Schools
Oklahoma State University: New School Year, Old Routines, New Opportunities
How much does a morning run around the block or sitting down to a family dinner matter when adjusting to college?
August 18, 2021
Media Contact:
Brian Brus | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-6792 | BBrus@okstate.edu
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How much does a morning run around the block or sitting down to a family dinner matter
when adjusting to college?
As a physical and emotional outlet or part of a well-established routine, such behaviors
are invaluable to new college students — their parents, too.
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“Back-to-school time usually focuses on students, be it elementary school or college
students. But this time of year is exciting and anxious for another group: parents
of college students,” said Rachel Morse, Oklahoma State University Extension 4-H youth mental health specialist. “The transition marks a significant life change,
one that some parents may have a hard time adjusting to. Your child is still your
child but now they are a college student, with new freedoms, decisions and real adult
responsibilities.
“A child going off to college means a different routine for parents and a new set
of worries. Daily routines and healthy habits we take for granted are more significant
than people realize.”
Morse provided tips for parents, many of which are equally valid for adult children
moving away:
For families with younger siblings still at home, the annual back-to-school experience
is fraught with other questions as well, further heightening anxiety. Fortunately,
OSU Extension’s Back-To-School Resources page offers tips on several related topics, including how to manage empty nest syndrome for parents and how to deal with children’s anxieties.
As the cliché goes, the only constant in life is change. Successfully helping children
work through those changes is something to be proud of.
“A loved one going to college is a tremendous accomplishment. You, as a parent, had
a role in that success and that’s something to celebrate,” Morse said.
This press release was produced by Oklahoma State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.