This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Incorporating Adulting Skills into High School Planning- Special Replay.
Incorporating Adulting Skills into High School Planning
When we are homeschooling our high schoolers, one of our most important tasks as parents is passing the baton of “who’s in charge of learning and living” to our teens. In other words, we hope that as our teens move through high school, they become more and more in charge of their education and of their life preparation.
Of course, all teens are different and there’s not ONE right way for teens to progress into their preparation for life. The cool thing is that we can appreciate and build on each of our teens’ unique personalities, gifts, interest and goals to help them be ready for what happens after graduation!
What we are saying is: homeschooling high school is time for preparation for life:
- For many teens, high school is preparation for college
- On the other hand, for many teens high school is preparation for career
- For all teens, high school should include preparation for adulthood
In this special replay, Sabrina, Vicki and Kym talked about how they worked on increasing educational and adulting ownership by passing the baton of responsibility from parents to teens.
Laid back teens
Teens who are go-with-the-flow often simply needs to be part of the goal setting and planning process. If they are part of this process, they can simply schedule backwards to get things done. BTW- scheduling backwards is a useful adulting skill. It helps teens and adults get ALL sorts of big projects done!
Teens who have chronic illnesses or disabilities
One of Kym’s teens had a chronic illness. Teaching adulting skills and educational ownership skills had to be frequently adjusted due to her teen’s conditions. Sometimes her teen felt healthy and strong and could run with her skills. Other times, Kym pulled back expectations and simply worked on her daughter’s health.
Teens who “don’t give a flip”
Some teens are not interested in adulting or owning their own education. The things they care about are not in textbooks or chore lists. These teens need patience, love and boundaries with clear expectations. Make sure they are involved in planning.
Teens who think they “own the baton”
Some teens think they have already arrived at adulting; some of these are hyper-responsible teens. They need their parents’ love and encouragement to run with their ownership, while turning to their parents for love and support. (LOTS of love and support because these teens sometimes make mistakes.)
Teens who are head butters
Some teens are natural head-butters, especially if their personalities are similar to mom or dad. Here are some tips:
- Watch your own triggers: calm down before blowing up
- Make sure there are lots of adults in their lives
- Keep communicating on the plans and goals you both have already agreed upon
More tips to help planning on adulting skills:
There is so much planning that goes into homeschooling high school! Especially when your goals include helping their teens own their education and adulting skills. Here’s some more advice.
Remember to let go and let God
As homeschooling moms, it can sometimes fall into the temptation to become heavy equipment moms– helicopter moms and steam shovel moms. So homeschool parents: watch yourself. Include teens on the planning for the homeschool high school years, listen to their goals. Work together to plan out the goals.
AND allow them to have their own struggles. As Vicki’s boss always says, “Let them make their own mistakes.”
Kym shared her favorite quote:
It’s not our job to be God to our children, rather we need to need God in front of our children. – Angie Smith
Remember to show and tell
Especially with practical life preparation skills such as home maintenance and home economics skills, teens need guidance. Also they need to hear your affirmations on their trial and error processes, which develops a growth mindset.
Don’t forget to check in regularly
While you want your teens to own their adulting and education, they need you to have regular one-on-ones with a parent in order to:
- Record progress
- Discuss the ups and downs of homeschooling high school or any other talks
- Remind you both of the goals y’all set together
How do you help teens prepare for life and develop their adulting skills?
Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for a tips and ideas.
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