If your child will be starting their GCSEs in a year or two, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed and wondering how you can help them with this next big milestone. Although your child will experience new challenges upon starting their GCSEs, the positive is that their education will be slightly more tailored to what actually interests them, as they get to choose some of the subjects they’ll be studying. A secondary school in Kildare have prepared the following tips to put you in a better position to help your child choose their GSCEs.
Talk About Your Child’s Likes and Dislikes
Try and find opportunities to chat to your child about their interests, including which school subjects they like and dislike, as well as what they’re good and bad at. For example, if they have a keen passion for environmental issues, then perhaps Geography is a good choice as one of their subjects. If they absolutely despise Music lessons, then you’ll know that this is a definite no.
Talk About Your Child’s Future
Chat to your child about the pros and cons of university and try and gauge if they think they’d like to attend or not. You should also discuss what they might like to do as a future career, as this will help them determine which subjects they should study. Perhaps they want to go into journalism or film, in which case Media Studies would be a good option. It’s not unusual for children of this age to have no clue what they want to do when they leave school, so try not to force the issue. Instead, talk about the different career options and share stories about people you know who have varying jobs, so that your child can get an idea of what’s out there. For instance, you may know someone who is a nurse, so you can discuss what qualifications they needed to get this job.
Talk to Your Child’s Teachers
Your child’s teachers will be able to provide you with more information about GCSEs and what’s involved, as well as a bit of an overview about each of the subjects. There will likely be Open Evening events that you and your child can attend, where you will be able to ask plenty of questions.
Reassure Your Child
The most important thing you can do for your child at this stage in their life is reassure them that you are there to support them and answer any questions they have or put their mind at ease. The chances are, they’re probably already feeling the pressure, so try not to add to this. Instead, let them know that you are proud of them no matter what!
