Tips for College Parents

Talk to others. 

Many parents are going through a similar experience.  Talk to those individuals.  Keeping in contact with other parents keeps issues and situations in perspective.  It will also make it easier to share feelings and experiences with people you already know and trust.

Expect change. 

College life is a very diverse environment and your student is being immersed in it, so be prepared for your student to change. They are going to be facing many new challenges and their morals and beliefs will be tested.  They will learn some things about themselves that they will want to change and some things that they will want to keep the same.  Although it will seem that they change more than stay the same, remember that at their core, they are the same person they were when they went away for school.

Don’t ask if your student is homesick. 

New students are busy adjusting to their new surroundings, making new friends, joining organizations, and managing their time.  Asking them if they’re homesick will only remind them of all the new obstacles they must face everyday and make them long for that simpler lifestyle back home.

Visit

Students love to show off their new room, friends, organizations, and college life to their loved ones. Nothing makes it easier to do than a family visit to campus.  Just keep in mind that the best visits are those that are planned with your student in advance.  A shopping trip and dinner out are always great as well.  They might even want to catch a movie with you!

Ask questions, but not too many. 

College students love their new found freedom and can often times get a bit frustrated when asked too many prying questions. Ease into any conversation with your student and don’t jump right out with the “have to know” questions. They will be more willing to give you the information you want if you are willing to hear about the information that interests them.  Perhaps they will get talking and answer a question you wanted to ask without having to ask it.

Trust your student

There are many decisions that your student is facing on their own for the first time, knowing that you fully trust and support them will help your student make the right decisions and be confident in the decisions he or she makes.  Your continual support will also help them recover from the poor decisions that they might have made.

Don’t tell your student that “these are the best years of your life.” 

College is a wonderful experience for most students, but it has its ups and downs just like any other times in our lives. It is better to accept the highs and lows of your student’s development and act as a support group for him or her.

Be prepared for emotional phone calls home 

Students face new challenges every day and sometimes it can get overwhelming. When they finally reach the breaking point, often times the best place to turn is to the family. Let them open up and unload all their troubles. They will feel better and be more willing to share the good news, so that you can better put things into perspective.

Write often

Students check their mailboxes at least once a day.  Nothing brightens up a day like seeing a letter or a slip that says “Package” in their mailbox.

Take photos

Take pictures of your family and life at home so that your student can stay connected to the experiences at home and at the same time make sure to take photos of your student at school so you can stay better connected with their experiences. Digital cameras, social networking, and e-mail have made this so much easier!