Teaching Your Teen to Fly – Part 2

Mentor Mom and Dad

As kids grow older they change and parents need to change too. So many of us are homeschooling our older students today, whether you are doing school at home or a more traditional homeschool. As homeschool parents of older students, our roles are different than if our kids were in elementary school. Understanding this makes it easier for everyone involved.

When our kids are younger they need to have a lot of one on one time. You will be their primary educator. Even if they are doing online work, you need to keep on top of it and figure it all out so you can help them. When they get older, this approach doesn’t work as well.

When your kids are approaching their teen years, they are trying to figure out who they are separate from you. It really helps if you take a step back. You still need to be in charge of their education but you become more of a facilitator and mentor rather than an educator.

Many times the term mentor is used interchangeably with the term teacher but there are some important differences. A teacher’s job is to impart a body of work to those they are teaching. They usually have a list of standards they need to check off. They are accountable to another entity and not just their student. A mentor is different.

When you are mentoring someone you start with your mentee. As a mentor, you see where they are and then help them figure out where they need to be. And then you help them get there.
All mentors are teachers but not all teachers are mentors. As a mentor, you have to look first at the person you are helping and then at the subject and standards, you have to teach. The individual has to come first.

As a homeschooling parent of teens, you need to ask a lot of questions and then sit back and REALLY listen. When you think you know where your child wants to go, ask more questions and listen again. And again. And again.

And then you need to find other people to be mentors for your kids.

This should come as a relief! You don’t have to learn algebra or chemistry (unless you want to!) again. You can find someone else to teach it to your student. In fact, it is usually better if you do so you can be a third party and support your student rather than being the primary educator.
As a facilitator, you find resources that can help your child get the information they need to get where they need to go.

If you’d like some help homeschooling your teen I have a Teen Coaching program. I work one on one with your teen to create an individualized education that will help them realize their genius. You can find out more information HERE.

I also have a parent workshop series that helps parents communicate better with their teens, motivate their teens, and prepare their teens for life after homeschool. If this is of interest you can find out more HERE.

Missed Part 1? HERE it is!

Part 3 is about why I don’t allow teenagers in my home. Find it HERE.