Parent's Focus

It is never too early to start helping your student plan for their next step in life, whether it be trade school, an apprenticeship, college, career, or the military service.

Here are a couple of helpful links to check out!

http://careertipster.com/careerdev/life-skills-for-preparing-your-kids-for-a-successful-college-future/

https://kids.usa.gov/parents/jobs/index.shtml

http://www.educationplanner.org/parents/index.shtml

Parents -- here are helpful ways you can be involved in your child's successful transition to their next step i

• Talk with your children about their interests, abilities, and talents
• Make sure your children go to school every day, on time, with a good attitude...as they will need to do on a job
• Give your children responsibility for jobs around the house
• Find out what your children are learning in school
• Encourage your children to participate in service oriented activities in the community
• Talk about how your children’s interests can be applied to careers that they might enjoy
• Explore with your children as many of these careers as possible
• Look at post-secondary education and training options with your children
• Talk about your own job and career in a positive manner
• Encourage your children’s school district to offer Career Clusters
• Use FAFSA4caster to find out how much federal student aid your child might receive. This information will help you plan ahead
• Continue saving for your child’s college education. If you have not opened a savings account, learn about the tax advantages of saving early
• Talk to your child about his or her interests and help match those interests with a college major and career
• Help your child develop good study habits, such as studying at the same time and place every day and having the necessary materials to complete assignments
• Stay in contact with your child’s teachers and counselor so that they can let you know about any changes in your child’s behavior or schoolwork
• Keep an eye on your child’s grades on his or her tests and report cards, and help him or her find tutoring assistance, if necessary

Get tips from the following documents:

Helping Your Child With Homework offers suggestions on assisting your child with successfully completing assignments.

Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence addresses issues that parents of 10- to 14-year-olds generally find most challenging.

Browse Parent Power for ideas to help you support your child as he or she transitions into high school.