There is no denying that kids grow up fast. One minute they are dependent on you for their every need, and the next, they are young adults starting on their journey to independence. When your kids reach the age when they go out into life alone and follow their own path, it can be tough on parents. Seeing your kids thrive is a great feeling, but this is usually coupled with worry about them being in the big wide world without you by their side.
When your child heads off to college, it can be a challenging time, and you may feel concerned about how they will cope. To help them get the best start at college, it is useful to prepare them to make the transition easier for them. Check out a few tips to help prepare your kids for college:
Teach Them to Cook
If you have been having nightmares that your teen will survive on takeout during their time at college, and they have never attempted to cook before, now is the time to get them started. Teaching your child to cook some basic meals will ensure they never go hungry and help them build confidence in their culinary skills. Showing them some easy recipes will help them get started. Being able to cook is such an essential life skill, so it is worth taking the time to help them master some simple cooking.
Show Them How to Budget
Spending their money sensibly and sticking to a budget is something your child will need to do throughout their life. Getting them used to budgeting now will pay off big time in the future, plus it reduces the chances of you needing to bail them out continually! Sitting down with your child and calculating their living expenses and how this stacks up against their allowance is a perfect way to demonstrate the importance of taking care of their finances. Building up too much debt in college can follow people around for a big chunk of their lives after graduation, so preparing your child for this and encouraging them to make wise purchase decisions is a significant help.
Keep Communicating
Just as you feel unsettled about your child flying the nest and heading to college, they are likely feeling the same way. College is a major milestone, so, naturally, they feel both anxious and excited about their new adventure. Encouraging them to keep communicating with you is beneficial and will provide them with an outlet for any concerns they may be experiencing. As Stephen Troese Jr explains, some kids experience growing pains when they first arrive at college but knowing that you are there for them and continuing to communicate will make this much easier to handle.
Final Thoughts
Striking a balance between being overprotective and steering your child in the right direction is challenging, without stifling their college experience. However, guiding them is a great way to help them get life at college off to the best start.
