The transition to college is a time of excitement and celebration for both parents and young adults. However, it can also be a time of great stress and fear that can create communication, and eventually relationship issues within families. Here are four (easy!) ways you can help your young adult transition to college and build an even stronger bond while doing so.

1. Take a Tour of the Campus Together

Before your young adult begins their classes, take a tour of the campus together, walk through a day what life will be like with them. With technology today, you don’t even have to do this with them in person. You can easily use FaceTime or another video conference program. This will help them with getting around, relieve some anxiety surrounding their first day. It will also allow for you to have a reference point for places and things when you have chats with them in the future, making for more meaningful conversations. This leads us to tip number two.

2. Schedule a Weekly 20-Minute Phone Call

Find a time each week when you can setup an uninterrupted, at least 20-minute, phone call to check in with your young adult. This will ensure that you are connecting each week and provide a sense of consistency for your young adult, this is important during a time of so much change. You can build even more connection by sharing an activity each week during your phone call. For example, drinking morning coffee together every Saturday morning during your scheduled 20-minute phone call. 

3. Chat about Change

No matter how much you plan and prepare, there are going to be unforeseeable events and potential obstacles. Don’t be scared to talk about this with your son or daughter, and open up the line of communication where they aren’t scared to talk to you about it. At this point you have taught them values and provided them with sound advice and support. Transitioning to adulthood and going to college can come with many surprises and important that they know that this normal and talking about it will make it far less confusing and create more room for flexibility and positivity.

4. Take Time to Prepare Yourself

Chances are you may receive one, or several, panicked phone calls home from your son or daughter during their time in college. Typically, these phone calls happen in the first year but may happen at any point and can stem from relationship issues to a challenging course. A lot of the time young adults will mention dropping out or not feeling like they fit in, this can be fairly common and normal. It is important to prepare yourself as a parent for this and have confidence in the skillset and values you have instilled in them, let your instincts kick in to tell them,

“I am proud of you, I know you are going to do an amazing job.”

“I love you, I remember how you didn’t give up then, I know you can do this.”

“I have been there, I felt the same in college, I promise this will get easier.”

If at any point you are worried about your daughter or son’s safety, please take steps to getting them additional support. Most colleges and universities offer accessible mental health services and can access them through their student health center. If not, please reach out to mental health professional in the local area.

Lastly, reflect on what you have accomplished as a parent and this major milestone for not only your young adult but for you.  Acknowledge the amazing job you have done and the hard work you put in to nurture, support, and guide your son or daughter to help them get to this point. You are worth celebrating as well!