Category Archives: parenting

college costs, financial aid, financial planning, parenting

How Much Should Parents Contribute Toward the Cost of College?

cost of college

There isn’t any definitive answer to how much parents should contribute toward the cost of college. Some feel it’s the parent’s responsibility to pay for the entire cost. Others feel that the student should participate financially. And still, others believe the student is responsible for securing the loans, grants, and scholarships themselves and the parents should not invest. Of course, there are always those situations when the parents, no matter how much they would like to help, are unable financially to contribute.

No matter which group you fall into, there are some important facts you should know about financing your student’s college education.

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college planning, mental health, parenting, senioritis, student health

Helping Your Teen Find Some Balance in their Senior Year

senior year

Your child’s senior year of high school will be their busiest yet. Not only will they be managing applications, and completing their high school exams, but they’ll also be developing and socializing as young adults. There’s a lot going on, which can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety for teens.

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to help keep them on track with school, but you also need to be there to support them during the tough times and help them unwind. Here are some of the ways you can help them find the balance, helping them get to graduation and beyond. 

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college planning, college visits, parenting

Making College Visits a Family Affair

college visits

College visits have become more important today than they ever were in the past. Competition for that coveted admission spot and the competitiveness of the colleges vying for students makes the college visit a key factor in a student’s decision and a college’s recruiting efforts. College visits are the “bread and butter” of the admissions process and if you have a college-bound tween or teen, it’s time to get into the game.

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back to school, parenting

Helping Your Student With Back-to-School Anxiety

back-to-school anxiety

Some of the latest figures show that over a quarter of students have back-to-school anxiety issues. With the school year just starting, it could be worse right now. From making a morning routine to celebrating the little wins, here are some practical ways you can beat the stress of it all.

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academics, parenting

Top Tips for Educating Your Child

educating your child

It’s always important to find ways of educating your child outside of the classroom. Why? Well, there are often some things that aren’t covered in the classroom and it’s also a case that when your child is one of many in a classroom, they might not always get that 1-2-1 attention you feel they deserve.

That’s why it’s useful to do what you can as a parent to provide them with as many opportunities for educational resources as possible. 

Here are some top tips to educate your children at home in 2023.

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college planning, parenting, surviving college

The Transition from High School to College

transition

As your student makes the transition from high school to college, he enters a very different world. This is a world of freedom, but also responsibility. For the parents, it’s often the reality of an empty nest and the realization that their student is taking a huge step toward adulthood. This transition period offers its own set of challenges for parents, students and their families.

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Gift ideas, parenting, student products

Drink Cover Can Save Your Student’s Life

When I come across a product that helps parents and students, I’m happy to highlight it here on my blog, especially if it pertains to student safety. This drink cover, NightCap, is a must-have for any student.

drink cover

Shirah Benarde might be only 20 years old, but she has already helped keep over half a million people safe from drink spiking with her viral company NightCap. NightCap is a revolutionary brand that was featured on Shark Tank in 2021, resulting in a passionate partnership with the queen of QVC herself, Lori Greiner.

Shirah launched NightCap when she was just 16, after a close friend had her drink spiked during a night out, and worked tirelessly to ensure the product would be something her customers would feel comfortable bringing along on a night out with friends.

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empty nest, move-in day, parenting

Parent Survival Guide for Cross-Country College Moves

college

Once your child decides they want to move cross-country for college, a mix of emotions arise: pride, dread, excitement – perhaps even the urge for something strong like coffee (or maybe stronger!). Don’t fret though; we are here to help guide this new chapter with ease and possibly even bring smiles or laughter along the way!

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admissions, back to school, college planning, college prep, parenting

Back to School Tips for High School Parents

It’s that time of year again and your college-bound teen is headed back to school. Every year presents opportunities to get a leg up on the college process. If you and your teen plan strategically before school starts, you’ll have some goals and be able to hit the ground running.

Here is a quick list of back to school tips, broken down by each grade level. The activities are to be done just as soon as your teen gets back to school:

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college planning, college prep, financial planning, parenting

What is the Parent’s Role in the College Prep Process?

parent's role

If you have a college-bound student, how do you help them will college prep while letting them own the process? What is the parent’s role?

With all the talk of helicopter parenting, over parenting, and parents refusing to allow their students to become independent adults, it’s important to understand how to coach your teenager without crossing the line.

An article in Forbes magazine quoted a study conducted by Florida State University focusing on some of the issues with today’s parenting:

Helicopter parents are “overly involved, protective parents who provide substantial support (e.g., financial, emotional, physical health advice) to their emerging adult children, often intervening in their affairs and making decisions for them.

Individuals with parents who engage in highly controlling, overprotective behaviors have been characterized as being overly needy in terms of seeking attention, approval and direction from others,” the authors wrote in summarizing past research. “In addition, they have been found to utilize more ineffective coping skills, express higher levels of narcissism and demonstrate lower self-efficacy.

In contrast…

“Developmentally appropriate parenting can promote healthy decision-making and a child’s development of autonomy, increasing the likelihood that their children will become independent, well-adjusted, problem-solving adults. They tend to cope better with stress, have more self-esteem and experience less depression.”

Knowing this…

What is a parent’s role during the college prep process?

How can you successfully coach your college bound student?  

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