What are your tips for parents to help their teenagers do better in high school?

cambay: What are your tips for parents to help their teenagers do better in high school?
I’m preparing a newsletter for parents and I would appreciate some suggestions. I can come up with many on my own but I think more like a teacher than another parent (even though I raised my own through their teen years).

What would one parent tell another?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Smarkieee
sign them up for sat class

Answer by DGS
Parents should give due attention in this regard.

Answer by Amanda Davey
Support – be it listening, helping with work, locating resources, discussing work to improve understanding, time, space, private tuition if needed.
Knowing when to ‘push’ and when not to – not easy to do!
Recognizing any signs of stress, anxiety or depression.
Taking an interest in them, their studies and their outside school interests.

Answer by →Reece← (Backup account)
They should:

Hire tutors
Buy them the right textbooks for what they are studying
Encourage them daily
Tell them that they’re proud of them
Be happy if they get good grades and reward them

Answer by Godric
Listen to your kids!!! Often if you listen to them, you will hear things and can catch something that might be bothering them or troublesome for them before it gets to be a big problem or issue.

Take time to spend some quality 1:1 time with them. Even when they push you away, make sure to spend some time together with each of them. They need it and often think they are now too old to ask for that stuff. Also give them lots of HUGS, granted dont do it at school or infront of a bunch of friends, esp if you give them a big kiss too. But at home give them hugs and tell them you love them and when they do a good job on something, at school or home or etc make sure to tell them that. They need that positive feedback as well.

Unconditional Love! And make sure he/she/they know its okay to be stressed out and to ask for help! HS is tough, and I know my eldest somedays will play with his 2 little brothers, and acts just liek them. I think its his way to getaway from teh stresses of being a big kid and a teenager. The first time I saw it and was smiling he saw me and blushed and then acted all grown up, and I told him its ok. Everyone deals with stress in different ways, and when I was in college I started watching cartoons again because of the stress and workload and that I understand and have no problem if he sometimes wants to be a little boy again. He was so happy, and so were his lil bros.

Answer by Donald B
When one of my sons starting getting lower grades, I sat with him while he did his homework. Many parents do this with younger kids, but think their teenagers will resent it. My son enjoyed the attention and got straight A’s that year. I also became closer to him because he would tell me things that happened and ask my opinion about other things.

Answer by chancellor
As a teacher you probably concentrate on academic skills. The most important thing parents can provide is a supportive, stable home environment and a demonstrated interest in his schoolwork. A student who knows he is loved and respected at home and knows his parents value education, is motivated to master his school subjects. In short, good parenting provides the foundation for a good education.

Answer by Cleo
Discussions. You may be surprised at what they don’t realize. For example, in History, have your child read a little of the chapter to you and then you add your 2 cents in from personal experience. Act the devil’s advocate. Ask “And then what? After that what happens? What should happen and why?”
Challenge the idea in the assignment. It helps to clarify their thoughts before they are committed to paper. The Great Depression in the ’30’s? Hoover was right or wrong
to act/not act on this or that. Use current events as examples. Teens don’t realize that the times that
they are living thru is becoming history and will be in a book for their kids to learn.
Art? Ask why they like a particular type/artist. Ask would they like a poster for their room?
Share with them your preferences in art or social policy or why English should be the official language (or not) or what ever the topic is. debate back and forth as you both work together. The thing is to get them
talking. Not always easy. Impersonal questions are best.

Answer by Chonsie
praise them when they do something right, for trying their best and if possible show rewards for good grade.
my parents/grandparents gave me $ 20 per A on report cards and well in high school money motivated me
it does not have to be money but rewards could work

ask questions about their homework, check over their answers, make sure they know they can ask you for help or who they can ask for help

just some ideas