As a parent, you might feel distant from your college student or have no idea what’s going on in your life.
It can be hard to stay connected when they are living away from home, but some tips and tricks can help you keep in touch and ensure that communication remains open between the two of you.
Here are six tips from expert Dennis Bonnen for maintaining available contact with your college student.
1. Set Up Regular Check-Ins
One of the best ways to stay connected is to set up regular check-ins with your student.
This could be a weekly call, an email exchange, or a text message check-in.
Whatever works best for both of you is fine. It is essential to ensure that you both know when to expect a call or message.
2. Ask Questions That Go Beyond “How Was Your Day?”
When checking in with your college student, try not to ask too many questions about their day-to-day activities or classes—as these topics may not always be exciting for them to talk about!
Instead, focus on asking more meaningful questions such as “how did you handle (insert challenge here)?” or “what do you think about (insert issue here)?”
These questions will allow your student to share more about their thoughts and feelings than if they were just asked about their day.
3. Be Open To Listening And Offering Advice When Needed
It can also be helpful for parents to remember that sometimes all our kids need is someone who will listen and offer advice when needed—not necessarily lecture them on how they should do things differently!
So while it’s essential to support our children by asking thoughtful questions and offering advice when appropriate, it’s also important not to overstep our bounds as parents by trying to take control of every situation they encounter in college life.
4. Encourage Social Activities With Other Students
It can be easy for any college student—especially those living away from home—to get bogged down in their studies and forget about taking time out for social activities with other students at their university.
So it’s crucial as parents that we encourage our kids to participate in social activities whenever possible!
Whether joining a club or organization on campus or attending events off campus like music festivals or art galleries, socializing with other students can provide valuable experiences outside of the classroom, which can help foster personal growth and development during the collegiate years.
5. Talk About Mental Health Issues And Resources Available On Campus
Don’t forget about talking openly with your child about mental health issues and resources available on campus—such as counseling services offered through their university—so that they know where they can turn if needed during difficult times throughout their collegiate career.
Creating a safe space for conversations around mental health issues early on in their college experience will make it easier for them to reach out if needed down the line!
6. Write Letters Or Send Care Packages Every Once In A While
Lastly, sending letters or care packages every once in a while is another excellent way to let your child know that you care and are thinking of them even though they might not always be close by physically!
Writing letters can provide an outlet for expressing emotions that may not always come across quickly over phone calls or video chats—and care packages remind them of how special they are even when far away from home!
Conclusion
Dennis Bonnen explains that staying connected with your college student doesn’t have to be complicated – it just takes some intentional effort from both parties involved!
By setting up regular check-ins, asking meaningful questions beyond “how was your day?”, listening without judgment, encouraging social activities with other students, talking openly about mental health issues & resources available on campus, and writing letters/sending care packages occasionally – parents & students alike can maintain open communication which ultimately leads to stronger relationships & better outcomes overall during this time of transition into adulthood!