One of the most exciting yet tense times for a parent and a teenager is when the parent begins to prepare the teen for high school. There are many ways to make this transition easier for your child. Let’s review some of the ways:

Before your child’s middle or junior high school years come to an end, encourage your child to meet with his/her Homeroom Teacher or Guidance Counselor to ask for a book or brochures that outline the high schools that are in the area. When your teen has this book, sit down with them and look through it together. Try making a list of pro’s and con’s of the schools that are listed. Discuss which school is the best fit for your child. To do this, you can read about what the schools offer, the distance from the home to the school and of course you will also want keep in mind what your child’s interests are.

When you and your child have narrowed down the possible choices for High School, call the school to make an appointment with them and set up a day and time for a school visit. Usually on these visits you will meet with a representative from the school who will explain the schools philosophy with you and show you around the entire school. You may also want to keep an eye out for any High School fairs that may be coming to your child’s current school. These fairs provide a great opportunity for you and your child to learn about several schools on one day.