Your teenager will find that high school is an exciting time to pursue new interests and develop talents. Your child's choice of electives will likely include art, band, or drama. Activities outside class such as debate or mock trial may provide an opportunity to improve verbal skills. Your teen may choose to participate in activities like student government or production of the school yearbook.

High school athletics can be very important; in addition to the health benefits of active participation in sports, your teenager may now find that prowess in sports opens important doors to college admissions. Even if your teen does not play a sport well enough to attract the attention of college recruiters, however, she will likely benefit from the experience of participating on a competitive team.