Keep your high schooler on a schedule over the winter break

It's winter break. Your teen is looking forward to at least a week off from school. He's thinking about sleeping late, staying up late and generally doing nothing.

However, both you and his teachers are thinking a little bit further ahead--midterms are usually scheduled in January. And spring is fast approaching--which means college application deadlines are closing in.

Support your teen's school by keeping him on a schedule over the holiday. Encourage your teen to:

• Work. Ask him to do a little bit of schoolwork or reading every day. He likely has homework he should be doing, but if not, it will benefit him to pick up a book.
• Wake up. Don't let him sleep in more than an hour past his normal wake-up time. He'll be less groggy in those early-morning classes when school begins again--for which both he and his teachers will thank you.
• Write. Enlist your teen in writing and addressing holiday cards or thank-you notes. He might even consider writing holiday cards to his teachers thanking them for their help so far this year.
• Create. Keep your teen's mind going. Ask him to help you in the kitchen--that's a great place to practice science and math.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2009 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.