3 Conversation Starters for Graduation Season

For teens, high school graduation is arguably the biggest milestone they’ll hit since they took their first steps. With that in mind, now is a great time to start conversations about entering the next life stage of early adulthood and what that means from an accountability standpoint. Life for your teen is about to change, and it’s best to approach these changes with a solid plan.

Use the open-ended questions below to start a conversation with your teen as graduation approaches:

1. Where do we go from here? For nearly the entire duration of your teen’s working memory, they’ve had generally the same routine. They’ve had the structure of school and the guidance of their parents, and after graduation, that structure can start to dissolve, even when they start college. So, what changes and what stays the same? Get an idea of what their goals are, remind them of your expectations regarding underage drinking and help them adjust to their new responsibilities.

2.How will you remain accountable, and where does responsibility lie? Your teen may feel pretty grown up after graduating high school, but the truth is, they’re still a few years off from the legal drinking age. After graduation, many teens feel increased pressure to engage in underage drinking, either as a result of living among peers or as a way to react to the pressure of adjusting to life after high school. Reinforce that just because your teens are out of your house, it doesn’t mean that your rules don’t still apply, and work out a plan to keep them accountable.

3.How can I help? Teens often don’t like to admit that they needs their parents, but that can change after they spend some time out in the “real world.” One of the best things you can do for your child as they enter early adulthood is to simply be there for them. It’s good to let them figure things out on their own and learn as they go, but make it clear that you’re available to help when they need it.

Having these conversations with your teen can help ensure a safe graduation and a smooth transition into adulthood. For more tips on parenting teens,visit the coaching section of our website.