Preparing to Send Your Teenager Off to College

Sending your teenager off to college is a significant milestone, filled with excitement and a healthy dose of anxiety. It's a transition that impacts not just your child, but the entire family dynamic.

Beyond the emotional preparation, you need to complete a practical checklist to ensure a smooth launch. Below are some tips to help make this transition smoother for everybody.

Celebrate!

First and foremost, celebrate—your teen is going to college! Before you get too stressed out about dorm essentials, take a moment to give lots of hugs, go out to dinner, and celebrate.

Network

Reach out to friends and family who have walked in your shoes and ask them what essentials are needed for college.

Enjoy Senior Year!

We all know how quickly time goes. Let your teen enjoy the rest of their senior year. Now is the time for prom pictures, senior activities, and ordering yearbooks. Embrace this stage!

Take Things in Stride

Don’t start talking about college stuff too prematurely. This can overwhelm your teen and impact the excitement they feel at the end of their senior year. They may be happy with their college choice or struggling with the fact they didn’t get into their top choice. Let them feel all the emotions and enjoy the days with them under your roof.

Start Stocking Up in May

May is the time to start looking for college essentials, everything from storage drawers, room decorations, and bedding.e essentials, everything from storage drawers, room decorations, and bedding.

Planning for Roommates

Living with somebody you don’t know can be overwhelming and provide a sense of angst. Remember, roommates don’t need to be best friends; they just need to cohabitate and be respectful to each other. If they aren’t best friends, your teen will meet friends in other ways.

Parent Pages

Parent pages can be helpful, but remember to take things with a grain of salt. Everyone finds fault in something. Try not to dwell on the negative comments and focus on the positive and useful ones.

Utilize Friends

Utilize your network of friends and family. They are the best resource, especially on what is essential to pack.

Take a Step Back

Remember, you have raised your teen for about 18 years, and now is the time for them to figure some stuff out on their own. Believe me, they will still call you to ask about laundry and a million other things.

There Will Be Tears

This is an emotional time for everybody—students, parents, and siblings. The unknown is tough, but this is the time we need to let them fly and celebrate a job well done. Remember, just because they aren’t babies anymore, they are always going to be your baby no matter how old they get.

If you would like help navigating this transition, reach out to me at info@atozeducationalconsulting.com or 612.735.1261.