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Starting university is a major milestone in a young adult’s life. While it’s an exciting time for the teen, it can be a cause of concern for parents, who would understandably be worried about their children’s welfare. Will their child be able to make friends? How will they cope if they need help with their studies? Will they be eating properly?

It’s important for parents to stay in touch with their children, especially when they live far from home. Finding the right balance between being supportive and being overbearing can be tricky, but it’s necessary. Here are some ways to do so.

Schedule regular video calls

Parents should be more open to all the possibilities technology offers. Video calls are a lot better than phone calls–they allow you and your child to see each other’s expressions in realtime. You can see your child’s mussed up hair, roll their eyes when you crack a dad joke, and get a glimpse of their messy dorm room in the background. On their end, they’ll be reminded of the things that make home special.

Share photos with each other

This is an easy way to keep your college student updated about what’s going on at home. You can agree with your child to send each other photos on a regular basis–maybe once a day, or once a week, no matter how mundane your schedule might be. Finding beauty in the mundane is a great way to hone your photography skills.

Sharing your photos will be more fun with a Nixplay Frame. This way, all your photographs will be displayed instantly without the need for USB drives, memory cards, or other devices. Now’s the best time to buy a Nixplay Frame: With our Secret Sale, you can get up to 30% off selected frames, only until August 23!

Visit as often as you can

Phone calls and video calls and care packages are great, but in-person visits are way better. If you have some free time, try to make a trip to your child’s campus. Nothing can replace the thrill of seeing your college student in their second home, where they’re hopefully learning, growing, and thriving. Make sure to tell your child of your plans to visit so you’ll both have something to look forward to and plan for.

Send care packages

A care package filled with food, supplies, and other dorm room necessities would be greatly appreciated by your child. You’ll brighten your kid’s day in a pinch, and you’ll help them save some cash during their next shopping trip. Make your care package more meaningful by adding a letter, a sweet note, or printed photos among the items so they’ll have a meaningful reminder of home.

Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

College is one of the best times of a person’s life–it’s when you can explore what the world has to offer while still tethered to a safe, supportive community. Once you get your diploma, you’ll truly be on your own in the big, bad world, and a fruitful university experience will arm you with the necessary skills and street smarts to handle whatever life throws your way.

If you or your child is attending college, here are some things that should be ticked off before graduating:

Befriend a professor.

Professors are valuable sources of wisdom, and you should take advantage of their availability to consult with them on academic and co-curricular (maybe even personal) matters. Moreover, you should get to know better (but don’t suck up to) the professors who made an impact on you, maybe even ask them to mentor you. Whether you need a better explanation of the day’s lesson, a recommendation letter for your internship, or sensible life advice, a good professor will be an indispensable ally as you journey through life.

Work part-time.

Having a bit of real work experience that isn’t your internship before graduating isn’t just good for your resume–it’s also great for your character. It’s a great opportunity to learn soft skills, network and find a mentor, and find a job you can take on after graduating. The extra cash doesn’t hurt, either!

Be a leader.

It’s high time you get out of your shell and try running for office! Being a leader on campus is guaranteed to make your resume stand out come job-hunting season. You’ll also learn how to manage people, resolve conflicts diplomatically, and be a great networker–all crucial skills you’ll need in your career.

Be a dean’s lister.

High grades will always be impressive, and even the bullies who taunted the nerds back in high school will grudgingly agree. Aim to be on the dean’s list, even for just one semester. The knowledge that you aced that statistics class you pulled several all-nighters in your dorm for will give you a confidence boost like no other.

Make lifelong friends.

Being apart from friends and classmates you grew up with can seem like a daunting prospect. But instead of viewing college as a lonely experience where you’ll be surrounded by strangers, think of it as an opportunity to meet people whom you wouldn’t get to know otherwise. You’ll meet people from all walks of life, so take this chance to expand your circle and forge new friendships!

While each person’s college experience is unique, one thing’s for sure: You’ll always wish that you took more pictures while in university. Get your camera or smartphone and capture each moment, especially the ordinary ones where you’re just enjoying life’s little pleasures.

Make sure to make your memories count by uploading them on a Nixplay Frame so you can easily reminisce about your college memories with your loved ones! For a limited time, get 25% off on selected Nixplay Seed frames, only until September 15!