boys and girls due to physical, social, and emotional development. Some kids come to hate school due to social treatment rather than academics.

You and the school have the responsibility of teaching your kids how to navigate friendships, how to deal with clique formations, and how to better understand the opposite sex, and even how to avoid vices. If your children require professional help, it’s wise to get it for them fast. Doing something before something happens, in this case, is better than mending it once something bad does happen.

Send your kids to school ready and happy

As a kid who used to be independent and with no one to prepare me breakfast during my secondary school years, I can tell that it affected my college performance negatively. A nutritious breakfast fuels up teens while getting them pumped up for the day. Teens who eat breakfast generally have more energy and do better in school.

Also, good schools, especially international institutions provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell. Teens also require enough sleep ranging from 8 to 9 hours to be alert and productive all day. They’ll be able to adapt this practice when in college. Lack of sleep can lead to decreased attentiveness, short-term memory, inconsistent performance, and delayed response time.

Develop organizational skills

Mastering the skills of getting organized, staying focused, and completing work will help teens in everything they do during secondary school all the way to college. This is not typically taught in high school, so your teens need your guidance with organization and time-management skills.

Help your teen organize assignments and class information in binders, notebooks, folders, or even their phones. Creating a schedule will your teens assess future schedules and plan accordingly. Assist your teen to include non-academic commitments on the calendar as well.

Take attendance seriously

Teens must take a sick day if they’re sick. Otherwise, it’s crucial that they go to school on time daily since having to catch up with classwork, tests, projects, and homework can cause stress and interfere with learning.

Teens can have different reasons for missing school — bullies, low grades, difficult assignments, or social problems. Talk with your teen and/or an administrator or school counsellor to find out more about what’s causing the issue. Taking attendance seriously will let your teen develop responsibility during college.

As stated in the article’s beginning, the right learning institute like IB Programmes in Singapore will help tremendously to foster a college-going culture in your teen. Remember that the right attitude formation starts at home and you can be your kid’s best life teacher.