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As every parent knows, the years fly past when you have kids. One minute they are at preschool, and the next, they are finishing secondary school and ready to enter the big, wide world. After spending so many years seeing your child every day and devoting all your time and attention to taking the best care of them, it can feel really strange to see them grown up in a graduation gown ready to move on in their life. Many parents feel mixed emotions about their teen moving into the next stage of their lives, especially if they are off to start a new life at university. While they may seem like an independent young adult, your teen may be feeling apprehensive about this new chapter in their lives and concerned about moving away from home for the first time. Fortunately, there are a few ways to help your teen to make their transition into student life easier; here are some tips to help:
Help Them Find Living Accommodation
Rather than worrying about the course itself, many students worry about their living arrangements more than their studies. Moving into a different environment is an understandably scary thought. But, helping your child to find the best possible living accommodation should help them put their mind (and yours!) at ease. Using Student Letting agents is an excellent way to find suitable accommodation much more quickly. You may find it helpful to travel with your teen and view the accommodation with them before they agree to rent it so that you can help them to choose the perfect place to live.
Help With Budgeting
Many students struggle with money and find that their student loan runs out pretty quickly in their first term. All that partying and adjusting to life as a student can certainly take its toll on their finances, so it is helpful to remind them how to budget their cash and how long their money needs to last them. Encouraging your teen to allocate money for buying groceries and other essential purchases before they go out and start partying is a great idea. If you are worried about living costs, you may want to suggest that your teen look for a part-time job to fit their studies and provide them with an income while studying.
Develop Their Cookery Skills
Preparing your teen to track their finances and stick to a budget is incredibly helpful and excellent preparation for their time at university. Buying food is essential, so separating part of the budget just for the food shop is a great idea. But, it is even more helpful to encourage them to develop their cookery skills in anticipation of student life. Teaching your teen how to make several basic recipes should help them make it through their first term and get them off to a strong start in the kitchen. Choosing recipes that incorporate a few ingredients is a helpful way to help them prepare quick and easy meals that do not cost a lot to make.