Office of Parent Services : Parent Advice

Parent Advice

1. Be sure to communicate with your student. This is one of the best things that you can do to help them steer clear of the pitfalls of transitioning to college.
2. Encourage your son or daughter to use on campus resources when they struggle in our outside of the classroom. Encourage them to speak with their advisor or RD when they struggle with an assignment or have a conflict with another student.
3. Make sure your student realizes that you have recognized them as a young adult.
4. Encourage your student to participate in college sponsored events on the weekend. Landmark sponsors many on and off-campus weekend events.
5. Helping your student understand that they are responsible for their own actions is key. Making choices and having to live with the consequences, good or bad, can be a very important experience for a student.
6. Asking your student if they are homesick is dangerous. The first few weeks of school are a very busy time for students. Making new friends and making adjustments will take up most of their time. Unless they are reminded of it, they will get over the homesickness.
7. “Down in the dumps” phone calls are normal. Often students feel like the only person they can talk to about a situation is someone at home. Be patient with this type of communication. It may make you feel bad, but just being there to listen can be the best remedy for your student.
8. Sending care packages is a big help. Students love to get things from home. Mom’s homemade cookies, new DVD’s, a new toothbrush, and cash, all can go a long way especially during stressful exam periods.
9. Trust them as much as possible. College is a stressful time for them too. They are going through a lot of changes and having a parent second guess their second guessing can be very hard for a student to deal with.