Preparing Teens For College - Leaving The Nest On A Test-Flight Into Adulthood

It is a very natural part of growing up – teens leaving for college. At this cusp of adulthood and independence, parents play a significant and active role in facilitating this transition and preparing teens for college.

Factors contributing to the success, delay and/or failure of this preparatory activity include asking yourself and others, including your teenager a couple of tough, honest questions:

♣ Are good study habits well entrenched and developed successfully?
♣ What is the nature of your teens own self-discipline, self-motivation, responsibility and independence? For example getting up in the morning without you insisting on it!
♣ Ability to establish and maintain a healthy hygiene routine, eat healthy meals, make good nutritional choices without you
♣ What is the nature of your teens problem solving capability, would they know which steps to take, act with discretion, decisiveness, conviction and appropriateness
♣ Are they successful in balancing priorities, school work, social life and extra-curricular activity, are they committed and goal-oriented?
♣ How does your teen feel about leaving the home, living away from home, leaving for college?
♣ What is their level of self-sufficiency, doing laundry, looking after their health, seeing a doctor when necessary, and medication?
♣ What is their level or comfort with organizational tools and planning, planners, schedules, day timers, reminders?
♣ Have they done any research about the implications of leaving for college, financial funding, and what about fiscal responsibility?
♣ Do they respect authority, communicate their needs effectively, responsible for the actions and their consequences?
♣ What is their level of maturity and readiness ? Would they be able to leave for college?

Asking all these questions address important issues surrounding leaving for college. It is a double-edged sword as parents prepare – wanting the best for their teens leaving for college, alleviating the stress for both parties is a practical suggestion of putting together a going-away and/or sending a regular care-package from home to ease the transition as a caring gesture in the final stages of preparing teens for college:
♣ Nonperishable food items such as breakfast bars, ramen noodles and coffee, tea or hot chocolate, are a must.
♣ Recent pictures of the family or pets always bring a smile. Send a disposable camera and a self-addressed envelope along too. This way they can send some pictures back.
♣ Favorite soaps, shampoo and other toiletries come in handy and help with the budget.
♣ Check out what is near their college and add a gift certificate, like to a pizza joint or the closest grocery store.
♣ Practical items, like new undies and socks, will be appreciated and make a good joke for their roommates.
♣ Snacks, snacks and more snacks.
♣ New supplies for school will help their budget, and cleaning supplies for their room are probably needed.
♣ Pack it all in a storage container that they can reuse. Wrap the gifts up in a new towel, small bucket or other useable item. Get creative! Make sure you send a personal note or a card with the gift.

Advice for teens leaving for college – assembling a “staying home” keepsake with photo’s capturing treasured memories and times shared together can also have quite an impact as you get ready to leave and spread your wings.