Today’s high school students are more extended than ever: they’re booked with extracurriculars while trying to maintain good grades. Society trains kids in high school to think that the more activities they can include on their college applications, the more likely they are to be admitted. Competition is fierce, and high school students juggle a lot to keep up. Ultimately, these high school students need help implementing some balance into their day-to-day lives. Here are some strategies that you can use to help your child implement as they navigate the busy days of the school year:
Prioritize appropriately, and ask for help when needed!
Your high school student benefits from structure and clarity, and knowing which parts of his life take priority is crucial. Keeping grades up, completing homework, and making time for extra out-of-class help always takes priority over social and other extracurriculars. Academics take precedence, and as the school year kicks into full gear, students have a lot to catch up on following a long summer lacking academic focus. When your high school student needs help academically, make sure he or she knows that it’s accessible. At Mathnasium, we work with you and your schedule to make it easy to fit math tutoring into your child’s routine. The beginning of the school year can be the best time to catch up, and experts at the ready can make the process as efficient as possible.
Stick to a routine, but be flexible!
The key to productivity is routine. Having a set schedule makes it easy to know what each day entails, which in turn allows your high school student to make the most of each day. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with a long list of activities week in and week out, but not if you can get organized! Make sure your child has an agenda book or planner (paper or electronic both work), and make sure he or she uses it. Map out which activities are consistent from week to week, and add in the odd appointment or event here and there. Being organized with the routine also helps your student visualize when it’s possible to add more and when it’s not. Stress dissolves when you reduce the possibility that an unexpected event pops up. A weekly schedule should be solid, but not too rigid. Maintaining some flexibility at points is a must and keeps your child recharged.
Make studying a group thing, and have fun with it!
High school students naturally prioritize social interaction, and that’s a good thing! Social intelligence is an important life skill, after all. A great way to combine socialization and academics is to encourage your high schooler to form a study group. Even if the study group time isn’t focused on studying 100% of the time, your child will still look forward to getting together with friends to study. The combination of spending time with those they don’t see at school in an environment outside of school can be what your child needs to satisfy socialization needs. Mathnasium instructors are also skilled in creating a fun environment to study, and our programming could be a great option for your student to let loose outside the classroom and learn at the same time.
Get some sleep!
Yes, that’s right! Ensuring that your child gets plenty of sleep is vital to the balancing act he or she plays with a busy schedule. Growing high schoolers need fuel and rest to keep up with the demands that school and after-school activities bring, so you should never overlook the power of quality sleep. According to Johns Hopkins, teenagers need even more sleep than younger kids! Dr. Michael Crocetti, a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins, recommends 9-9½ hours nightly because they go through a “second development stage of cognitive maturation.” A lack of sleep also brings about an increase in stress and depression in teenagers.
Current high schoolers seem capable of taking on the world, and many show ambition to reflect this ability. Supporting their efforts with balancing strategies helps them make their dreams a reality. If the balance for your high schooler includes math instruction at Mathnasium, we are happy to discuss your options if you contact us at (832) 569-5073, or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
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