Many students make the decision to switch to the schools after finishing grade 5. This marks the perfect time to explore their interests, widen their view of the world, and give more serious thought to what the future holds. Students who are enrolled in international school, for one, have plenty of academic and professional options that will be available to them once they finish their program.
At the same time, enrolling in an international school presents an exciting challenge to students and their families. One of the most common questions that our teachers receive is how parents can best support their child’s learning. Parents don’t know how to help their child during this transition period and ensure that they are able to adjust to their new academic environment. Especially if it’s their first time becoming a part of a school with a mostly international background.
Here are some of the ways parents can show their support to children who are entering a new stage in their life in an international school.
1. Understand That Your Idea of Success May Be Different from Your Child’s
In the past, many parents may have focused on evaluating their children’s academic abilities and success based on their grades. However, if parents only focus on this factor, they may inadvertently put pressure on their children in their studies and ignore other outstanding aspects that their children are interested in. In particular, secondary school students are in the process of forming their own identity, and the role of parents is to ensure that their children have access to the resources they need to develop, especially by taking advantage of the resources available in the international learning environment.
In other words, the success of children is not only measured by grades or academic achievements, but also by their comprehensive development in terms of physical, mental, and social aspects. Therefore, parents should respect their children’s choices and support their children’s development in accordance with their interests and abilities.
2. Let Children Learn to Make Decisions
When entering a new learning environment, children will first feel a little lost and need time to adapt to new things. Therefore, this is the time when parents pay the most attention to their children, and sometimes unintentionally make them feel overwhelmed and overloaded. While other families may feel the need to push their children out of their “shell” to have the best secondary school learning experiences.
On the other hand, starting a new school year in an international high school is also a good time for parents to start empowering their children to make their own decisions and understand themselves better. Parents should create opportunities for their children to think and consider on their own whether they are ready for specific school learning and extracurricular commitments, which will help them prepare for the unexpected challenges that lie ahead and take early steps to respond. In short, parents should play the role of companions, supporters, and advisors to their children when they need help, but should not impose their opinions on them.
3. Build a Family Culture That Appreciates Effort and Improvement
Many children studying in international schools as well as public schools face a lot of pressure not only in school but at home as well. Fearing negative repercussions at home will make them lack the courage to face the difficulties and challenges they face at school.
One way to reduce pressure for them is to foster a family culture that appreciates their efforts and progress every day. Let the family be a safe place for them to be honest about the obstacles in difficult subjects, such as Math or Chemistry, which may require a private tutor to cope with the pressure of upcoming exams. This way, they will be encouraged to keep trying their best and have the habit of being honest with their emotions without fear of the reactions of others.
Remember, the most important thing is to be there for them and let them know that you love and support them unconditionally.
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4. Talk to Your Child about Failure and How It’s a Part of the Learning Process
Instead of avoiding the topic of failure, talk about it openly and regularly with your children.
This will help them understand that failure is not something to be ashamed of, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow. When children see failure as a normal part of the learning process, they are more likely to pick themselves up and try again after a setback.
Here are 3 ways for parents to start with:
– Talk about your own failures. Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. When you share your own failures with your children, you show them that it’s okay to make mistakes.
– Focus on the learning process. When your child fails, help them identify what they can learn from the experience. This will help them to see failure as an opportunity to improve.
– Celebrate perseverance. When your child tries again after a setback, be sure to praise them for their perseverance. This will help them to develop a growth mindset and believe in their ability to succeed.
Resilience is essential for success in international school and beyond. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and learn from failure is more important than ever before. Therefore, parents should help their children develop the first skills to adapt to these new changes, from which, they will quickly become bold and develop on their learning path.
5. Instill Organizational and Time Management Skills to Your Children
It is important for parents to support the values that their children learn in international school. One way to do this is to help them develop time management and organizational skills at home.
When children are able to make good use of their time and stick to a schedule, they are more likely to be successful in school and in life. Additionally, working cohesively with other family members helps children develop communication and cooperation skills.
Here are some tips for parents on how to reinforce time management and organizational skills at home:
– Help your child create a daily schedule. This will help them to visualize their day and plan their time accordingly.
– Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make them seem less daunting and help your child to stay on track.
– Set deadlines for tasks and help your child to meet them. This will teach them the importance of time management and responsibility.
– Provide a distraction-free environment for your child to study and work. This will help them to focus and be more productive.
Secondary school is a great time for teens to focus on their studies, explore their interests, build relationships, and start thinking about their future goals. Parents can support their children by providing a stable and supportive home environment and encouraging them to do their best in school. This will help teens feel supported and empowered to make choices that will lead them to success.
We are always proud to be a long-term partner of international schools in Ho Chi Minh City with over 12 years of experience accompanying generations of students on their journey to conquer their dream schools. Therefore, if parents are planning to send their children to an international school, Everest Education will be a suitable place to “entrust” to support their children from the preparation stage for the entrance exam to the leaps and bounds of their children during their years of study at the international school. We believe that every child has the potential to succeed in an international school. With our help, your child can reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.
