Preparing for College Emotionally, Not Just Academically (Child Mind Institute) Available in Spanish

The transition to college can be hard on kids’ mental health. Teenagers living away from home for the first time may experience academic stress while also trying to make new friends, build routines, and stay physically healthy. All these changes at once can be overwhelming for college kids.

Parents can help kids prepare for these emotional challenges before college starts. First, try to avoid solving problems for your teen. Instead, let them know that you empathize and you’re there for support. The goal is to let them know that it’s okay to feel upset, and that you believe in their ability to get through hard emotions and solve their own problems.

Practicing mindfulness together at home can also help. Mindfulness is about observing how you’re feeling in the moment without judging yourself. It can help teens learn to reduce the intensity of their emotions. You can also encourage your child to think ahead about what they’ll do when they run into challenges in college. What kinds of issues could come up? Who would they call if they were upset?

Finally, self-care is a big part managing difficult emotions. Help kids build a toolkit of activities they know make them feel better. It might be deep breathing, going on a run, or listening to music. College is often a hard place to maintain healthy habits, so encourage your teenager to build these habits ahead of time. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food, and getting regular exercise are all important ways for college students to stay mentally healthy.