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.

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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.

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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.

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Although summer vacation is only three months long for most teens it doesn’t take very long for them to forget about homework.  It’s easy to forget the amount of time necessary each evening to get homework completed, especially if it’s a tough subject.

In order to get teens ready for the back to school homework schedule try some of the following:

• Review Their Classes – While most parents are aware of the electives their teens have chosen they may not be aware of the required classes for each grade level.  It’s important to get an idea of what classes will be taken and, if possible, compare the grades they received in comparable classes the year before.  This will let both the parent and the teen know if there should be extra time set aside for studying in specific classes.
• Consider Tutoring – If there is a specific class that a teen has problems with it’s a good idea to consider hiring a tutor or asking the school if they have a tutor that can help with certain subjects.  Not only with this help the teen be less stressed it will also help to make sure that the student gets a good background and grade in the subject for future use and college.
• Determine the Best Way to Study – Some teens can handle watching TV or listening to music while studying and others do better with no outside stimulation.  Most parents know how their teen studies best and it’s important to set up an area specifically for studying if their teen needs no distractions.  It is also a good idea, if the student feels that they can study while having other things go on, that the student starts out with no distractions until a baseline grade can be determined and then open study time up to experimentation.
• Choose the Right Level – While some teens are over-achievers others can be under-achievers.  It’s important to determine which level the student is ready for in certain subjects and to make sure they are taking that specific course.  Some students want to skip a class in order to get to a higher level sooner but if they do not have the basics down they will need to take all the levels of each subject.  Other students are concerned that they may not be able to handle a certain subject and may start at a lower level than is really necessary.  It’s a balancing act between making sure the teen doesn’t overdo it while making sure that they don’t second guess their abilities.

Many times a talk with the school counselor either at the end of a school year or before a new school starts can answer any questions a parent or teen may have about their ability to perform in certain subjects.  If a student starts a class and realizes that they are not at the right level it is usually quite easy to change to the correct level within the first few weeks of school.

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The back to school items that teens need have changed throughout the years though some things always stay the same.  The basics are clothes and school supplies.  The new items include:

• Electronics/Technology – Teens used to get by with simple calculators but most high school math classes require calculators that can handle many different functions and formulas.  Also, most schools assume that teens have access to computers after school hours and much of the homework sent home will need to be completed on computers or will need the Internet for research.
• Sports Attire – The days of just having to buy one pair of sneakers or tennis shoes has disappeared.  Having teens in sports can become expensive due to all of the necessary equipment that some schools require parents to purchase.  Even in the school provides much of the equipment it is up to the parents to purchase the correct shoes for each sport, and to make sure that their teens have adequate clothing under their uniform to keep the student cooler or warmer depending on the time of the year.
• Lunch Money – Although eating at school is much less expensive than eating at a restaurant it doesn’t take long for the bill to add up.  Most public schools request that all parents at least apply for free or reduced lunches because the school system will get extra money to help the school for each student that awarded free or reduced lunches.  This not only helps the school it helps the family of the teen also.
• Organizational Equipment – Teens are just as busy as adults these days with school, extracurricular activities, and work.  It’s important to find an organizational tool or equipment that works well for each teen so that they can keep track of assignments, tests, events, and their work schedule.  Some students can get by with a calendar or notebook while others do better with PDAs or cell phones that double as calendars or PDAs.
• Proper Classroom Supplies – Some schools and classrooms have very specific supplies that are needed to attend the classes.  It’s important to find out what is needed and to possibly budget for these items if they are expensive.  Some classes like art, mechanics, woods, and band can be require high dollar tools and supplies and it is typically up to the family to make the necessary purchases though many schools have programs to make the purchases more affordable.

While it may seem like there are a lot of expenses involved in going to back to school it’s ultimately worth it because the teens are acquiring a good education that they can draw from while attending college, they learn discipline and organizational skills when involved with sports, and if the teen goes shopping with their parents for their back to school items they will have a better understanding of the type of expenses they may incur during college.

Get our special report right in time for back to school, Helping Your Teen with High School.