Family Service of Central Indiana, Inc
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| Helping your teen when they leave for college |
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Find new ways to communicate. Set time to talk. Instead of calling or texting whenever you feel like it (which is every minute), why not set a fixed time to talk once or twice a week? That lets them know that you’re respecting his/her privacy and time limits, and they'll be more eager to speak to you each time you call. Initiate one or two days each week to talk by saying something like, “It would mean a lot to me if we could carve out 20 to 30 minutes on the phone each Sunday night to catch up. I can’t wait to hear about your week, classes, etc.…” Teach your child about responsibility. Let your child learn to be responsible for getting to school on time early in high school, or for a summer job. Also let them do their laundry and clean up their room. Don't be your child's alarm clock or maid. They should be able to get up on time to get to school or summer job and if they don't, then they should face the consequences. Teach your child money management skills. Establish a budget and talk about smart spending. When he/she spends all the money you give them, don't reload the debit card or make a deposit into the checking account until the next designated day, let them learn the responsibilities of spending cash. Look for teachable moments to impart life’s lessons. Discussing news reports and events in your home community is a great idea even before your child leaves for college. Talking about how the inability of the neighbors’ kid to land a good job due to his low grades can be a perfect opportunity to show your teenager why grades are important. Reading out loud a news report of a fatal accident sends the message that alcohol abuse does have consequences. Look for teachable moments to impart life’s lessons to your children, and continue doing so even when they’re at college. |
Tips for families
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Build and Maintain healthy Family Relationships Be aware of your tone of voice and body language. A friendly, warm tone combined with an open, relaxed style makes other feel safe and comfortable in your presence. |
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