Watching teens prepare for high school often brings mixed emotions for parents. While parents are happy to see their children turning into young adults, the start of high school makes parents face the fact that they only have four more short years left before their child leaves home. While this is a tough time for parents, it is also a crucial time. This is when parents help their teens prepare for life, as well as, high school.

In almost all cases, teens are excited to be entering high school. It’s a time when they get to experience a new level of independence. For example, in high school kids make new friends, learn how to drive, play varsity sports, work a part-time job and take different classes that allow them to explore interests on a deeper level. There are a lot of life lessons teens learn while in high school. Therefore, it is a parent’s duty to help their child prepare for high school by finding the right high school.

As your teen graduates from Junior High School, or even before graduation, it’s time to begin looking at the surrounding high schools. Most parents and teens don’t give this any thought. Instead, they enroll their child at the high school closest to them. However, much thought should go into this decision, because high school is the last stop before your child leaves home. Therefore, you need to talk to your teen about what her goals are after high school. If your child wants to pursue her education after high school, then it is extremely important you weigh each area high school carefully.

Every high school is different and focuses on different things. For example, some high schools have great sports programs known for sending students off to top colleges with scholarships. If you have a teen that is good at sports, and wants to continue on in college, then you need to look at the high school’s sports program. The same is true for students looking to earn academic scholarships.  These students need to attend a high school that receives high academic markings and is known for pushing its students to the next level.

The overall point is that parents need to enroll their teens in high schools where they are more likely to achieve their goals. The high school environment is very demanding as students have to balance peer pressure, academics, extracurricular activities and the social scene. So, when a teen is in a school that puts an emphasis on an area she is interested in, then post-high school success is more likely. Therefore, to help teens prepare for life, parents need to help them prepare for high school by enrolling them in the right high school!

There are several tips to help you find the right high school for your teen. The first step is to visit with your teen and find out what her goal is after high school – this is crucial. Without a clear plan, you won’t be able to pinpoint the most suitable school. Next, visit the school with your teen. You will learn a lot about the school’s vision when you are able to visit with the school officials, teachers and coaches. Also, do online research. See how they do academically and talk to others about their experiences in that particular school system. The bottom line is that choosing the right high school for your teen will open more opportunities in the future.

For more information about how you can help your teen with high school, click here.

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.

Starting high school is a big deal for teenagers and more than likely they have been looking forward to it all summer! While teens look forward to high school, they also are probably a little worried because they aren’t sure what to expect. A lot of times parents can pick up on their apprehension a few weeks before school starts. Teens that are somewhat nervous about the first day of high school will most likely be working to get everything in order and just perfect before school starts. To help calm your teen’s nerves, help her create (and complete) a list of things that need to be done before school starts. Below are a few suggestions to include on the list.

1. Clothes Shopping. If you have a teenage girl preparing for high school, then I’m sure you are aware that a day of clothes shopping is in the near future. Shopping for school clothes may not be your idea of fun, but it can actually be an enjoyable bonding experience for mothers and daughters. This is also true for mothers and sons. Just remember to be patient and keep in mind that having new and trendy clothes will help make your teen’s transition to high school easier.
2. Shopping for School Supplies. Shopping for school supplies is another back-to-school activity that can’t be ignored, especially for those preparing for high school. To help everyone stay calm and in good moods, it will be best to do clothes shopping and school supply shopping on two separate days. If your teen has already enrolled in school, then ask the different teachers if they require any specific school supplies for their class. For example, Algebra students will probably need a graphing calculator. If there isn’t a list available, then it is okay to go ahead and get the basics: a backpack, notebooks, pens, pencils, paper and anything else your teen might need and do the rest later.
3. Get a Haircut. Your teen will feel much better about entering the doors of high school for the first time with a new haircut. This is obviously more important to girls than guys, but even teen boys will appreciate having a sharp haircut on the first day of school.
4. A Day of Fun. The three items listed above are the essentials for helping your teen prepare for high school. However, scheduling a day for just you and your teen to kick back and have fun will do a lot to help ease your teen’s nerves. For girls, a day at the spa with mom will work wonders. There’s just something special about a mom and daughter getting a pedicure and a massage together. For guys, a day racing go-carts or playing golf with dad is more appropriate. The main idea is to spend a day with your teen just having fun before high school begins. This may not seem that important, but it really is.

Are you looking for more great information on helping your teen with high school? Click here!

