If you’ve ever taken your family on a vacation trip, you know THE drill:
A solid itinerary, a map and the exact steps to get from tourist spot A to B and then C.
Without a clear plan and path, getting from one destination to the next can turn into a stressful, chaotic family experience. The same goes for your child’s journey through high school. They need a clear direction to avoid academic detours and stress.
However, parents easily miss out on clarity and direction because of the hyper-fixation on more tangible things, like their child’s marks and ranking. There are many signs of your teenager’s uncertainty that you might’ve brushed off as something else.
Have you ever seen your child struggle with motivation, staying focused, choosing schoolwork over friends or social media, or even doing things on time? These may look like your child is just being lazy. But they’re all natural consequences of not having clear direction and actionable steps to take.
A 2023 survey by Monash University found over 40% of Australian secondary school students admit to feeling anxious about having no future direction. No wonder most parents raise their concerns about their child’s motivation and procrastination because teenagers are held back by not having a clear path to follow.
So how can you support your child in clarifying where they’re going and the steps they’ll need to reach their goals? We explore three tips to give your teen a compass that can help them navigate the peaks and valleys of high school – without too much pressure and stress.
1. Curiosity without Judgement
The thing about teenagers is that they’re afraid to talk about the future. So parents should take the first step and make conversations like this more comfortable for their child.
A simple “What are you unsure about?” can go a long way. What’s important is to always come from a place of curiosity rather than judgement. This type of questioning allows your child to explain and describe their struggles. It’s also a good catalyst for discussing what they want to pursue in the future, especially if they don’t know it yet.
2. Future Navigator: Your Child’s Personal Learning GPS
How great would it be if your child had a specialised compass or turn-by-turn guidance system to help them understand the different route options they can take for their future?
Personalised learning helps students develop a clearer sense of direction, which leads to better academic and mental health outcomes, according to a 2022 study by the University of Sydney. At Kalibrate-Ed, we support parents and students with a personalised ‘learning GPS’ that can guide your child and serve as their roadmap.
This personalised GPS, or what we call a Future Navigator, is developed based on your child’s unique learning profile. It provides specific steps for your teen anchored to their strengths, needs and goals so they arrive at their definition of success in the future.
3. Defining Their Academic Success
One of the most important things you can provide your child is a solid definition of their academic success. It’s what gives them certainty in their future and points to the different steps they need to take so they know they’ve ‘made it’.
A clear definition of success should always be something that energises your child to improve and work hard. This makes them laser-focused and encourages them to reach out to their educators without being told. Students with an energising definition of success also hold themselves accountable and implement the habits they need to succeed. When they start to lose motivation, their definition of academic success helps them refuel their self-drive.
Of course, having a clear sense of direction is just part of the solution. The fastest way your child could get to their destination and future success is to have them act and implement the steps and advice you’ve laid out for them. If they’re not doing that, then they won’t make a dent in progress.
If you’re a parent of a Year 7-12 student who won’t take action and follow your advice, we’re hosting a FREE live discussion for you this Wednesday, 27th November from 7:30 to 8:30 PM on Zoom. We’re going to talk about three simplified ways to get your child to listen and implement Effective Study Habits without your Nagging.
This session is perfect for parents who already know which study skills are important and want their kids to see it’s worth the effort to make the small incremental changes that will improve their confidence, stress levels and marks. Click here to get your free ticket!
