Every parent dreams of their child's future and hopes they will live a fulfilling and successful life. Earning a college education has been proven to help get them there.

College means any kind of education beyond high school, whether at an applied technology college, a community college or a university. No matter what college looks like to your child, it means better pay, more employment opportunities, healthier families and, most of all, options for the future.

Here are six ways you can help prepare your child for college:

1. Talk with them about their future

What does your child dream of becoming when they grow up? What are their interests and where do their talents lie? See if you can steer these conversations to potential future careers, and discuss with them what kind of college education can help them achieve their dreams. If they are interested in working with cars, a one-year certificate in diesel mechanics might be just what they need. If they like to doodle, see what they think about getting a four-year bachelor's degree in graphic design.

2. Make sure your child reads and writes — a lot

Colleges nowadays are expecting students to write for every class, not just for English. And with standardized tests including writing sections, it would benefit your child to be comfortable with writing and, just as importantly, skilled at organizing thoughts and putting them on paper (or typing on a screen). Reading a variety of materials will not only keep your child informed but will also familiarize them with different styles of writing.

3. Teach effective study habits

When your children start having significant amounts of homework (likely middle school), start teaching them good study habits. These include:

• Setting a routine for everyday homework,
• Thoroughly preparing for tests,
• Clearing distractions (music has been disrupting students' studying for years, but texting and tweeting are newer ones that are ever-present — it is possible to remove a cellphone from a teen's room for an hour or two), and
• Providing study breaks, as Kelsey Sheehy wrote for U.S. News and World Report.

4. Teach financial skills, and educate yourself and your child about paying for college

If you have good habits in budgeting, saving and planning for the future, pass those on by regularly showing your child how you manage your finances. Include your child in the conversations about college costs and educate yourself and them on ways to help pay for college.

• Open a 529 savings plan, which is specifically designed for college savings and can help pay for qualified higher education expenses. Family and friends can also contribute money to your child's account.
• Learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines what types of student aid your child will qualify for (such as Pell Grant, work-study, some scholarships, and student loans). You child will fill this out during their senior year in high school.
• Search for scholarships. Students as young as kindergarten can apply for some scholarships, so it's never too early to start.
• Talk to your child about getting a part-time job when they're old enough to help save for college expenses.

5. Prepare your child for college by doing the right things in high school

It's important for your child to be taking the right courses in high school. These courses—four years of math, three years of lab-based science, two years of foreign language, three and a half years of social science—have been proven to help your child be better prepared academically for college. Another great way to prepare your child for college is to encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities, such as athletics, arts, school clubs and service opportunities. These can help develop your child's interests and may even help qualify them for college scholarships.

Did you know your child could earn college credit in high school? By enrolling in programs such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Concurrent Enrollment (CE), your child may earn college credit, saving them hundreds of dollars in college tuition expenses.

Visit college campuses. Contact college admissions offices to schedule a guided tour. Have your child ask questions about what it's like to be a student there, and see if they can attend a class or a campus event while you're visiting.

6. When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask questions

High school counselors are available for students to consult with about everything they need to know and do to be ready for college. Make sure your child knows to check in with them frequently. That habit will pay off in college. Professors and other advisors are available to help college students, but they tend to be underused.

If a student is struggling in a particular class, they can always check in with their teacher or professor during office hours. Regular appointments with advisors (or counselors) will also help ensure they are getting all the classes they need to graduate with the desired degree in a reasonable timeframe.

Start thinking early about all the information and skills needed for your children to have a successful college experience. StepUp to Higher Education has tips, tools, resources and articles on many topics for students and parents to help get ready.

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