Parenting My Teen

Back-to-school shopping is one of the things that every parent has to do before they send their kids off to school. The supplies needed for grade school are different than those needed for junior high.

So, what exactly is your high school student going to need to get through his classes? Well, the shopping for high school is different than it is for younger kids because once a student gets to high school, the supply list changes from class-to-class. This means that you will need to get a list of the supplies required for each individual class your teen is enrolled in. Sometimes this can be done before school starts, and sometimes the teacher waits until the first day of school to give out the list. It will just depend on how the teacher wants to do it.

While each class will have its own separate list of supplies, there are still several things that your teen will need. First of all, every high school student needs a backpack. The books in high school are thicker and heavier, plus your teen will most likely have more homework to bring home. Therefore, it is important that your teen picks out a backpack made of durable material. Not a trendy tote bag made of thin material that will tear easily.

Next, high school students generally have to write more reports and papers to help prepare them for college. One high-priced item you might consider getting your teen is a laptop computer. Some high schools even allow students to bring them to class so they can take notes quickly and efficiently. Whether or not you allow your teen to take the computer to school is up to you. However, your teen will find it beneficial to have a small laptop available to type up papers and reports on.

If you provide your teen with a laptop, another helpful tool to have is a printer. It is possible for your teen to save his documents on a small flash drive and print it from a school computer. However, it will be much more convenient for him to have a printer at home where he can easily print his documents without being rushed. Having both a laptop and a printer at home will help ensure your teen turns in high-quality work.

Another great school supply for high school teens is a planner. This can be either the traditional notebook planners or an electronic planner. Planners will provide students with a place to write down their daily assignments to help ensure they get turned in on time. The only benefit an electronic planner has over the traditional planner is that they generally come with an automated alarm that will sound as a reminder. Teens can program an electronic planner to go off a day or so before the assignment is due to remind them to finish it.

While there are a lot of supplies that will be needed for high school teens, the four listed above will be very beneficial and greatly appreciated. Yes, they are pricey, but the good news is that they are items that do not need to be bought every year. If you get a good computer, printer and planner before your teen’s freshman year of high school, it is not unreasonable to expect them to last until college.

When your teen enters high school, you may find they have need a little extra help. Click here for instant access to the Real Life Guidance Report, Helping Your Teen with High School. It contains all the information you need to help your teen succeed.