Your kids will be teens now. It seemed like yesterday when they were crying over scraped knees and chocolate. Now, they’re growing up so fast. Pretty soon, they’ll be entering high school. How do you help them prepare for the future? How do you make sure they have the knowledge and skill set they would need to go out and make their mark on the world? How do you make sure they’re happy with who they are? There are no easy answers. As parents, though, what you can do is to make sure your kids have whatever they need to make the future their own. Help them plan for the future. Here’s how.
Choose the Right School
How do you know your kids are ready to be sent out into the world? When they have the knowledge and training that they need to get started. That’s where the right school comes in. A good one gives kids a solid academic foundation. The best international school in Singapore, though, provides them with room to grow emotionally and socially, so that when your kids graduate, they’re confident. They know who they are, what they like, where they’re good at and what they want to pursue in life. That could mean that they either have ambition and drive, or that they have an idea where they’re going and what they want out of life.
Ask Them What They Want
What are the hobbies or activities that your kids love to do? Where do they excel? What kind of work aligns with their interests or skills? It’s not too early to ask them what they want to do. You can help them learn more about the professions or careers they’re interested in. That way, if they do end up going that route, then you would have nurtured their love for that profession from the beginning. And if they’re exploring, then that’s good. Let them continue until they finally find something that makes their heart skip a beat, that makes them happy when they do it, that puts the smile on their faces.
Explore Extracurriculars
Another way to give your children access to a range of interests is to let them join various extracurriculars at school. Many are doing these classes online, but some schools are already opening up for in-person classes. Whichever setup your kids have—online or in person—these courses offer them a breather from the core subjects. Many of the extracurriculars balance out the curriculum. That matters as the curriculars contribute to the overall personality development of your kids.
Understand the Benefits
Letting them join a sports team keeps them fit and healthy. It prevents obesity. With so many kids growing up obese because of their household’s reliance on fast food, that’s an excellent point. However, that’s not the only advantage. Playing means joining a team. Your kids learn how to interact better with others, how to work together. They learn what defeat looks like if they lose a match or how it feels to win when they bring home the trophy. They also learn discipline as these activities require regular time and commitment. And by training, by pushing themselves to do better, by working hard, they know what their limitations are and how they can surpass those limitations. They know what they’re capable of. So, before you kids join any of the activities, make sure they understand that these are the things that they are committing to.
Practice Presentation Skills
From college to work later, your kids will benefit so much from knowing how to present a topic or communicate well with other people. You can have them pick a topic that they can talk about and then provide them with constructive feedback. This will help with their classes, too.
Check Out Admission Requirements
If your kids have a dream college, talk about it. Find out what the college requirements are so that your teens can earn those credits while they are still in high school. For instance, some colleges might consider your kids a strong candidate if they know a second language. Some high schools teach a second language or even a third. By the time the students graduate, they’re already fluent in those languages. That will help them stand out from the rest. Also, knowing a language other than English means they can pursue an education in a different country.
Brainstorm with Them
Help your kids make the most out of their years in high school. If they want to enter a particular college program, how about getting extracurriculars at school that might give them a more in-depth knowledge of the subject. That will help them when they start sending out college applications.
Teach your kids to refine and establish their goals. That will lead the way to a happy and successful life.
