They may need your emotional support more than ever.

Our job as parents has always been to guide, nurture, and ultimately “let go” so that our children can fully engage with the world. When it comes to supporting our children during a transitional time, such as thinking about leaving home to attend college, our role doesn’t change; it just intensifies for a short period of time.

How we deal with that intensity can make all the difference.

For some students applying to and going to college will feel exciting. Many can’t wait for the new independence it will afford. For others, it will feel daunting, perhaps even overwhelming. And then there are those whose emotions fall somewhere in between.

Toning down the noise is essential for all. As students get closer to senior year, college talk is everywhere for them. There often are no spaces at school where they can find relief from the noise, so they need to have time at home to escape that talk and find reprieve. You can greatly reduce their stress by ensuring that most of your conversations focus on other aspects of their life.

Breaking down the process into manageable parts will also reduce their stress and yours! By starting early enough and “chunking” the stages of the process with them, students will feel more relaxed about researching and visiting schools and determining what feels right for them. Once they have a vision of where they can see themselves, they are better equipped to thoughtfully prepare compelling applications that hook in admission counselors.

Parents should also challenge their own expectations for what they think is the “right” college for their child.

Being open to possibilities is what ultimately opens doors for our children. We must be available on so many levels to explore alongside them what could be.