Teenage Learning

Parents are usually the best people to encourage teenage learning. If there is little, or no, insistence for teenage learning in the homestead, many teenagers will “drift” into what they consider to be more pleasurable ways to spend their time outside their regular place of learning. The home, in relation to teenage education, should be an extension of a teenager’s school or college. Teenagers invariably progress better through school if parents make the time to attend parents evenings - and ensure that their teenage son/daughter at least completes all his/her set homework.

Computer learning CD’s, and educational books, can be a huge extra bonus to assist teenagers educationally. It is vital that parents remain constantly vigilant, regarding the level of education in their teenagers different school subjects, and to keep updating essential learning CD’s and educational books when necessary. Some schools and colleges sell these items second-hand – and sometimes it is possible to trade in “the old for the new”.

It can also be more than beneficial to download suitable educational software from the internet – which can be very helpful in assisting teenagers to keep up to the level of expectation in a subject. And if a teenager is interested in a particular vocation, there are numerous software training courses available for purchase.

Many parents consider it extremely beneficial to have their teenage son/daughter enlisted with a suitable tutor for private tuition. These out-of-school-hour teenage learning sessions can take place in own home premises or at the workplace, or home environment, of the tutor. As one would expect, small classes of several teenagers together usually costs parents less than having a one-to-one with a tutor. Weaknesses, or underachieving, in a certain subject or subjects - are often “ironed out” for many teenagers enrolled with private childrens tutors. And many teenagers who are on a par with their studies, previous to engaging a private tutor, find themselves attaining higher levels in their subjects - sooner rather than later.

Parents with any knowledge, on a subject being studied by their teenager, should feel it is their duty to help to educate their offspring on that subject. Any other information, gleaned over the longer years on Earth by the parents, should be cleverly filtered through to teenage minds. In other words, make your knowledge fun to listen to. Never make it sound like a lecture – and never make yourself sound a “know-all”. And always avoid passing on information unless you are sure of your facts. Otherwise this result can be expected: the teenager can be made to look a fool if he/she repeats something, mentioned by a parent, that’s not quite right. Or even worse, the teenager will become aware that you are attempting to sound clever, often providing them with incorrect facts, – and “switch off”. Therefore, this has a very negative effect on teenage learning.

Teenage minds require as much stimulating as babies and childrens minds. Whenever parents are provided with an opportunity to support their teenager, in their stimulation process of teenage learning, they should “grasp it with both hands” (bearing in mind the “know-all” situation). The teenager may not be very grateful at the time – but will likely come to look at their teenage learning, in the fullness of time, as the best gift they were ever given in life.