Webster County High School

How to overrule objections and maintain your teen's respect Adolescents often object to parental control. But in order to protect your teen and instill respect for you, the teachers and other adults, you must overrule some of your teen's objections. To do this effectively, listen to your student's points carefully before responding. When you do, relax your posture and lower your voice. Ask questions to find out what lies behind the objections. Then establish terms you can agree on. https://tpitip.com/?32bb18889

Issue a screen-time challenge Research says that teens spend an average of seven hours per day staring for fun at a digital device of some sort. That's on top of time spent with screens for school. Encourage your teen to keep a personal log of recreational screen time each day for a week. Then challenge your student to reduce the time the following week. Suggest alternatives, like reading or exercising. Your teen may be surprised at what can be accomplished in the extra screen-free time! https://tpitip.com/?32ba18889

Keep the part-time job experience positive by limiting hours Part-time jobs offer teens benefits from career and time management skills to income. But working more than 10-15 hours per week can have negative effects on their school success. Teens who work more have less time for schoolwork. They often earn lower grades, or have to take less-challenging courses. Their attendance is also more likely to suffer. Remind your teen that school is a student's most important job. https://tpitip.com/?32bZ18889

Poor grades? Try an alternative to grounding Many parents respond to poor grades by taking away extracurricular activities like school sports and clubs. But school counselors warn that when students are "grounded" in this way, many who once loved school stop liking it. And they may fill their time with much riskier activities. Evaluate your teen's schedule to make sure it's balanced. Then try an alternative to grounding, such as requiring your teen to put in an hour of study for every hour spent on extracurricular activities. https://tpitip.com/?32bY18889

Address conflicts with your teen without a fight From time to time, parents need to discuss sensitive topics with their teens. To keep a conversation with your teen from becoming an argument, choose only one issue to discuss. State it clearly to avoid misunderstanding, and be sure to attack the problem, not your teen. Then listen to what your teen says and doesn't say. Together, develop a plan of action. Afterward, praise progress and reevaluate the plan as needed. https://tpitip.com/?32bX18889

Have a conversation about future outcomes of today's choices Most teens are focused on the present. For example, a teen who tries smoking is probably thinking "This will make me look cool," not "I could get lung cancer later on." One way to help your teen learn how to think ahead is to have conversations together about the short- and long-term consequences of negative and positive actions. What could happen if your student cheats on a test? What about if your teen studies 15 extra minutes each night? https://tpitip.com/?32bW18889

Support your teen's efforts with homework Homework is your teen's responsibility. But that doesn't mean you can't support your student's efforts. Schedule a regular homework time, and expect your teen to study during that time, even if no assignments are due the next day. Show interest in what your teen is learning. You can help clarify confusing concepts, but let your student do the work. Be sure to praise progress and discuss what your teen did that led to it. https://tpitip.com/?32bV18889

To reinforce resilience, help your teen apply strengths When learning is challenging, as it has been during the pandemic, students need resilience. Resilient students can adapt to tough circumstances. To help your teen develop resilience, try to be more caring than critical. Expressing your belief in your student's ability to learn can inspire confidence to keep trying. Highlight your teen's strengths. If your teen mastered a great free throw shot with lots of practice, suggest using the same method to strengthen algebra skills. https://tpitip.com/?32bU18889

Share strategies for overcoming common study hurdles Some issues with studying are common to many students. But there are strategies that help! For teens who have trouble remembering what they read, suggest making an outline. If your teen has studied for a test, but lacks confidence, creating and taking a practice test can help. And if your teen has waited until the last minute to study for a chapter test, share this quick review strategy: Reread the introduction and summary, then review key terms and the questions at the end of the chapter. https://tpitip.com/?32bT18889

Help your student gain the benefits of frequent reading Avid readers are better readers. Students who are always reading books (above and beyond school requirements) are more likely to succeed in school. They also master new academic areas with less effort, score higher on college entrance exams, are more flexible in their thinking and more open to new ideas, and like learning more than students who rarely read. Encourage your teen to find an enjoyable book and start reading! https://tpitip.com/?32bS18889

Teach your teen to write everything on a calendar Teens are busy people. They must juggle assignments, practices, part-time jobs and other commitments. Encourage your teen to keep track of everything on a personal calendar. It can be on paper or in a digital app. Ask daily if anything has come up that your teen needs to add to the calendar. Then have your teen check the calendar at the same time each morning. This habit helps students be prepared and avoid last-minute panic. https://tpitip.com/?32bR18889

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Seeing a doctor regularly helps teens stay healthy Even healthy teens need regular medical checkups, and this is especially important during a pandemic. A doctor can provide fact-based answers to questions about vaccines and pandemic protocols. A doctor can talk with your teen about nutrition and ask and answer questions about alcohol, drugs and sexual activity. Your teen may feel too old to see a children's doctor. If you need help finding a doctor for your teen, a pediatrician may be able to recommend someone who specializes in teen health. https://tpitip.com/?32bP18889

Avoid these communication pitfalls Talking to teens can be tricky. But keeping the lines of communication open is an important way to support your teen's efforts in school. Instead of giving speeches, listen to your teen. Avoid giving commands without explanations, and compliments that aren't really compliments (You'd be great if only…). And if your conversation gets heated, ask for a break so you can both calm down. https://tpitip.com/?32bO18889

Every day is the right day to send a message of love Teens don't always know how much their families love them. Experts say parents need to express their love specifically, in words and actions. To make sure your teen gets your "I love you!" message loud and clear, say it often. Then show it, too: Listen without judgment when your teen wants to talk. Set aside time to do something together. Help your teen figure out a solution to a problem. Offer a loving hug. https://tpitip.com/?32bN18889

Help your teen take responsibility for improving grades If you are concerned about your teen's grades, you may want to take action. But it is important for your teen to be involved in finding solutions. Ask for your student's thoughts about the reasons for each grade, and what your teen can do to improve. Encourage your teen to ask the teacher for suggestions on how to study more effectively and resources for help. You may also wish to schedule a parent-teacher-student conference. At the conference, you can clarify expectations and plan ways for your teen to meet them. https://tpitip.com/?32bM18889

Simple strategies help teens stay alert while studying Putting in hours of studying won't help if your teen is fighting to stay awake the whole time. Encourage your teen to study at a desk or standing up, rather than snuggled in a blanket in bed. If drowsiness strikes, switching tasks for a few minutes can keep it at bay. Taking a short break to stretch every hour can also help teens' minds stay focused. https://tpitip.com/?32bK18889

Join the effort to prevent bullying Bullying affects safety and interferes with learning. It can take many different forms. Some bullies ridicule, threaten or physically abuse their victims. Others spread rumors online or persuade others to ignore or isolate one person. Regardless of the tactic, bullying is wrong. Take time to talk to your teen about it. And if you suspect that your teen (or any student) is being bullied, report it to the school. https://tpitip.com/?32bJ18889

Teens who feel closely connected to their parents tend to do better in school. If your relationship with your teen has taken a nosedive, think of yourselves as countries that need a peace talk. Let your teen know you want to work on your relationship. Ask what would improve it. Your teen may fire off a list of your faults; just listen. Wait until you are both calm, then ask if your teen is willing to improve things together. https://tpitip.com/?32bF18889

Share editing tips to improve your teen's writing Students don't always know what to look for when editing their own writing. Encourage your teen to read work aloud and listen for things that sound awkward. Students should ask themselves, "Does this make sense? Does it move smoothly from one idea to the next?" They should also eliminate any extra and overused words. Before handing the piece in, your student should also proofread it carefully and make sure to give sources proper credit. https://tpitip.com/?32bE18889