Parents play a big role in getting their teenagers ready for Year 12, so they need to know the key steps to getting them motivated.

Australian Teenage Expo co-founder and youth expert Sacha Kaluri said we as parents need to beware that teens can lose motivation to start Year 12 over the school holidays.

“Just think about adults, no matter how much we love our jobs, when we go on holidays its always hard to get back into the swing of things at work when we come back.” said Mrs Kaluri

“It’s extremely common for young people to start the year with a cant be bother attitude.” she said.

“Parents need to make sure they have regular conversations about how exciting Year 12 can be, it’s so more than just education.”

Sonya Karras also co-founder of the Australian Teenage Expo said young people have often spent the last six weeks sleeping in, partying and hanging out with friends.

“School does not sound like a fun place to be, but really its centre hub of socialisation.” said Mrs Karras

Ms Kaluri’s top 5 tips on how get senior school students feeling positive and excited about starting VCE

• Have positive conversations at home with family and friends about all the other good things about school other than education
• Listen when they speak. When young people talk to their parents about subject selection-get involved and be positive
• Remind them of the fun they will have. There is more to school than education.
• Relationships with teachers will change. Teachers are different to senior students; they treat them more like adult.
• Make sure they are doing subjects they will enjoy. It’s not only about their future, careers and the final score. The more they enjoy school the better they will do.

Mrs Kaluri said one of the worst things that can happen is to start Year 12 under pressure. Know it’s important, but you need to make sure you don’t start stressed out.

“I remember working with a student that was under so much pressure to have a perfect score at the end of Year !2  that they were almost having severe anxiety  of just starting the year.” She said

“Going into first term of school with a positive vibe is just a mind set.

“You can have some of the best days of your life doing Year 12.”

“Year 12 is a time where students need maximum support, but still need to understand their place family as well as still be responsible’ says Ms Kaluri.