The teenage years are a strange, in between stage. Your child is no longer an infant, but not yet an adult. However, as adulthood is not far off, you will need to prepare your child for life outside of education and help them grow into an independent young person. An independent day school shares these tips for parents which we’ve included below.
Think About Longer Term Goals
While they might not have a clue yet at this stage, it’s important that you work with your child to establish what their goals are in life and what they want to do. This will help guide their choices and help you to put a plan in place. For example, the career they wish to pursue may require going to university to gain a specific degree.
Getting Some Work Experience
Work experience is no doubt going to help your child in the future as it will give them a taste of what it’s like to be an adult and transition into the world of work. It’s also a chance for them to develop skills, learn about industries they might want to work in and their strengths and weaknesses.
Make a Start
So now that your child has a good understanding of what it is they want to do and how to get there, it’s a better time than any to make a start. Gaining work experience before they leave school and putting the wheels in motion by applying for degree courses will ensure that your child has a clear path to follow.
A Mentor
If what your child wishes to pursue is totally foreign to you and they need expert guidance, they may benefit from a mentor or speaking to a person already in the industry. There are various organisations that put young people in touch with qualified mentors, or alternatively careers coaches/advisers are knowledgeable people to consult.
My son found his work experience really helpful as it made him think of his longterm plans rather than what he wanted to do for just the next couple of years