It’s probably not surprising to know that parents and teens have different opinions about what is important when returning to school.  Parents have a tendency to concentrate more on supplies and essential clothing while teens tend to be concerned about the latest trends.

Some things that teens look at are:

• Electronics – The world has become a much more technological place and teens are some of the top users of electronics.  The teens of today have grown up using computers, cell phones, and other high tech electronic devices.  Many teens want to upgrade to iPhones, Droids, and iPads for their electronic needs.
• Brands – Many teens prefer brand specific clothing and shoes either because they want to be like their friends or they look up to others who wear specific brands.  Although there are certain brands that are quite expensive some of the most popular clothing and shoe brands are reasonably priced.  Some popular brands include American Eagle, Areopostal, Under Armor, DC Shoes, Nike, and Adidas.
• Hair Styles – Hair styles seem to change every year and it’s not just girls who spend time on their hair.  Teen boys spend just as much time at the salon as girls these days.  The most popular style for teen boys is wearing their hair longer so that there are some waves and curls.  Many boys are going for the “Justin Bieber” look these days.  Girls have embraced the flat ironed look but they also enjoy throwing their hair up in stylish messy buns that allow for tendrils and the “just out of bed look”.
• Cars – More and more teens are getting vehicles instead of riding the bus and many teens would prefer a fast little car over the family hand me down.  With the economy the way it is many teens will have to be happy with an older, bigger vehicle as many parents will not have the extra funds to purchase an additional car for their teen. 
• Online Social Networking – While many parents may not even know what this means it’s an important part of socializing for many teens.  Most teens have FaceBook, Twitter, and MySpace pages which allows them to keep up with what their friends are doing and share with others what is going on in their lives and what they find important.    The important thing for teens to remember with online social networking is that everything they post on the Internet leaves a “virtual footprint” that can be reviewed at any time.

This list is not necessarily important to all teens and not all teens are concerned with each point but you will find that most teens find these items either relatively or extremely important for both going back to school and during the school session.  There are also many other items that teens are concerned about like sports, classes, friends, dating, grades, and extracurricular activities.

It’s important for parents to realize that while their children may have an interest in certain things it doesn’t mean that all of these items must be provided for them.  Each family has to find their own comfort level when it comes to expenses and items for their teens.  Even without all of these items your teen is sure to have a great upcoming school year.

Here is another useful resource to Help your teen succeed in High School.

Even though it’s getting close to the end of the summer it still tends to be pretty warm when school starts up and it’s important to make sure that teens who are involved in sports stay hydrated and cool during practices and games.

Some things that can help keep teens safe while out for sports include:

• Drinking Fluids – Teens don’t always take notice of the way their bodies feel or they may misunderstand the signals their body is giving them.  It’s a good idea to make sure that they always have access to water during practice and sporting events to keep from getting dehydrated.
• Drinking the Correct Fluids – Many teens enjoy soda or energy drinks but these types of fluids will not help them when they are physically active and some energy drinks can be dangerous in certain circumstances.  Teens should be encouraged to drink water or fluids that have added nutrients like Gatorade during physical activity.
• Eating Correctly – It’s also important to make sure that teen athletes are eating the right foods and the right amounts.  Physically active teens should not typically be eating a reduced calorie diet, unless prescribed by their doctor, because they may not be getting enough energy from their food to sustain their physical activity.  It’s also a good idea for teens to stay away from foods high in sodium as these foods can deplete the body of fluids.
• Keeping Cool – Not only can teen athletes keep cool by drinking fluids they can also keep cool by wearing clothes that pull sweat away from their bodies, like Under Armor, and also staying out of the heat and sun as much as possible.  Once the school sports season starts practices and games will typically take place after the hottest part of the day but until then it’s a good idea to have teens wear hats and cooler clothing while practicing or playing sports.
• Knowing the Signs of Heat Exhaustion – Parents and school personnel need to take the time to teach teens about the different sign and symptoms of heat exhaustion so as to limit the chances of injury.  The most common signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, pale skin, being overly tired, headache and/or dizziness, muscle cramping, weakness, vomiting, and fainting.  If a teen experiences any of these signs or symptoms they should see a doctor immediately to determine if they are suffering from heat exhaustion.

Sports are an important part of many teen’s school year and as long as the teens, their parents, and the school administration work together to keep things safe there should be no issues with teens taking part in these activities.  If there is ever any question as to whether or not a teen can handle a school sport or is suffering from heat exhaustion it is important to contact a doctor immediately.

For more tips and information to help your teen succeed in high school, click here.