Parent’s involvement has increased drastically. There has been a real shift in the extent to which parent are involved and invested in lives of their children. Parents get involved in college’s science projects or take part in their social life. The new genes of parents called snow plow parents tries to smooth a path for their child even after they have started college.
Children and parent are co-dependents. As the child grows parent’s delegates the responsibility to child and child gets more mature. Settling as freshman in the college is a transition for both parents and child as college education transforms students from adolescent to adult
At the same time, parents should avoid over-controlling. It has an adverse effect also and it can undermine the competence and confidence of college going kids and can negatively affect the parent and child relationship. Current Scenario is that kids and parents remain in constant contact because of technology.
Parents can be good friends when it comes to decision making. They can be mentors to their young kids. They can help in various ways:
In choosing college
Parents can help what to look for on your college visits and search of college. A child can ask about his parents experience as a college student. Or what they think they should have done while taking admission.
A child can ask, what was their deciding factor? What did they enjoy most about college? What they think that you should look in college and what should they avoid.
In developing social life
Parents can help students to develop good social life. They can guide how to throw a party. They can tell how to get a good rapport with peers and how to plan excursion trip with their friends and batch mates. They can encourage in sports activity by attending the games and also keeping friendly terms with the peers of their kid.
Keeping an eye
Parents can get in close touch to their children as they can keep a check on promiscuity drug use and mental problems. It’s parent’s job to see that the child does not go into anxiety as the parent should promote bravery and confidence for long term goal.
Parents can help in learning problems, anxiety, fears. Parents are the best resource when their child is under stress. Parents should be in constant touch with deans, HOD s of the college to keep track of the performance of the child.
So parent’s involvement is very crucial in those growing years. They should respect their child’s freedom but at the same time should be in constant touch with the child’s activities. The key is to keep the balance.