How To Be a Better Dad: College Parenting

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How To Be a Better Dad is the Fatherhood and parenting section on SingleDad. This month, learn about College Parenting and how to parent when your child goes off to college. Read more.

How To Be a Better
Dad: College Parenting

How To Be a Better Dad is the Fatherhood and parenting
section on SingleDad. This month, learn about College Parenting and how to
parent when your child goes off to college. Read more.

Our students may miss us. They may miss home, siblings,
pets, friends and just the familiar in the beginning and at other times during
their college experience. They may seem grown up, but could be overwhelmed, tired,
stressed, or just needing some encouragement. One minute they might be upset,
and after talking to us will be happier and off with friends once again. It’s
important to do a lot of listening. If students need advice on campus, Resident
Assistants (RA’s) can be great resources. Our kids may just need reassurance
from time to time.

Finances

This talk with our College bound child is a very important one:


1. Who will be responsible for paying the bills?
2. How much money will they have to spend each quarter?
3. How will they budget?
4. How will that money be available?

college

Sharing School
E-Mails:

Unless your student signs a specific written permission to
share their financial information with you, parents won’t get a bill for
tuition, housing, meals, etc.. One "oops" and they might be dropped from
required or choice classes and their spot given to someone who pays the bill on
time. Having emails sent to parents as well as students is a good idea.

Every student needs a bank account with an ATM card and online statements,
since they will be changing residences one or more times during their college
years. If you are going to be putting money into that account and not giving it
directly to your student, check to see if you need to be linked to the account
in some way. The bank account should be somewhere with an ATM and/or branch on
or near campus. Many ATMs charge for each transaction if the account is with
another bank.

college

College Life Basics:

Laundry
Make sure your student knows how to do laundry before they leave home. Be
prepared to throw away sheets at the end of the first year (for those students
who do not wash them regularly).

Bicycle
As you shop for a bicycle, there are a few key things to know:
1. Don’t get a very cool bicycle, as they are magnets for
thieves.
2. Having a good lock is extremely important, and that lock
needs to be used without exception; even if it’s just for a second.
3. Mud guards are essential.
4. Students need to register their bicycles on campus.

There are always bike accidents the first few weeks of school as it is not easy
navigating a very crowded circle (picture tens of thousands of bicycles), and
when others are texting and talking on the phone (which is prohibited and could
result in a ticket), it is dangerous both for the new students and the
experienced ones who might crash into them.

Summary

There are many changes going on in both locations: your
child in college and your own household. With these changes comes a lot of
stress, so make sure to keep calm when communicating to your college student.
Learning how to adapt to this new relationship is one of the most important
parenting skills
that you will learn. Stay tuned for more advice on parenting a
college bound child when I talk about how to handle medical emergencies and
school holiday vacations.

Richard JaramilloRichard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com,
a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children.
RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents
“Make Life Happen…Again!”

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Richard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com, a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children. RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents “Make Life Happen…Again!”