Summer is inching closer and closer, which means your teen’s academy is coming! Preparing for the academy is about more than just packing bags and planning logistics—it’s an emotional journey, too. Whether your teen is naturally outgoing and social or more introverted and reserved, getting them mentally prepared for the experience can make all the difference. By helping your teen prep, you’ll be setting them up for a fulfilling summer filled with excitement, growth, and unforgettable memories.
For a guide on how to set the stage for a meaningful summer, check out these tried-and-true methods.
1. Create a countdown
Creating a “countdown to academy” calendar can build anticipation and transform the wait into part of the fun! Instead of just counting off days, make the process more interactive. For example, have your teen make a list of things they want to pack, give them a shopping budget for a new outfit, or surprise them with one of those disposable cameras Gen Z finds “so vintage.”
You can also encourage your teens to take ownership of the countdown by setting personal goals they want to achieve leading up to and during their academy. This will give them a sense of purpose, and the countdown will increase enthusiasm, making the experience that much more memorable.
2. Set goals together
Setting personal goals before their academy is an excellent way to encourage your teen to get energized, while empowering them with a growth mindset. When setting goals together, helping your teen create specific, realistic, actionable goals can help them feel more in control of their experience.
For example, instead of “be more outgoing,” make the goal more specific, like “network with my instructors.” Once the goal is set, help them create actionable steps to achieve it. Go over how to introduce themselves with a firm handshake, share their pronouns if they want, and how to break the ice with questions like, “What’s your favorite thing about college?”
Teens love to see progress, so making goals both realistic and trackable will empower them to take full advantage of all the opportunities their academy has to offer.
3. Create expectations
It’s totally normal for your teen to feel anxious about new experiences and environments. Having open conversations can help ease some of their anticipatory stress. During those talks, position their academy experience as a fun challenge—an opportunity to meet new people and have a little more freedom than usual, which will become their new norm in college. Speak to them about what to expect—drop off and pick up logistics, what a typical day might look like, how overnights in the dorms will be, and how to handle the responsibility of that new independence.
If your teen is a visual learner, encourage them to browse our academy website and research some details about campus on their own. It will help them frame expectations and learn more about the university where they’ll be spending two weeks of their summer.
4. Encourage independence
Independence is a critical skill for teens to build before they go off to college. During the lead-up, encourage your teen to take on tasks they’ll need to manage on their own in the future—packing, scheduling, knowing how to do their own laundry, etc. And instead of getting that inevitable eye roll that always comes with chores, try to make it fun!
Introduce a competition element like a “race against the clock” to practice packing a suitcase for their academy in thirty minutes or less (with their clothes actually folded and no missing essentials). Add a fun little prize to highlight their wins, like their favorite food or an extra ten minutes of screen time. This one isn’t just about getting ready for their two weeks away, it’s an opportunity to build life skills for the future.
5. Plan a pre-academy challenge
Tap into your teen’s affinity for hands-on activities with a challenge that aligns with their academy. Since they’ll be diving into topics like coding, data science, machine learning, AI, and robotics, create some mini-challenges that mirror academy activities. Tackle the newest Lego model together, help them plan a video game marathon for their friends, or get them even more prepared with some pre-academy private lessons!
These challenges are not only great for brain stimulation, but it will also create hype and provide your teen the chance to get hands-on with the tech they’ll be exploring on campus.