Help! My Child Has Finished School

This month, around 200 000 Aussie students left the school gates behind forever.

Key points:

While young people are celebrating, many parents find themselves starting a new phase of life.

So, your child has finished school forever. Now what?

For around 200 000 students across Australia, school is a thing of the past. With the HSC exams now behind them, students are ready to relax, celebrate and explore their post school world. For parents, it’s also a time of change.

An end to worries about assessment tasks, major projects, exam timetables and sports uniforms.

There are things to celebrate. No more school lunches. An end to worries about assessment tasks, major projects, exam timetables and sports uniforms. No more school newsletters to leave unread, or dread when another school email hits the inbox.

But there can also be sadness about what’s over. Whether it’s the joys of school music performances, cheering on from the sidelines, parent meet-ups, or conversations in the car on the way to or from school. These are moments that won’t come again.

How can you mark the moment?

An ending is an opportunity to draw a line, celebrate and move forward. For students, Year 12 is full of these occasions. Final assemblies, sports games, formals, band performances and classes. Parents can be part of some of these and can also create them for themselves.

A get together with other parents can be a time to share school stories and look ahead to what comes next.

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Enjoy a family dinner to celebrate the end of school. It’s a milestone for everyone, so make the most of the moment and create a special memory together.

Recognise that it’s a time of change for everyone, family members will process it differently so allow space to listen.

If you dropped a hobby years ago, it’s never too late to start afresh.

What comes next?

More time! Without the structure of the school timetable and school terms, there will be more freedom to choose how your time is structured.

Time for a hobby, a holiday or even a new job. Set some goals for the year ahead. Dip your toe in, experiment and work out what fits for you. It will take time to shake down a new rhythm of life, so be patient with yourself and enjoy testing and trying new things.

Jump in with both feet and a sense of adventure.

Embrace the change

A child can’t stay a child forever. As they transition out of their school days, they need freedom to become their own person and accept responsibility for their next steps. As a parent, you need the space to discover who you are in this phase too.

Don’t fear the change. Take hold of all that you’ve learnt over your years of parenting and apply those lessons. Jump in with both feet and a spirit of adventure.

There’s a plan for you. Open your eyes and see what’s out there.

Feature image: CanvaPro