10 Things to Avoid as a Parent of a Freshman

It’s normal to feel sad when the time comes for your child to leave for college. While most parents are proud of their children leaving home to seek higher education, certain habits can cause their children to feel embarrassed. Here’s what you should never do to your child when they finally leave home for the first time.

Become Hysterical When It’s Time To Leave

There’s always that parent who wouldn’t let go of their child’s hand and got carried away in an ambulance when they took their child to college for the first time. Don’t be this parent.

Make Calls Throughout The Day

You don’t always have to know where your child is from morning to evening. Let go of your child and he/she will be a responsible and self-sufficient adult when they are grown.

Call The Teacher

Calling your child’s teacher to fix a problem is never recommended. Students at York U residence have academic advisors, department chairs and deans of students who help to serve this purpose. Unless your child is sick and unable to speak, let them fix their own issues with the school.

Fix All Their Problems

Give your child the opportunity to fix their problems. It’s the only way they will learn to avoid falling into a similar mess in future. Don’t be too quick to lend a helping hand. Give the issue time to marinate before you step in.

Humiliate Them In Public

If you come across anything alarming or dangerous that you need to tell your child, never do it publicly. Always take your child aside and have a private conversation. Doesn’t matter if it’s on social media or in front of a bunch of friends. Public humiliation will only cause your child to cut you off.

Surprise Visits

There’s literally no college student who likes surprise visits from their parents when living on campus near York University. Make sure you call your child and give them a day or two before showing up on their dorm. Surprise visits will only make your child feel like you don’t trust them and hence feel the need to be checking up every so often.

Expect Your Child To Be Perfect

Children spend most of their lives in high school trying to be perfect. It’s now the right time to set your child free. Allow your child to make mistakes. It’s the only way they will find their way through life.

Redecorating Your Child’s Room

One mistake that most parents make is taking over their child’s room the first day they leave. Don’t be quick to throw out the mattress and move in your stuff. Your child would feel displaced when they come home for Thanksgiving.

Fail To Offer Help

Research has shown that more than 32% of college students feel depressed especially during their first years of campus. There are specific people and groups in York University housing facilities that offer help and support. Offer your child all the info they need from the go.