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9 Ways to Prepare Your Teenager for High School

By: dmvollmer

Summer break is here but before you know it, it will be time for back to school. If your kid will be going into 9th grade this is a huge milestone. High school is so different from middle school. Are they ready? Are you ready?

8 Things to do to Prepare Your Teenager for High School

Consider how you can teach your kids to make smart decisions. How to help them have them best high school experience – to succeed, get involved, make friends and enjoy the last 4 years before they become adults. It’s a time to focus on teaching life skills but also giving them space to spread their wings and develop independence.

Don’t miss our round-up of The Best Books to Prepare Kids for High School to get your kids started on their road to a successful high school experience.

This post contains affiliate links. Our blog participates in Amazon and other affiliate programs where we earn a small commission if you purchase from those links. There is no additional cost to you.

9 Things to do to get ready for High School

one: Update their room. Is their room high school ready? Their room is a place they spend a lot of time studying and just hanging out. Sometimes it seems like they never come out. Is it a room that makes them feel happy? Conducive for a good night’s sleep? Is there dedicated space for studying?

If they’ve outgrown their little kid bed and desk, it may be time for an upgrade.

How’s the room decor? Does it fit with their current tastes or is it still trains or Disney from their toddler years.

two: Set rules, boundaries, and expectations around the following:

  • phone
  • video games
  • bedtime
  • curfew
  • dating

three: Have you talked about important topics?

  • sex
  • consent
  • drugs
  • alcohol
  • smoking
  • vaping

Some of these topics may not be the easiest to talk about but so important at this age. Talk, talk, and talk again. Work on creating a relationship so they will come to you with questions and for advice.

A great resource for opening communication about sex is 30 Days of Sex Talks for Ages 12+

four: Note-taking and study skills. Are they ready for high school-level coursework? Could they use some tips for taking notes and studying? Look into local classes or books to help set them up for a successful academic high school experience. So often schools focus on teaching material at an accelerated pace but forget to teach kids how to study, taking notes and tests.

Resources to help teach your kids important study skills:

  • Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School without Spending All Your Time Studying, a Guide for Kids and Teens
  • Help Your Kids with Study Skills

five: Have they starting thinking about what they want to do after high school? It’s important to start thinking about this when choosing their courses. Start talking about options after high school – college, trade school, military, or starting work directly out of high school. Ask them about their interests and how they see themselves 5 years after graduation.

six: Clothes. Have they gone through a growth spurt recently? If they haven’t yet, it’s probably time to transition to the Juniors or Men’s sized clothing.

Summer before high school is a great time to go through their closet. Remove all the clothes they no longer fit or will not wear. This includes the underwear and sock drawers. It’s best to do a thorough closet clean-out and pull everything out of the closet and only put back what fits. Donate or sell the clothes they no longer fit.

seven: Have they updated their skincare routines for their changing bodies? The teen years mean oilier skin, breakouts, greasy hair, and new odors. They may need to switch to shampoo for oily hair, add acne treatments, and use a stronger deodorant.

eight: Computer access. Do they have a computer or access to a computer to use for school work? Some schools provide tablets whereas other schools do not but much of their school work is online. Make sure it’s up to date and add parental controls if necessary. Consider the ergonomics of their desk and make changes if needed.

nine: Familiar them with the high school campus. High Schools can be a lot larger than Middle and Elementary Schools making them intimidating especially since kids move class to class more often. Sign them up for a tour or orientation if it’s available. Look up the layout online. Once they get their class schedule, locate the classrooms on the map.

 

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Hi there and welcome to Sweet Shoppe Mom. My name is Dana and my son is Brendan, also known as B. Welcome to our blog where we chat about every day life with tweens and teens.

more about us

Never to old for some St Patrick’s Day fun ☘️

No lephrecan traps anymore but some leprechan shanigans with green toilet water 🤣 and a basket of green snacks. @luckycharms for breakfast and Thirsty Lion for a yummy dinner of Corned Beef & Cabbage and bread pudding.

We celebrated yesterday because with #coparenting B is at his dads for the rest of the week. If your kids aren’t with you for a holiday, pick your own day to celebrate. The fun and memories are more important than being upset about missing out. 

#lifewithteens #stpatricksday #luckycharms #teenagersareawesome #boymom #thisis16 #arizonamom
I am strong, I am creative ❤️ It’s Girl Scou I am strong, I am creative ❤️ It’s Girl Scout cookie time which also means its time for the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge and once again the @eatatzuzu have created a masterpiece as this month’s Show Stopper Shake.

