5 tips to ease anxiety during college move-in

Dropping your child off at college is a huge step towards their independence. For teens, it’s usually a new adventure that they can’t wait to begin. For parents, the college move-in process symbolizes their kiddo is leaving the nest which is a bittersweet new beginning.

The change in environment and lifestyle that come with moving into college can spark nerves in both you and your teen. Feeling anxious about this transition, as a parent or as a student, is completely natural.

Here are five steps to help ease anxiety during the college move-in process:

1. Talk to your child

Even though teens may be reluctant to open up and admit how they are feeling, try talking to them about their feelings as move-in approaches. Try and be understanding about any excitements or fears they may have. This is also a great opportunity for you to express your own feelings with your child about them moving into college. Having an honest conversation with your college-aged child can help reaffirm their trust in you, even as they move away.

2. Encourage your child to form connections

For many teens moving away from college, the thought of not already having friends on campus is extremely intimidating. Encourage your child to seek out ways to connect with other incoming members of the freshman class at their college or university. By using safe social media habits, they can form connections before move-in which can help ease your child’s anxiety. Forming connections will give your child a group of people on campus to lean on through the transitional period.

3. Have realistic expectations for communication

Even though you might want to call your child an hour after you drop them off, try to let them have their space. It may help to come up with a plan for a certain time of day, or day of the week, to talk to your child. Maintaining communication is important, but constant communication with your college freshman can be just as problematic as no communication at all.

4. Become familiar with mental health resources

College is a very significant lifestyle change for teens. The demands of coursework, social stressors and being away from home for the first time can cause a build up of stress and anxiety. Take the time to help familiarize your teen with their college or university’s mental health resources, along with other resources that might be helpful. If you are looking for a place to start, try downloading this National Alliance on Mental Illness guide to college and mental health or check out this American Academy of Pediatrics article on taking care of your mental health at college.

5. Plan occasional visits

Planning times to visit your child on campus can help ease feelings of separation anxiety for both you and your college freshman. Visiting for occasions like a campus family weekend, birthdays, or certain holidays can be a great way to stay connected to your child. Keep these visits only occasional, though. Visiting too often will only make the separation from your child feel more intense for both of you.