When your son or daughter is getting ready to head off to college, it can feel overwhelming for them and for you. But there are steps that your whole family can take to put everyone’s mind at ease. Check out the tips below to learn about some of the ways that you can help your teen prepare for life in college, especially if they are going to be dorming on campus rather than commuting to class while living at home with you.
Teach Them How to Stay Safe
These days, it is important to know how to keep yourself safe, so it is imperative that you teach your teen how to protect themselves, how to recognize dangerous situations and how to avoid them, and how to call for help if they ever need it. Give your teen the phone numbers that they need to keep in their cell phone at all times in case of an emergency. Also, as you decide on which college your teen will attend, bear in mind that some campuses are safer than others.
Nuwber has a great list of the safest colleges in the country, so you can use that to get started if you haven’t decided on a school yet. After all, the safer the campus, the more peace of mind you can all have.
Teach Them How to Save Their Money
Your teen will need to buy things for themselves, and will likely have a credit card and/or debit card that they’ll use for purchases every day. So, it is important to
teach your teen how to handle their money. Show them how to create a budget and how to stick to it. Teach them about the benefits of having a solid savings account that they can turn to in an emergency. And show them how to manage their spending so they don’t go over their credit card limit and end up with fees and interest charges. If you can teach your son or daughter about the best ways to remain financially secure now, it can help them down the road when they are out of college and on their own.
Teach Them How to Do Daily Chores
If your teen will be dorming at college, they won’t have you around to clean up after them. So, it is time to teach them how to keep their things organized, how to do their laundry, and how to prepare their own meals. If you have been doing a lot for your teen up to this point, start giving them more and more responsibilities so they will begin to realize just how much work is required when living away from home.
Let Them Know You’re Always There for Them
Finally, let your teen know that even though they are going to be a
lot more independent, you will still always be there to help them if they need it. Encourage them to call you, and make it a point to check in on them while they are at college. That way, they will feel comfortable coming to you in the event that they need support or end up in trouble.
Your son or daughter is probably really excited about heading off to college and starting a whole new chapter in life, but there are a lot of things that need to be done to prepare everyone in the family for this big change. If you start teaching your teen valuable lessons and skills during their senior year of high school, you can rest easier, knowing that they will be able to take care of themselves when they’re living on their own.
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