With so many schools starting back up for the fall, a whole new group of teens is about to enter high school. For many of these teens, they’re likely both excited and scared about starting a new school and being the lowest on the totem pole. 

But with the right preparation, you and your teen can both have an easy experience with high school. To help you learn how you can do this, here are three tips to prepare your teen for high school. 

Talk With Your Teen About Responsibility And Asking For Help

As your teen enters high school, they’re going to have a lot more responsibility placed on them, both by you and by their teachers or coaches. Because of this, your teen is likely going to grow and mature a lot in the next four years.

But while growing and maturing is all part of life, this doesn’t come easily to many kids. And even for the kids that things do seem to come easy to, there will still be times when they need your help or guidance. 

To help you know how to navigate this new terrain together, Alexandra Pannoni, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, recommends that you ensure your teen that they can always talk to you and ask you for help. In addition to this, you as the parent should be aware of the warning signs that your teen needs help but may not be able to ask you for it. 

Create A Plan With Your Teen So They’re Ready For School Each Day

For many teens, high school can be a big shock both academically and socially. To help your teen be ready to meet all of these new challenges, Dr. Kathryn Hoffses, a contributor to KidsHealth.org, advises that you and your teen come up with a plan for each morning so your teen will be ready to meet their day head-on.

In some instances, part of this plan will involve getting ready hygienically by taking a shower, learning how to shave using shaving cream, and putting on deodorant. For others, ensuring that they get a healthy breakfast to fuel their body and mind will be the most important priority in the morning. And still for others, double-checking that they’ve gotten all their homework done before school is what they need. Just make sure that when you’re making your plan with your teen, you think about their individual needs. 

Encourage Getting Involved And Stay Involved Yourself

One of the best ways for your teen to have a positive high school experience is to get involved. But according to Amy Morin, a contributor to Very Well Family, getting involved in school life as a parent can also help your child find more success. So if you’re not already involved in some capacity, consider finding a way that you can begin to do so. 

If you have a child who’s about to start high school, use the tips mentioned above to help them prepare for this new adventure.