Tips For Sending Your Child To College
September 29, 2008
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This article was written by Guest Blogger Beverly Mahone of Baby Boomer Bev.
When you sending a child away to college for the first time, you enter into a different realm of parenting.
You still want the best for your child but you also need to learn how to step back and let your child take control of his own life.
Have you heard the term “helicopter” parents? Those are the parents who “hover” over their children; they can’t bear to let their children grow up and who still feel the need to do everything for them. Very often this sends the message to the child that they can’t do anything on their own. They are nearing adulthood and need to learn how to handle challenges that life presents them…without the help of their parents.
Here are some tips I found useful from an article I read recently:
1. Avoid too many phone calls during the week. By setting a specific day and time to call, you are telling your college student that you’re interested in their lives but don’t want to hover. Also encourage your student to call home whenever they need to talk, that you’ll always be available outside of this specific calling time.
2. Encourage your college student to seek available resources at school. Be sure to search out other student resources on campus so your student doesn’t feel lonely or isolated. Meet their academic advisor and search out the medical clinics, career centers, and student affairs center.
3. Encourage your student to get involved in campus life. They can volunteer for charitable organizations, on campus clubs, or get a part time job. Much of the anxiety of moving away from home can be quelled if your student becomes involved and meets new people.
4. Let them be in charge of their own finances. Teach your student good money management before sending them off to school. Set clear monetary limits for living expenses. Use debit cards rather than credit cards and deposit a set amount of money each month. Your child will learn how to budget their money if you don’t bail them out with additional deposits.
By backing away and allowing your college student establish their own independence, you will find that they will come to appreciate you even more—while relying on you even less.
About the Author: Beverly Mahone is the mom blogger behind Baby Boomer Bev and she is also the media expert behind Talk 2 Bev. She also hosts a weekly internet radio program on Blog Talk Radio.
Posted by Christina | Filed Under Parenting
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