Lady Lemon 🍋 blueberry milkshake with a lemon curd drip topped with Girl Scouts Lemon-Ups, a blueberry muffin, lemon ice cream bar, fresh blueberries, lemon chips, white chocolate milk crumb, a Lemon-Ups whipped cream sandwich + lemon candy

$1 of each shake sold will go to Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine

➡️ vote now in the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge. Voting ends February 28 at 11:59 p.m., and you can vote once per day. Voting link: https://www.girlscoutsaz.org/en/cookies/cookie-dessert-challenge.html

#hotelvalleyhomediapartner #hotelvalleyho #zuzu #scottsdale #arizona #girlscoutcookie #lemon
Fabulous performance by @tanzanite_africanacro at Fabulous performance by @tanzanite_africanacro at @themadisoncfa this weekend. Such a fun and entertaining mix of dance, music and amazing acrobatic skills.

We’re excited about the upcoming shows at The Madison - some great ones for families with teens

* 3/10 - @memphisjookin 
* 3/31-4/3 - 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour of @rentonstage 

For more details and tickets 👉 themadison.org

#themadisonmediapartner #themadison #phoenix #phoenixarts #phoenixtheatre #arizona #arizonamoms #momofteens #boymom
Happy Birthday Arizona! 110 years today, Arizona b Happy Birthday Arizona! 110 years today, Arizona became the 48th state.

This still blows my mind how young this state is. Growing up in PA, we focused most of our American history lessons on the 13 original colonies and covered the rest of the country in about 2 weeks so it was all a blur. When AZ was celebrating its 100, I was like what? Really? Only 100 years 

#arizona #phoenix #sedona #flagstaff #grandcanyon #state48
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated! Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!

Who else grew up watching Laverne & Shirley? The show ran 1976-1983 and I watched the last few years and reruns of course. 

Last weekend Cindy Williams’ show @memyselfandshirley was at the @herbergertheater in downtown Phoenix and it was fabulous! A mix of personal stories and the Laverne & Shirley’s most iconic clips. Me, Myself & Shirley is continuing to tour the rest of the year through the US so if you grew up with the show, you must check it out.

#evolveprpartner #herbergertheater #phoenix #dtwnphx #arizona #laverneandshirley #cindywilliams
That’s a wrap! Final day of 50th Anniversary @ba That’s a wrap! Final day of 50th Anniversary @barrett_jackson Scottsdale Car Auction and the unoffical kickoff to event season with @wmphoenixopen, @thecactusleague spring training, food festivals and so much more as we enjoy the best weather of the year while the rest of the country is covering in ❄️❄️❄️

So many amazing cars from brand new seen before models to old classics. B loved the @chevrolet thrill ride but I hope it didn’t give this new driver any ideas.

More than $8.8 Million was raised in the charity auctions…I’m jealous of the winners of the 2022 @toyotausa Tundra hybrid early production model but it was a little out of my budget. 

⬅️ swip for #flashback to the first Barrett-Jackson car auction we attended in 2017. 

#barrettjackson #scottsdale #momofteens #boymom #carshow #thisis16 #arizona #arizonamom
This kid turned 16th recently 🎂 So proud of the This kid turned 16th recently 🎂 So proud of the young man he is becoming, definitely not a kid anymore. At 5’11 1/2” (not quite 6 ft) he now towers over me and since I’m 5’9” it feels so strange to look up to him now. Parenting in the teen years is so different with my focus guiding him towards independence, maturity and life skills. Preparing him for what’s beyond graduation. 

I’m late to sharing. But we also have spread out his birthday celebrating due to coparenting schedules and his busy teen social liffe. Also we had originally planned his ‘cake’ to follow when we went out to dinner on his birthday eve but we both ate too much and there was no way we could have eaten anymore 🤣 But nothing wrong with keeping the celebration going for a few weeks. 

I offered to make him a fancy cake…I did own a custom cake shop after all, but he requested a chocolate chip cookie skillet instead. Much simpler and less dishes so I’m good with that. 

#thisis16 #momofteens #boymom #arizonamom #arizonateen #birthday #skilletcookie #coparenting #divorcedmom
Celebrating National Popcorn Day with @kethero, lo Celebrating National Popcorn Day with @kethero, locally owned right here in Tempe, AZ #eatlocal. Sooooo kany tasty flavors - which would you choose? Right now I’m quite happy here munching on the Hatch Green Chile Cheddar 

*Hatch Green Chile Cheddar
*Prickly Pear
*Popcorn Zen
*Original Sweet and Salty 
*Aged White Cheddar
*Porcini Truffle Cheddar
*Sea Salted Caramel
*Cinnamon Sugar Churros

#nationalpopcornday #gifted #popcorn #kettlecorn #hatchgreenchile #arizona #tempeaz #azeats #phxeats
Tip - have a few holiday crafts set out on a table Tip - have a few holiday crafts set out on a table. Great when you just need a break. If you can get your teens to join in its a great way to spend some time catching up.

Diamond painting ornament kits from Amazon (link in bio). Inexpensive and super easy, yet fun!, project.

Puzzles and gingerbread houses (get the pre-assembled ones) are great too

#holidaycrafts #diamondpainting #christmas@#christmascrafts #lifewithteens #momofteens #boymom #arizonamom #familycrafts
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