Teen starting college is a very stressful and emotional period for their parents. It is because that is mostly the first time that their kids are going to live without them, and they can be afraid that everything is going to be okay.
There is also a lot of work with preparation and everything that comes with it, and a lot of effort for that. The good thing is that there is much useful information that can calm the parents and help them and their teen to prepare for that period. That is why in this list, we will explain to you what every parent needs to know when their teen starts college, and do everything in the best possible way.
Make enough space for everything
One of the biggest problems in colleges for teens is a lack of space. Every parent wants their children to bring as much stuff as possible, but sometimes that is very hard to achieve because the students’ dorm rooms are too small. That problem can be solved with smart planning and bringing only the stuff that is necessary for your teen. It is a very big problem when your teen moves the next year, and they need to change their room.
In that way, they usually bring their stuff to their house, which is mostly in other cities far away. Moving that stuff again, and every time your teen needs to travel or go somewhere, is demanding a lot of effort and money to do that.
A great way to solve that is with storage units for college students, which will make their stuff safe and locked. Students will be able to get to the storage whenever they want and leave their things. It is good that they can choose how big storage units they want and need.
Expect the adaptation phase
Changing a place of living and the people around them can be very difficult for students in the beginning. That is not a weird period, just for them, but for everyone who is passing something similar. Not everyone will react in the same way. The thing that you, as a parent, must know is that your teen will pass through the phase of adaptation. Some things that the adaptation phase includes are:
- process of independence
- Looking for new people
- Doing housework
- Time managing
- Big float of information
The adaptation phase is not just common for new students, but also for their parents. They will pass through different periods, but as soon as they use it for new surroundings in their home, it will be a lot easier for them too.
Learn how to manage money
Students’ lives can be very expensive, especially for students who focus on their studies and don’t work. Money flow is not infinite, and many students are not aware of that in the beginning. They become aware of that when they go bankrupt, and that can happen after a short period if they do not know about proper money management. Try as a parent to sit with them and properly talk about this. Good conversation will make them realize and learn about the importance of many savings and how to spend them consciously.
Health as priority
Parents are mostly the ones who care about the health of their kids, and they are engaged about their pills and medications if they are sick. When they become teens and decide to go to college, that is a time when they need to learn to care about themselves because you will not be around them. In that way, you must have a good talk and preparation so that you are both sure that they bring everything they need.
Also, tell them where they can buy medication when they spend them and at what time they need to take it. You can notify them in the beginning to be sure that they are taking everything that they need and that it becomes their routine. Inform the college emergency service about where it is in the building and their contact information if something goes wrong.
Give them support and show them that you care
The attitude that you are taking in the beginning is very important, and it can show a clear message to your teen. They must know that you are their support and not the one who will judge them. They need to know that you will be there to support and find the best possible solution to deal with it if something goes wrong, and not be the one who will yell at them and judge them.
That is important because if they know that you will react pleasantly, they will hesitate to tell you the problem, and that can become even worse. When they show them support, they will not hesitate to tell you about the difficulties they face, and they will ask for your advice and support.
Useful tips and tricks
Managing a home is a lot more difficult than people think, and there are many things that you need to pay attention to. Parents are the ones who are mostly responsible and who care the most about home managing but when their kids grow into teens who will live without them, then they must learn some useful tips and tricks.
- Use an extension cable if the plug is too far and you lack one
- Use ottoman multifunctional furniture for better space management
- Store food in hermetic boxes
- Wet wipes for dust cleaning
- Vertical wardrobe storage
- Turn off the heating when you are out
Most of them will learn alone, but it will be very useful to know about some in the beginning to make their adaptation phase easier.
Privacy needs to be established
Do not expect your teen to tell you everything because that is a period of establishing privacy. You will not be responsible for their actions anymore; you must adapt to that. There are also useful things they need to learn and realize, such as locking their doors and many others.
With the right inputs and advice, every parent and their teen will have a smooth transition to college. When everything is done right, a lot of worries will be eliminated, and teens will achieve better results.
Also read:
How to Help Your College Teen Choose a Career
How to Handle Your College Teen Uses Drugs
Image credit: Pexels, Stanley Morales
