It’s only July, but if your kid is headed to college then it’s time to make sure they are ready to go. How do we let go as parents this year – on some things, but not everything? How do WE know they are prepared, and what can we do to ensure they are? Well, here’s a small checklist of what your kids need to know before they go to college. Luckily, you have several months left to teach them!
This article is written by Dana Baker
For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School & All About Teens collection
Self-Advocate Before Going to College
If you’re still emailing their teachers, selective school tutor, or chatting with the principal, it’s past time to stop. It’s hard to ask for help—we all want to be competent and confident, but there will be times that for whatever reason we need help. Make sure your teens know how to ask for what they need. Maybe the math is too hard, or they really want to get in to a closed class; or maybe they have an issue with a roommate or anxiety. Colleges have many places they can go for help, but they have to ask.
Along with standing up for themselves and asking for help, teach them to listen well and communicate calmly. Whether they’re doing a biblical studies program at Cornerstone or studying medicine at Harvard, things won’t always go their way and they need to understand that and really be able to participate in a discussion and negotiate in the conversation. To self-advocate, they need to be comfortable speaking to authority figures and to admitting they want or need something.
Travel Alone Leading Up to College
This doesn’t have to mean fly alone or go abroad alone. But they should be able to plan a local outing and get there by themselves. That could mean walking, taking a bus, subway or a train. If they do need to fly to school, be sure they know what to do if there is a delay or they miss a flight. That can be really stressful on your own. They need to be able to spread their wings before they actually have to. So when in doubt, let your kid take public transportation.
If your kid is lucky enough to have a car, they should know how to change a tire, and use roadside assistance. If their college has shuttles or uses Zip Car, they should know that and research how to utilize them effectively. Basically, students should feel confident about using mass transportation or taking care of their own car if necessary.
Be Safe and Healthy at Home First
Campus safety and sexual assault are significant issues on college campuses. Your teens can’t be prepared for everything, but they can be careful and mindful of their surroundings, and they can research the safety of their school before they go. Talk to them about watching out for others, making a safe community themselves, and knowing how to get help on campus. They should walk with others at night, know where the blue lights are (or whatever system the college uses) and try to avoid getting super drunk. Students should also understand how to navigate a pharmacy, fill prescriptions, change doctors and find any other resources that they may need.
Do Laundry on Their Own
You won’t be there to do it for them in college—no matter how often they seem to come home with dirty clothes. The key here is not to assume they know how. If you haven’t actually taught them a simple laundry system and watched them do it, you have no clue. So show them the ropes, make sure they leave for school with laundry detergent and let ‘em run!
Cook a Meal before College
A few meals, really. They may not have to in college thanks to meal plans, but they sure should know their way around a kitchen. Fry or scramble some eggs, make some toast; throw a sandwich together and at least boil ramen—a staple for college-age kids. Basically, if they find themselves alone in a kitchen, hungry and no one else around, they should feel that “Yeah, I’ve got this.”
Manage Money as a Teen
Make sure your college kid already knows how to handle money before they actually are far away and in control of it. That means they can make and stick to a budget and can prioritize strategically. Discuss ahead of time what, if anything, you will be paying for day-to-day. For instance, they want to go away for a weekend and visit a friend or see a game. Does that come out of your bank account or theirs? Flights or trains home—you or them? Textbooks can add up quickly….so just check that they will buy the book before the beer!
Persevere
No one gets through college without failing at something. Period. Let them know that, so they don’t end up feeling embarrassed or defeated. Make sure they have the resilience to handle what gets thrown at them. Perseverance is a really great word–teach them that.
Engaging with peers from different backgrounds, cultures, and areas of study can greatly enrich a student’s educational experience. Being part of such a dynamic environment helps students build a strong network, develop interpersonal skills, and gain a broader perspective on the world. This exposure to a wide array of ideas and experiences is an invaluable aspect of college life, fostering personal growth and preparing students for success in an increasingly globalized society. Click here to learn more about deep diving into the bustling student population.
Connecting perseverance with this diverse and vibrant community is key. As students face academic and personal challenges, the support and insights gained from their peers can be a source of strength and encouragement. Learning from different perspectives not only enhances problem-solving skills but also builds resilience.
Off to College
Once your kids are ready to go, make sure you have a list of tutors, maybe a mentor, and perhaps even essay writers online to help them navigate through these changes. When you’re done with all that, just make sure they know how to call, text or snap home—and that they do!
For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School & All About Teens collection
Featured Contributor: Dana Baker
Dana Baker is a writer, editor, not-so-perfect mom of two, and a Parent and Teen Coach. She help families reconnect and find a way around the walls that cause such isolation and dysfunction in these years. Dana offers advice from the trenches, a non-judgmental ear and tips/feedback based on the science of psychology and the reality of parenting. Read her blog and follow her on social media.
- Website: parentinginreallife.org
- Facebook: @parentinginreallife
- Twitter: @Danaparenting
