The time when your child steps into college, is undoubtedly one of the most crucial and tricky phases in her life. Life takes a turnaround when one steps into the college life, away from the cocooned life in school. This is the phase that not only brings new freedom but also a lot of responsibilities. So just in case you have a child who is making a similar transition, what are the things that you should keep in mind? Read on to find out.
What all things the college life entails?
This is the stage when your child will step into the independent arena and so it is important that he or she tread these steps, with caution. In case the very first step of independence goes berserk, the scars remain for the rest of life. This is the time when your child has the freedom to decide whether or not he should be attending a class or whiling the time in the college canteen, the subjects that he would be learning for his graduation, and the kind of career that he should be preparing for. This stage not only brings enormous freedom, but asks you to make life turning choices too.
What would the child be going through at this stage?
It all depends upon certain personality characteristic of your child. If your child is easily assimilated in the new environment and is bubbly, you will not find the transition tough but just in case you have an introvert and a shy child, it may take a lot from you and the child in terms of effort to open up to the new ways. Because in school there are limited number of student, getting recognition is easy but not in a college, because the competition here, multiplies a manifold times because of the sheer number of students. As and when your child steps into the college, he would be required to make new friend. And for this purpose, he would have to keep his shyness at bay.
How can you support your child?
Make sure that you support your child continuously, throughout the entire changeover. Your child may loath the change at first and hence, the ways by which you explain this necessary change, would be very crucial. Make sure that you highlight the advantages. Ensure that he talks to other students when he goes in for his college interview; that will help him gain confidence in this foray.
How to empower your child?
If you deem it necessary, enroll your child into a personality development course so that he or she feels more confident. The college life would require one to be pretty much enterprising; in case he finds the syllabus difficult, enroll him on to any of the coaching classes. That ways he will gain confidence in the subjects as well. Just in case your child still runs scared, feel free to seek counselors help.
How to prepare for the D-day?
Make sure that your child prepares his or her best for the very first day in the college. After all this is one of the most special days of his or her life. While gearing up to step in to the college, make sure that he has a proper wardrobe and a nice backpack depending upon the course that he has chosen for himself. Do not expect him to wear the clothes or carry the bag that he used to do in school. Getting new things will also signal him the importance and the preparedness required to step over the threshold.
All said and done, stepping into the college life is undoubtedly one of the most special and crucial phases in one’s life. When your child will step out of the college after a few years, you will be amazed at the massive metamorphosis in your child’s personality, and because of the same, this stage calls for a lot of preparedness and support from the parents as well. Do not expect him to carry himself or the things that you used to, when in college. This is his first taste of independence; ensure that he respects it and becomes a responsible adult.