If you have an adolescent son or daughter, then you know that communication isn't exactly their forte.
In fact, it may just be the hardest thing for teenagers. Oh, they communicate with each other just fine—their smartphones probably seem sometimes like an appendage—but they're not as good at communicating with the Outside World (i.e., adults).
Yet if they're seriously contemplating college, it's one of the most important skills they can master.
One of the things you can be doing all along is enabling and encouraging communication. Teach them what may seem obvious to you: When someone emails you, you email them back. Return phone calls. Let your teachers know if you're going to miss a day at school. Tell your volunteer job that you need to leave early next Saturday. All of this seems obvious to adults who have been functioning in the Real World, but it often seems to be a burden to adolescents, who have more "important" things on their minds.
It won't get easier. The longer a kid postpones developing good communication habits, the longer it will take him or her to master and use them. And once the time comes for all those pesky letters and essays and recommendations and tests, it will be even harder.
So even if your child is still in middle school, start helping him or her develop the best possible communication skills now. They may not thank you for it ... but the acceptance letter to the college of their choice will be an ample reward!
In fact, it may just be the hardest thing for teenagers. Oh, they communicate with each other just fine—their smartphones probably seem sometimes like an appendage—but they're not as good at communicating with the Outside World (i.e., adults).
Yet if they're seriously contemplating college, it's one of the most important skills they can master.
One of the things you can be doing all along is enabling and encouraging communication. Teach them what may seem obvious to you: When someone emails you, you email them back. Return phone calls. Let your teachers know if you're going to miss a day at school. Tell your volunteer job that you need to leave early next Saturday. All of this seems obvious to adults who have been functioning in the Real World, but it often seems to be a burden to adolescents, who have more "important" things on their minds.
It won't get easier. The longer a kid postpones developing good communication habits, the longer it will take him or her to master and use them. And once the time comes for all those pesky letters and essays and recommendations and tests, it will be even harder.
So even if your child is still in middle school, start helping him or her develop the best possible communication skills now. They may not thank you for it ... but the acceptance letter to the college of their choice will be an ample reward!
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