Hi – Sue Blaney here with your Parenting Tip from Parenting Teens Info.com

My tip this week is to
Make sure you know your teenager’s school counselor >>Listen

You never know when a problem may crop up at school for your teenager, and when it does, it helps if you already have a relationship with your child’s school counselor. Hopefully your child has established his or her own relationship with the counselor –so here I’m talking about you, as parent, knowing this person as well.

The school counselor is often your first point of contact for problems and for every-day questions. He or she can be extremely helpful to you in navigating the school, knowing with whom to speak, and identifying options as you and your teenager address a school-oriented issue. School counselors have a perspective on teen behavior that you may not have, and they are experts in providing guidance both for teens and for their parents.  

School counselors are very busy people, and many of them really are over-loaded. So I’m not suggesting you impose on their time inappropriately. Often counseling departments run programs for parents and students about various topics like adjusting to school or preparing for college. Make sure you attend all programs that are open to you. It’s easy to introduce yourself there or in a quick phone call to the counselor. More importantly, when the school offers an open house or conferences – GO! It is important to demonstrate that you value school and that you take the time develop relationships with key people there. You should cross that threshold into your teenager’s school regularly.

Whether your teenager is in a situation that feels like a crisis, or if she just needs a simple piece of advice about the right course to take next year, the school counselor is the key contact. And as a parent, you’ll be better equipped to guide your teenager if you, too, have a relationship with this important resource.

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Til next time…I'm Sue Blaney.