Prepping for Your Child’s Graduation

Graduation is right around the corner, and, chances are, your child is excited, as well as nervous. Graduation signifies the end of one stage of life and the beginning of another. Whether your child is graduating from kindergarten or high school, the road ahead will be different than what he or she experienced in the past. Help the transition run smoothly with these seven helpful hints from the Diocese of Orlando’s schools in Orlando, Florida.

• Use a calendar.

Senior prom, bar-b-que, testing dates, award ceremonies, graduation parties… the list seems endless for the Class of 2017. Print a calendar for the next three months if you do not have one already, and cross-reference everything possible. Most schools have senior functions listed on their websites, and you can add more information as needed. Be sure to remind your teen a day or so beforehand about important events.

• Talk about the change.

The older your child, the more dramatic the change will be. Kindergartners, elementary, and middle school students need to be aware they may change school buildings or enter new schools, which leads to new friendships and the possibility of old friends moving away. High school students are going through an impressive array of changes: to work during the summer or take on college courses?

• Share experiences.

Most children roll their eyes when they hear advice from their parents, but they will listen to graduation stories with interest. Share your accomplishments as well as some things you wish you had done differently; advice wrapped in a story will definitely ease communication.

• Discuss responsibility.

Teenagers graduating from middle school or high school should be given more responsibility, and they need to understand the amount of trust that accompanies it. Make it clear that you will let them stay out later, for instance, but car or phone privileges will be revoked if they break the rules. Whatever your rule, stand behind it. If you sway the first time, your child will understand you don’t mean what you say.

• Keep an open mind.

Some graduates are completely bowled over by a university across the country while you would prefer they stay close to home. Arrange to visit the university, but tell your teen the advantages of an in-state college versus an out-of-state university, especially if scholarships are not funding the entire amount of tuition and campus housing.

• Talk about money.

Be sure to explain the difference between a scholarship and a loan and how a huge amount of money from an elite university may mean far less than a smaller amount from a state university. Bring up the possibility of working part-time to pay for expenses and whether they will be living on campus or off.

• Let them go.

A favorite homily is, “let go and let God.” Your child has been raised in an outstanding school in Orlando, Florida that strives to nurture and grow a precious child into a strong and capable citizen. Give your child room to take chances and possibly make mistakes. The learning curve is steep, but the result is a responsible adult.The Diocese of Orlando is proud to celebrate the Class of 2017. The world will be a much better place when they are positively impacting it. Be sure to visit your school in Orlando, Florida’s website for dates and times of upcoming events, and contact the Diocese of Orlando at 407-246-4903 with questions pertaining to parish-wide graduation celebrations. Read our blogs for tips on successful study habits for upcoming exams.