| Education is something that continues from | | | | drinking age, leading to the temptation to |
| the day we are born until the day we die. In | | | | party all the time when that seems to be the |
| some cases, it's formal, with definite | | | | only opportunity for fun and socializing. |
| starting and finishing times and a specific | | | | |
| course of study. In the United States, most | | | | Study habits: Regular studying rather than |
| people attend elementary, middle and high | | | | last minute cramming is essential. Being a |
| school. | | | | full time student is equivalent to having a |
| | | | full time job, and freshmen are often |
| The schools have the responsibility of | | | | surprised by how much time they need to study |
| teaching us specific subjects like language, | | | | in addition to the time spent in class. |
| math, science, etc. In addition, though, our | | | | |
| schools teach us social skills and the other | | | | You can help your college-bound child prepare |
| life skills we need. In school, we learn how | | | | for school by talking with her about these |
| to schedule our time and how to make | | | | potential problem areas, and helping her set |
| decisions. | | | | realistic goals. During the senior year in |
| | | | high school, you can help your teenager |
| After high school, some children go on to | | | | prepare for college by giving her the chance |
| university, college, community college, or a | | | | to practice more independence while still |
| technical school. Oftentimes, that's our | | | | living at home. |
| children's first experience with true | | | | |
| independence, which is a completely different | | | | You can give your teenager the opportunity to |
| kind of education. And, in addition to the | | | | schedule his own time, to choose his own |
| formal subjects, schools of higher education | | | | food, to budget his money and time, within |
| also offer learning in social skills and | | | | some limits. It's important to be balanced, |
| other life skills. | | | | giving him some freedom yet not too much. |
| | | | |
| The freshman year offers the potential for | | | | The danger for teenagers who have had no |
| pitfalls, and students show their ability or | | | | choices at home is that they tend to go out |
| lack of ability to handle independence | | | | of control when they first get to college and |
| quickly. | | | | have complete freedom. Setting goals and |
| | | | achieving them, making wise decisions, and |
| Food, money, recreation and study habits are | | | | learning self- discipline are all habits that |
| the four most common problem areas in the | | | | are learned over time, not overnight. |
| freshman year. You can help your child | | | | |
| succeed by talking with them about this ahead | | | | Of course, some students are better off |
| of time and helping them set specific goals | | | | taking some time between high school and |
| in each of these areas. | | | | college, or attending a community college and |
| | | | continuing to live at home. This gives your |
| Food: With the multiple choices in the school | | | | teenager the opportunity to learn important |
| cafeteria, and no one monitoring their | | | | life skills before going on to formal |
| intake, children may choose based on taste | | | | education. As a parent, you can help your |
| rather than nutrition. The infamous 'freshman | | | | child to evaluate and decide the best route. |
| fifteen' weight gain comes from this. | | | | If your student needs more time to develop |
| | | | maturity and life skills, you are wise to |
| Money: Unprepared students are likely to run | | | | give them the time rather than pushing them |
| into disastrous problems when they are | | | | before they are ready. |
| suddenly expected to make payments for books, | | | | |
| housing and tuition. | | | | Whether your teenager goes directly from high |
| | | | school to college or takes a break, you can |
| Recreation: Without supervision and a curfew, | | | | help them make choices and develop skills |
| freshmen can get caught up in the excitement | | | | that will serve them well throughout their |
| of seemingly unlimited time to play. | | | | lives. |
| Sometimes their dorm mates are of legal | | | | |