High school graduation can sneak up on kids and parents alike. One moment, you are changing dirty diapers or wiping running noses, and the next, you are cheering as your child walks across a stage and receives a diploma. Preparing for college can take a little time and effort, from strengthening study skills to researching college options, but the investment will help both you and your child to have greater clarity and confidence, come graduation day.
Step 1
Model and encourage a love of learning. Sharon Chandler and Elizabeth Crane, in "Say Yes to College," explain that by teaching children how to enjoy the learning process, you can help to lay a foundation for their future educational careers. Simple choices, such as listening to your child talk about classes he enjoys, can help to instill this love.
Step 2
Foster healthy study habits from an early age. In "Got Teens?," authors Jill Savage and Pam Farrel, recommend helping children learn how to study well in grade school. As they develop the habit of doing their homework, and then persist in this habit through junior high and high school, then they will be better prepared to carry the homework load that college classes will entail.
Step 3
Encourage critical thinking in academics and in life. Helping your children, Chandler and Crane explain, to combat peer pressure and to navigate popular culture will equip them for the various pressures they will face during their first independent years as adults. For example, your children will likely experience pressure to make unsafe choices with sexual activity or drug use.
Step 4
Take advantage of the many resources available to you and encourage your child to do the same. Teachers and guidance counselors during high school can offer input on everything from choosing a college to surviving the admissions process, and many organizations and books offer extensive information on taking standardized exams and choosing major areas of study.
Step 5
Begin dreaming about college early with your child. Savage and Farrel stress that "kids don't usually think about college in junior high, but that's really when they need to begin planning for their future." Encourage your child to imagine different options and to daydream about the possibilities that are available to her for her future.
Tips and Warnings
- Do seek outside input and advice, particularly if your child will be a first-generation college student. Even a helpful book, such as Chandler and Crane's "Say Yes to College," can help to demystify the college preparation process.
- Do not put off questions of college due to lack of time or money. In fact, as you and your child learn about the options available to him, you will have a greater likelihood of recognizing creative options for pursuing a degree.
References
- "Say Yes to College"; Sharon Chandler, Elizabeth Crane; 2005
- "Got Teens?"; Jill Savage, Pam Farrel; 2005
