Soon your child will be embarking on a new adventure: another school year! But your child is now a teen, and the courses he or she can choose include more than just reading, writing and arithmetic. He or she has the opportunity to pick complementary courses that will enhance their learning, boost their confidence and help pave the way to a future career. But which comp courses should they choose? Here are some suggestions to help navigate the process.
Consult with the school guidance counsellor
The school guidance counsellor holds a wealth of knowledge, so encourage your child to talk with the expert. Not only will the counsellor be able to offer more details regarding the current school programs and courses, but he or she can also work with your child to help them accomplish their junior or high school goals. This will further enable your child to be prepared for his or her future and post-secondary education. As a hands-on parent, you may also want to book an appointment to discuss the levels of compulsory courses as well as the options your teen has expressed interest in.
Allow for individual interest
Woodworking, cosmetology, theatre tech? Food science, drama and digital design? These are just a few of several classes your teen’s school might offer as complementary options. How about concert or jazz band? Or what about dance or performance choir? Electronics, mechanics or computer science? Your child’s school will undoubtedly offer many choices, and you, as a parent, should applaud your teen for trying something new. Complementary courses allow a teen to experience something different that they’ve wondered about. Who knows? In the long run, it may develop into a lifetime hobby or possible career!
Plan for the future
While you should always support — or at least be willing to openly discuss — your teenager’s decision to enrol in whatever options they are interested in, as a parent, you should also encourage them to plan for the future. Many university and college programs can have strict entrance requirements, and your teen needs to realize that their high school career is vital to their acceptance into their future area of study. Taking the correct career-focused options might help ensure your child’s acceptance into their chosen post-secondary school program. If your teen has become truly engaged in learning a specifc complementary subject and has chosen to pursue it in the future as part of a career path, that will be reflected in their school transcript and will be beneficial to being accepted into that specific program.
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