As parents, sending our children off to college is a monumental step. While we've spent years teaching them how to do laundry and make basic meals, there are deeper, more complex skills that they need to navigate the challenges of college life successfully. Beyond the basics, here are 12 essential life skills that will empower your college-bound child, accompanied by practical examples of why they matter and how you can help them master these crucial abilities.
Self-Advocacy and Effective Communication
One of the most essential skills your child needs is the ability to advocate for themselves. College students often need to request accommodations, negotiate with roommates, or speak up in class. Make sure your teens know how to ask for what they need. For instance, if your child has a learning disability, they'll need to communicate with professors and the disability services office to ensure they receive the necessary support. Maybe the math is too hard, or they really want to get into a closed class, or maybe they have an issue with a roommate or anxiety. Colleges have many places they can go for help, but they have to ask. To teach this, encourage your child to practice speaking up in everyday situations, like handling their own appointments or ordering food.
Along with standing up for themselves and asking for help, teach them to listen well and communicate calmly. Things won’t always go their way and they need to understand that and really be able to participate in a discussion and negotiate in the conversation. To self-advocate, they need to be comfortable speaking to authority figures and admitting they want or need something.
Time Management
Time management is another critical skill, as college students juggle classes, assignments, extracurricular activities, and social life. Imagine your child having three assignments due in one week while preparing for a midterm exam. Good time management will help them prioritize and meet deadlines without undue stress. Teach them to use planners or digital calendars, and help them break down large tasks into manageable steps.
Financial Literacy
Understanding how to manage money is equally essential. Make sure your college kids already know how to handle money before they are actually far away and in control of it. That means they can stick to a budget and prioritize strategically. Discuss ahead of time what, if anything, you will be paying for day to day. For instance, they want to go away for a weekend and visit a friend or see a game. Does that come out of your bank account or theirs? Flights or trains home—you or them? Textbooks can add up quickly….so just check that they will buy the book before the beer! College students must budget for expenses like rent, groceries, and entertainment and understand how to use credit responsibly. Provide a mock budget for your child to manage, discuss banking basics, and use real-life examples to illustrate the consequences of poor financial decisions.
Stress Management and Health
College can be stressful, with academic pressures and social changes. During finals week, for example, your child might feel overwhelmed. Knowing how to manage stress can help them stay focused and healthy. Introduce them to stress-relief techniques like exercise, meditation, or journaling, and encourage them to find what works best.
Maintaining physical and mental health is crucial. If your child feels sick, they need to know when and how to seek medical help, maintain a balanced diet, and ensure they get enough sleep. Discuss the importance of regular check-ups, proper nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest. Students should also understand how to navigate a pharmacy, fill prescriptions, change doctors, and find any other resources that they may need. Teach them how to navigate their college’s health services.
Travel Alone
This doesn’t have to mean flying alone or going abroad alone. But they should be able to plan a local outing and get there by themselves. That could mean walking, taking a bus, subway, or a train. If they do need to fly to school, be sure they know what to do if there is a delay or they miss a flight. That can be really stressful on your own. They need to be able to spread their wings before they actually have to. So when in doubt, let your kid take public transportation.
If your kid is lucky enough to have a car, they should know how to change a tire and get and use roadside assistance. If their college has shuttles or uses Zip Car, they should know that and research how to utilize them effectively. Basically, students should feel confident about using mass transportation or taking care of their own car if necessary.
Be Safe
Campus safety and sexual assault are significant issues on college campuses. Your teens can’t be prepared for everything, but they can be careful and mindful of their surroundings, and they can research the safety of their school before they go. Talk to them about watching out for others, making a safe community themselves, and knowing how to get help on campus. They should walk with others at night, see where the blue lights (or whatever system the college uses) are, and try to avoid getting super drunk.
Problem-Solving and Networking
College life presents numerous challenges requiring quick and practical problem-solving skills. If their laptop breaks down before an important paper is due, they need to find a solution quickly, like borrowing a friend’s computer or going to the library. Present hypothetical problems and encourage brainstorming multiple solutions, discussing the pros and cons of each option.
Building a network of friends, mentors, and professional contacts can open doors to opportunities and provide support. Attending a career fair and connecting with potential employers can lead to internships and job offers. Teach your child the basics of networking, like starting conversations, the importance of follow-up, and using LinkedIn to build their professional presence.
Self-Care and Making Informed Decisions
Taking time for self-care is essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout. Regularly setting aside time for hobbies or relaxation can help your child recharge and perform better academically. Encourage them to identify relaxing activities and discuss the importance of setting boundaries.
Finally, making informed decisions is a daily necessity in college, impacting academic success and personal well-being. Choosing whether to attend a social event or stay in to study for an important exam requires weighing pros and cons and understanding long-term consequences. Discuss decision-making processes, including gathering information, considering alternatives, and evaluating potential outcomes, and use real-life scenarios to practice making informed choices.
Persevere
No one gets through college without failing at something. Period. Let them know that, so they don’t end up feeling embarrassed or defeated. Make sure they have the resilience to handle what gets thrown at them. Perseverance is a really great word–teach them that.
By equipping your child with these essential skills, you're setting them up for a successful transition to college and beyond. These abilities will help them navigate academic challenges and foster personal growth and independence. As parents, our role is to provide guidance and opportunities for practice, helping our children build the confidence and competence they need to thrive in this new chapter of their lives.
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