📋 5 Ways You Can Help Support Your College Kid (AARP Article)

[Spring2025]

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!!

5 Ways to Support Your College Student — Without Being a Helicopter Parent.

When situations arise (roommate drama, failing classes) here’s what parents should — and should not — do.

By Cheryl Maguire, AARP. Published October 16, 2024.

Thirty years ago, it was normal for parents to drop their kids off at college with a hug and a “Good luck!” Contact after that was often limited to a brief (and expensive) long-distance Sunday phone call.

Now, technology has made it easy and cheap for parents and their college kids to stay in touch daily (sometimes multiple times a day) or for parents to track their child wherever they might be on campus or off. It’s also easy for parents to be too involved by:

Helicoptering: A helicopter parent is “constantly sort of hovering around, keeping an eye on everything,” says Carla Naumburg, a clinical social worker and author of the book How to Stop Freaking Out.

Snowplowing: Some parents try to solve all their child’s problems. “A snowplow parent is always sort of two or three steps ahead of your kid, clearing the way, so they don’t face any obstacles,” Naumburg.

https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2024/supporting-your-college-student.html

[SokhiF84394]

Great article, Cheryl! As a parent of a college student, it's definitely tough to balance support without overstepping. One strategy I’ve found helpful is encouraging my child to build strong problem-solving skills rather than stepping in immediately. Letting them navigate challenges like roommate issues or tough classes not only helps them grow but also builds resilience for the future.

For more on fostering independence and success in young adults, check out universecover.com, where we offer tips and resources on self-improvement and personal development.

Thanks for sharing these valuable insights!