Basic HTML Version
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maskmatters.org
summer
2012
making the
grade
educate
✪
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DID YOU KNOW?
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Parental involvement in high school is the lowest of any age, with only 53 percent of parents with children who are
juniors or seniors attending a parent-teacher conference.
The Family
Connection
High School + College
9th Grade and Beyond
in
• “The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective Teens”
by Stephen R. Covey
• “The How Rude! Handbook of
Family Manners for Teens”
by Alex J. Packer
• “I’m Not Mad, I Just Hate You:
A New Understanding of the
Mother-Daughter Conflict”
by
Roni Cohen-Sandler
• “The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective Families”
by Stephen R. Covey
• “Staying Connected to Your
Teenager: How to Keep Them
Talking to You and How to
Hear What They’re Really
Saying”
by Michael Riera
• “The Joy of Family Traditions”
by Jennifer Trainer Thompson
CHILD READING LIST
PARENT READING LIST
summer
2012
maskmatters.org
75
Conversation
starters
•
Where do you think you want
to go to college? Have you
thought about your future?
•
I’ve noticed that a lot of
people responded to your
Facebook posts. Tell me
about it. What did it mean?
•
I know you enjoy _______ and
would love to do it for the
rest of your life. But what’s
your backup plan?
•
Remember the last time we
_______? We had a great time!
Let’s fit that in this weekend.
What day should we go?
W
hen your child reaches high school, family relationships
can fall to second (or third, or fourth) place—right
behind friends, activities, work and school. While this is a
significant time in their lives as they begin to make the transition into
adulthood, many high school-age children find themselves wanting
even more independence, but reverting back to child-like ways and
habits in an attempt to hang on to what’s left of their childhood.
As back-and-forth as this may seem, there is perhaps no better
time to maintain the family connection you’ve already established
with your teen.The key is to remain their parent, not friend. Allow
them to make their own decisions, but let them know you’ll always
be available for them through the good, the bad and the ugly.
When trying to schedule time with your teen, remember it’s
all about quality, not quantity. Make the few and far between
moments you have together count by creating experiences and life
lessons they remember and take with them into adulthood.
What You Can Do
•
Stay active in their school by volunteering in the
classroom or chaperoning field trips and events.
•
Establish a “family night” to play games or watch movies.
Create a different theme each time.
•
Go on a “date” with your child to give them one-on-one
time. If you have multiple children, rotate through and
give them each their special night.
•
Ride in the car as their passenger. This is a great
opportunity for one-on-one conversation.
•
Connecting can be reinforced through social media or
texting. Try speaking their language with “text talk,” such
as TTYL (talk to you later) or LOL (laugh out loud).
•
Be available when they want you. Put work and
to-do lists aside. Give them your undivided attention
whenever possible.
what it
looks like
•
Participating in their interests,
sports or hobbies.
•
Establishing nurturing, non-
judgmental conversation.
Check in with them and listen
to what they have to say.
•
Setting boundaries and
family rules. Sticking to
consequences relays to your
child that you care.
•
Sharing personal stories
about your life at their age.
•
Asking, checking and
verifying where they go or
who they’re with.