The 15-Minute Parent School Check-In

Long nightly battles are rarely the best way to supervise a teenager. Try a focused 15-minute check-in instead.

First, have the student open the school portal and identify what is due in the next 48 hours. Second, check for missing work. Third, choose the single most important task to start. Fourth, make sure needed materials are available. Finally, have the student state when the work will be completed.

The parent should resist doing the assignment or turning the check-in into a lecture. The goal is to build the student's ability to scan, prioritize, and plan.

Use the same routine at roughly the same time each school day. Over time, gradually transfer each step to the student.

Structure is not the opposite of independence. For many students, structure is how independence is learned.

Quick takeaway: Structure is not the opposite of independence. For many students, structure is how independence is learned.