Top tips
- Keep listening, talking with not at her. She will be taking her friends’ views more seriously than yours at times, after all what can you possibly know about being a teenager! Her friends’ opinions are vital to her self confidence. Don’t be tempted to criticise them too harshly or she may stop listening to you.
- When she is making choices about her future remember that the world she will live and work in is rapidly changing so your experiences may not be particularly relevant. Your job is to give her the confidence to make choices that are right for her.
- Not everyone will have a job for life. Many will change careers more than once. This means that a broad education is vital; help her to keep her options open by avoiding specialising too soon. “Soft” skills such as the ability to work in a team, to empathise, to express yourself clearly.
- She will need lots of support from you as she starts sixth form. Boost her confidence, reassure her, help her organise her work so that she meets deadlines setting house rules about how often she is allowed to go out during the week.
- A part time job can help her to manage her money, organise her time and develop skills she will need in adult life. It’s all about balance: is she keeping up with her academic studies?
- From now on your relationship with your daughter is an advisory one and she may not always choose to take your advice. Try to avoid saying “I told you so” even when you did! We all had to learn some things the hard way.
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