From Home to Dorm Life: Helping Your Teen Thrive in College
Sending your teen off to college is a significant milestone that can bring about a mix of excitement, anxiety, and even a bit of sadness for both parents and students. Such a significant event involves an adjustment period that teens and their parents may find difficult to manage. Here are some ways parents can support students during this transition:
Promote Independence: Staying in touch is important during this time, however, it is equally important that you give your child the space they will need to grow and deal with challenges independently. In doing so, it encourages resilience and self-sufficiency.
Regular Communications: While you’re giving your teen the space to adjust to their new environment, encouraging regular check-ins through texts, calls, and video chats offers emotional support and helps them feel connected.
Socializing: Encouraging your child to integrate into their college community is crucial. Participating in campus clubs and activities is a great way to establish a strong peer support network and make new friends. Their college experience will be greatly enhanced and enable them to feel supported and connected.
Maintaining a Balance: Academic responsibilities and their social life may be challenging to navigate during this period. It is important to remind your teen that academics are the priority and that they will need to learn to prioritize their time accordingly.
Sustaining Self-Care: It is important to make self-care reminders a part of your regular check-ins. Remind your teen that their physical and mental health is extremely important. Promote a sense of overall wellness by encouraging them to seek campus resources such as the health center to address any health issues they may experience.
Create Realistic Expectations: Remind your teen that this is an adjustment period and that it’s ok to feel overwhelmed during this time. You can help them to create realistic goals and expectations for their college experience.
Visit! Visiting your teen at college can be a great way to stay connected while respecting their growing independence. Planning ahead and coordinating a time that works for both of you will ensure the visit is enjoyable and stress-free.
Going away to college is a major achievement. Supporting your teen during this period of adjustment will make an important difference in their college experience
By: Lisa Ward, Clinical Intern