Sometimes it feels like it’s the world against you and your children. You have to do whatever it takes to ensure that your child becomes a productive, successful adult. Our job as parents is not only to make sure they can survive but thrive. I always told my girls growing up that I wanted them to do better than me, and they have. Since it’s the new year, it’s a fantastic time to create some achievable goals to help your teen achieve their own levels of success.
LIFE SKILLS – Teach them one new life skill, such as cooking, banking or gardening.
CALENDAR – Help them to utilize their reminders and calendar on their mobile phone/online for assignments.
VOLUNTEER – Find three organizations in which they can volunteer. Use a website like VolunteerMatch.com to discover new volunteer opportunities.
DONATE – Help them sell items they no longer use and donate what won’t sell.
BE SOCIAL – Show them how to introduce themselves to two new people at school each day.
FOLLOWERS – Research ways to help your teen increase followers on social media. Having a large following on social media can make your teen into an influencer.
HOBBY – Help them to discover one new hobby like dancing or collecting.
FITNESS – Have your child start a fitness routine or join one sport at school or in your community.
BECOME AN AUTHOR. Self-publish your child’s books. Get them started with knowing they can be an author and they’ll have a bonus to put on their resume. Use a site like Lulu.com or CreateSpace.com.
STAY POSITIVE – Have your teen work on maintaining a positive attitude by smiling more and listening to positive affirmations like this one on YouTube. Have them work on changing a can’t to a can-do attitude.
Janice Robinson-Celeste, MBA is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Successful Black Parenting magazine. She has a degree in early childhood education, has taught high school and was a professor at Hofstra University. She was also the executive director of a local YMCA, is the author of the book, Pride and Joy by Simon & Schuster, and is a journalist and former news reporter.
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