College: Sending Your Teen Off

Is My Teen Ready To Launch?

Are you wondering if your teen is ready for the challenges of being off at college all on their own? The answer is no, of course they aren’t! No one is ever 100% ready to go to college. That’s the point! Part of the experience of “launching” is to step out of your comfort zone, make some mistakes, learn and grow.

For parents, sending a kid off to college can summon every parental fear you’ve ever had. Even as your teen is on the verge of adulthood, watching them leave for school brings up those same feelings as when you left them alone with a babysitter for the first time. We suggest parents remember that even though there are many dangers out there, statistically the chances of your child getting hurt are minimal.

Help Them Grow Wiser With Love and Acceptance

As your prepare for college, yes, it’s a good and appropriate time to have conversations about dating safety, sex and the risk of drugs. But the most important thing is to show your child that you are a source of unconditional support, acceptance and love. That way, when they make those mistakes, they know it’s safe to come back to you.

There’s more to say about it and we get into it in this Tips on Teens:

“My 17 year old daughter graduates from high school in a few weeks. She’ll be shipping off to college in August. Even though I’ve known this was coming forever, I’m suddenly feeling terrified that I haven’t prepared her enough for the ‘real world.’  She’s had a part time job and she knows how to cook a few things, but mostly I’m worried about her judgment. I feel like I’m the one who left their homework until the last minute. How do I know if she’s ready?”