Every school year is your child’s opportunity for new success. If your child was less than successful the previous year, the school year ahead offers a clean slate. If they’ve been doing well throughout the years, then the new school year means a path to continued success, building on the positive skills and habits they’ve acquired.

To help start things off on the right foot, it’s a good idea to sit down with your child and discuss the upcoming school year. Here are six discussion topics to help you do just that:

By discussing these points with your child, you can hear their viewpoints and steer them in the right direction for the upcoming school year. Don’t limit such discussions to just once a year, though; keep the lines of communication with your child open and periodically revisit topics such as their goals and challenges. This way, you can check in on their progress, as well as provide encouragement and guidance when needed.