The time has come—after years of hard work and diligence, your child has finally graduated from high school.
Your little one is all grown up and about to embark on the next chapter of their lives, and you couldn’t be happier.
Having said that, navigating these new responsibilities can still be riddled with challenges, both for you and your child.
As a parent, you want your children to achieve their greatest potential at this stage in their lives.
The world of university and higher education is a whole different ball game, and students can either blossom in their new environment or crumble under the pressure.
If you want to help your kid transition more smoothly, here are a few tips to get them ready for their next big step.
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Encourage them to be independent
By the time your child sets foot in university or college, they’ll most likely be adults already, around 17 to 18 years old.
Given this fact, ensuring that they can take care of themselves is crucial to their success.
One way you can help instill a sense of independence in your child as early as now is by giving them more responsibilities around the house.
This can be anything from doing the grocery shopping to taking care of younger siblings.
The goal is to help them understand that they need to be self-sufficient and responsible for their actions.
Another way to encourage independence is to allow them to make the wrong decision and fail from time to time.
Encountering consequences is all part of the learning process, and any mistakes they make now will be invaluable lessons for their future.
Lead them to the right course
Don’t be the type of parent that forces your child into a specific degree or occupation, especially if they actively oppose it.
This will only lead them to resent you later on, and it’s likely they won’t excel in an area they have zero interest in.
Instead, try to have an honest conversation about the pros and cons of each course that they’re considering.
Once you weigh in your opinion and insights, make sure that you throw in some tough questions about the viability of your child’s chosen course (i.e. career opportunities, compensation, value-adding work etc.).
Regardless of what they choose, embrace your child’s degree choice all the same.
If your child is still undecided about their future, there are many resources available to help guide them in the right direction.
For instance, many schools offer aptitude tests and other similar programs that can give students a better idea of what they’re good at.
There are also endless online courses, such as a diploma of youth work, where students can learn at their own pace without physically attending class.
This is a great option for those who want to try out a particular field before committing to it.
Help them learn to budget and track their finances
Once in college, your child will start to gain more responsibility over their monetary situation.
They’ll have to manage academic-related expenses such as textbooks and tuition with living costs like utility bills and food.
This is the opportune time to start teaching them about financial management and the importance of budgeting.
Discuss with them what type of lifestyle they want to have while in school and help them set realistic limits.
If you’re giving them an allowance, enforce the notion that it’s not an endless supply of cash and that they’ll face the consequences themselves if they exceed their budget.
Make them join volunteer and extracurricular clubs
Most students choose to spend their free time socializing, resting, or partying at the weekends.
While there’s nothing wrong with this, it’s undeniably more productive to urge your child to join various opportunities that can help themselves and the community around them.
For instance, they can join student organizations related to their degree or take on volunteer work that’s in line with their future career goals.
These experiences can help them network, learn new skills and develop a sense of social responsibility that they can carry with them beyond the school gates.
Prepare the items they need for their dorm
When packing for university, your child will need more than just the basics like clothes and toiletries.
They’ll also need items that can help make their new place feel like a home away from home.
To start, here are some dorm essentials any college-aged individual would want to have in their room:
- School supplies: Textbooks, notebooks, pens, and laptops.
- Bedding: A comfortable mattress, a pillow, pillowcases, and sheets.
- Toiletries: Tissue, Paper rolls, towels, and grooming items.
- Clothes and laundry: Clothes for any occasion, a laundry basket, detergent, and a shoe rack.
- Important documents: Medical care, insurance, driver’s license, car registration form, and a student ID.
- Miscellaneous items: Umbrella, flashlight, first-aid kit, picture frames, and any comfort items from home.
Grant them their rightly earned freedom
As moving day fast approaches, it can be an emotional time for both the parents and the child.
After years of living together, you’ll have to let go and allow your university-aged offspring to fly away from the nest.
Of course, you can still check in on them from time to time and offer your advice whenever needed.
But ultimately, it’s up to them to make the most out of their tertiary education.
The next four years of their life will be a defining period that’ll shape them into the individual they’re meant to be. Let them get through college their way!
