Summer is over and your teen is headed back to school. Maybe it's high school or even college, or your family is just relocating. Either way, all of these raise concerns for both parent and teen, but don’t worry, with a little preparation, transitioning to new settings can flow with ease. As the old saying goes, "chance favors the prepared mind," so look at this transition as one of opportunity, not strife. Here are some helpful tips on surviving the new pressures of life transitions:
1. Open Communication
As always, open communication is your best bet on a happy and healthy teen. Let your child vent about his or her worries on the new journey and respond openly and honestly. Together, you can both put an end to back-to-school fears.
2. Cut out some of the surprise
If you’re the parent, you've been to school before; you've gone through these experiences and have plenty of stories to share—share them! Laugh together, open up, and help ease the woes of your anxious teen. If you’re the teen, do a little research. What clubs, sports or groups are available to join at your new school? Are there any previous friends heading to the same campus this year? Call them up and plan your first experiences together.
3. Get Organized
It’s becoming common knowledge that clutter results to stress, so get rid of the clutter. Plan the little things, like your first outfit, organizing your backpack, or if you’re anything like me, planning the perfect music playlist for the trips to and from school. If it seems silly, it’s not. Every little preparation makes the big picture some much easier to handle.
4. Keep rules in play
I know, “rules” seem negative and scary… They don’t have to be. In times of transition it’s really important to set guidelines for your child to ensure they don’t get off track. These could be as little as a curfew, or just a phone call explaining who they’re with and where they’re going. If they’re headed to college some good guidelines to set are money, grades or scheduling phone calls home.
5. Independence is still necessary
Ok, this seems to contradict the last tip, but it’s true. Rules are great guidance to transitioning happy and healthy, but don’t hold them too close. Too many rules and regulations can lead to rebellion. Trust your child to make the right friends and choices during this change.
6. Watch out for Red Flags
Again, seemingly contradictory to independence, but this is a safety precaution. Giving your child some independence can really develop them as they transition through school and into adulthood, but it’s necessary to watch out for red flags to dangerous situations like your teen experimenting with drinking. There are many warning signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug addiction to keep an eye out for and if noticed early enough can be lifesaving.
Recovered Families (2011). Back to School Tips. www.recoveredfamilies.com