If you want to help your team to navigate further education then you have come to the right place. Here you will find out all the different ways you can help your child to get the most out of their journey, so you can give them the support that they need going forward.
Let them know Home is Always There
Moving away from home can be very difficult. It’s tough at any age, so, understandably, they would experience some anxiety when moving away. A new situation will require some degree of adjustment, but it’s still not easy even then. If you want to help your child then one thing you can do is let them know that home is always there for them and that you are happy to help them with anything they might need. If you can do this then you can help to give them more confidence which will help them going forward.
Keep in Touch
Starting university presents a lot of new challenges. You need to check in regularly with your child and you also need to see if you can help them with any part of their experience. If they happen to be struggling with some new aspects of their life then give them some help with this. Regardless of how long or how short the phone calls might be, you need to do what you can to put your child at ease. You will feel better knowing that they are okay, and they will feel as though you have their back. If you can continue to give them this kind of support then they will be grateful for it. One thing to take note of is that exams can be stressful, so take the time to reassure them and let them know that no matter what happens, you are proud of them and the outcome.
Take an Interest
Life at a university can be new and exciting. At the same time though you do need to make sure that you take an interest in it. Find out what they are learning and find out about new friendships too. Take the time to encourage them with new social activities and take note that this can provide them with some great opportunities. If you can do this and if you can help them to meet new people then you will soon find that they end up getting the mental support they need.
Research Support
Every university has some degree of support when it comes to student’s health. Before you send them out and into the unknown, you need to find out what support is available. Speak to your student council and find out if they have any worries or uncertainties. If you can do this and if you can find out what support is available then you can make sure that if your child ever runs into any difficulties, they are going to be getting the help that they need. You may also be able to do some research into the new area, so you can find out what options are available outside of the university too.
Help your Child to Prepare
Did you know that you can help your child prepare for their new life by teaching them valuable lessons? Teach them how to cook and make sure you help them to settle in as much as possible. As well as the practical side of things make sure that you give them coping techniques so that they can deal with situations better. Mindfulness is very important, and it’s also vital on top of the routine of exercise.
Work on Practical Skills
Right now, your child will have to be more self-sufficient. This is especially the case if they are living away. A handful of cheap and simple meals to cook on rotation is always a good idea, not to mention that you can also teach them how to use the washing machine. You also need to help them to understand that cooking noodles and having gray laundry are fine, as long as they are fed and happy. If you can give them careful planning now then you will soon find that you can give them the support they need, especially when it comes to budgeting. You will also have to run them through budgeting for books and travel expenses. If you can do this then you will be able to help them alleviate some anxiety overall.
Talk about Wellbeing
Ask how your child is feeling and listen to them. Preparations such as shopping and even packing can help them out. Your child may feel sad about leaving their family and friends, not to mention that they will have anxiety about meeting new friends and getting started overall. If you can take the time to focus on the positives and if you can reassure them that having a range of emotions is normal then this will set them up for success going forward. If you haven’t done so already then now is the time for you to look into student accommodation. Make sure that they are staying somewhere they are happy with and ensure that they have everything they need. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can help them overall.
Encourage Wellbeing
For your child, vegetables, fresh air and even sleep probably won’t be high priorities. With that in mind, you do need to encourage them to champion good habits. Encourage them to identify things that they know will help them whenever they are feeling low or overwhelmed. You can also teach them how to build them into their life. It may be that you encourage them to sign up with clubs and that you teach them that getting an early night is also fine. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can look after them even though you might not be around.
Manage Expectations
Young people’s expectations of themselves do not always align with what they are capable of. Over time this can lead to both disappointment and low self-esteem. Encourage your child and make sure that they understand that what they see on social media is not reality and that sometimes, social media can be overwhelming. Teach them that they might not make friends right away and that independent study might be more challenging than they might think. If you can assure them that things take time and that this is normal, they will go into their university experience with a much higher level of understanding. If things don’t work out for them then don’t make them feel bad about it and instead teach them that there are other options out there and that they will eventually find something that suits them.
Discuss Keeping in Touch
Your child has to know that they can keep in touch with you. As mentioned above, they need to keep in touch but you also need to arrange what time is convenient for them too. The arrangement you make early on may not be the same arrangement you make later on. If your child calls you every Friday and they suddenly find themselves busy on this day then arrange another day to keep in touch. If you can do this and if you can make sure that you are flexible then this will stop them from experiencing as much pressure. Take the time to cater to them and you will soon find that you can give them the help they need to feel both comfortable and confident.
Take Care of Yourself
Remember that this is a huge transition for you too. It is perfectly fine for you to feel sad, or for you to worry about how your child is going to cope. Sometimes you may feel guilt or you may even feel relief. With that being said, you need to learn that your emotions are justified and that sometimes, they may even take you by surprise. However, you feel you shouldn’t project them onto your child. Fuelling their anxiety is the last thing you need as you don’t want them to feel guilty if you can help it. Take the time to be kind to yourself, and even consider finding a new hobby. It may be that you try to spend more time with your friends or that you appreciate the fact that your fridge hasn’t been raided in quite a while. If you can take the time to give them this level of support while making sure that you are supported as well then this will help you to keep them going in the long run.
So as you can see, making sure that your child has the help they need when going to university is so important. With that being said, you need to make sure that you have the support you need too. If you can put a prime focus on this, you’ll soon be able to reap the benefits going forward so be mindful of that.
