Preparing young people for a future of excellence is the goal in everyday life. How do you prepare your child for his or her future you may ask?  

   Family support: family life provides high levels of love and support. Give more hugs and verbal reinforcements; don't assume youth know how much you love them. Set aside at least one evening per week for family activities.

    Parent communication: Youth have frequent, in-depth conversations with parents. Regularly ask youth questions about what they think and believe. Have topical family dinners every once in a while in which the whole conversation focuses on one topic.

    Parent involvement in schools: Parents are involved in helping youth succeed in school. Make it a point to talk with all of your child's teachers during the school year. Regularly ask your teen what they are learning in school. Offer to help with homework in appropriate ways.

    Control: Parental standards; parents have standards for appropriate conduct. Regularly re-negotiate family rules with teenagers so they are developmentally appropriate and fairly enforced. Talk with other parents when you're not sure how to respond to a particular situation.

    Time at home: Youth spend time at home at least four nights a week. Set limits on how often youth can go out with friends during the school week. Do not let a teenager work more than 15 hours per week during the school year.

    Decision-making skills: Youth are good at making decisions. Include your teen in family decisions, and explain the decision-making process. Do not blow up at poor decisions; help your teen learn from them.

    Values helping people: Youth believe it is important to help other people. Regularly spend family time helping others and talking about why you do it. Encourage and support your teen to take (reasonable) risks to help other people.

    Empathy: Youth care about other people's feelings. Model mutual respect in the family. Do not tolerate putdowns. Listen to your teen express feelings, and teach him or her to listen to others.

   Friendship-making skills: Youth are good at making friends. Give teenagers ideas of creative things they can do with fiends. Emphasize friendships in your own life and encourage your teen to invite freinds to your home.