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Going to university is exciting for parents and students but also scary. Such anxiety could come from choosing a higher institution that will be favorable for the parent and child, registration, or paying for school. Thankfully there are various convenient payment options available today. According to Vanco, a payment processing service, “Online payments for schools can quickly be made from one central hub.”
After enrolling their students in university and ensuring that they are financially catered for, parents often wonder how they can support their children from a distance. Parents’ roles change significantly when their students arrive on campus and take on their new responsibilities of university life. Nevertheless, every student still needs support as they grow, develop, and mature into independent adults.
Students may ask for advice when they face challenges or keep to themselves while figuring out ways to solve their problems. That is why parents need to be proactive in starting conversations with their students about their welfare. The following tips will show parents ways to support their university children while giving them the independence they need as young adults.
Take Advantage of Campus Resources
One of the best ways to guide university students during their transition to adulthood is by referring them to the appropriate resources. Parents can take advantage of the New Families Orientation (NFO) program to acquaint themselves with the various aspects of the university’s residential, academic, and student life. That way, they can know what transitions other new students and parents typically experience and the materials that can help them scale through.
When a parent acts as a referral source to their student, they demonstrate a genuine interest in their university life. They also empower their students to solve their own problems whenever they encounter difficulties.
Keep In Touch
Staying connected with university students is a great way for parents to show support. Children appreciate hearing from home. Most of them desire the security of knowing that someone at home is still interested in them. Parents can communicate via email, phone, video chats, or by sending physical mail.
Regular communication can be supportive or alienating, depending on the attitudes of the students or parents involved. To avoid communication overload, parents and students can work out the types and frequencies of communication that will work for them before the student leaves for school. Even after making a communication plan, there should be room for flexibility.
There may be peak periods when students’ schedules are completely packed, making them unavailable for regular communication. In such cases, it may be healthier to amend the original blueprint and opt for less communication than initially planned. On the flip side, there may be times when more frequent contact is required. Parents could check on their students periodically to ensure they are satisfied with their communication choices.
Do Not Shy Away From Difficult Conversations
Parents should create an atmosphere of open communication that allows their students to discuss topics like drugs, sex, and mental health. Although parents no longer have as much control over university students, they still have a significant influence on their children’s behavior. In the university, students have the liberty to decide what time to wake up, study, exercise, and the kinds of foods or drinks they consume. Nevertheless, parents can share their beliefs and values with their students on such topics.
Providing students with facts on difficult topics can empower them to distinguish between bad and good decisions in terms of health, safety, and behaviors. It is best to stay open-minded and avoid being judgemental when having difficult conversations. Students will appreciate that their parents respect them as adults and will likely turn to them when they need guidance.
Be Open to Change
The campus life and its experiences can cause changes in a student’s choices and their personal, vocational, and social behavior. Such changes are natural and inevitable, and they allow students to discover themselves. Parents should understand that the highs and lows of campus life are critical to their students’ development. So, they should trust their students, anticipate changes, and accept them.
Inform Them About Changes at Home
Parents should ensure that their university students feel welcome at home when they decide to visit or during school breaks. So, if there are significant changes at home, it is important to let the student know. As much as possible, parents should avoid converting their students’ rooms into storage spaces, home offices, or gyms without their knowledge.