Dr. Jennie Ozan’s
Tips For Parents And Teens:

Managing the Summer
Before College

           Summer is here, and your son or daughter has recently graduated from high
school. Parents may be wondering what they can expect in the next few months as
their child anticipates leaving for school. It’s likely that your child will
react to this life transition as they have dealt with others, whether that’s
through quiet anxiety or noisy arguments. Regardless, it’s likely to be a rocky
road from now until September. Here are some tips for parents and teens on
managing this exciting and challenging time:

1) Use the summer to connect with your child. Take  a family vacation, or even a day trip. Use the time to discuss some of the  important, and less important, issues that you and your child have on your
minds.

2) Mark this important rite of passage with a  formal gathering with family and friends. Use it as a time to reminisce about  the past and share excitement for the future.

3) Take time to have important conversations about  your values and expectations. Parents often wish they’d had more discussions  about finances with their child before they left for school. Other topics
include values about drinking, expectations for academics, and balancing school  and social life.

4) Remember that while it’s important to spend the  summer connecting with your child, it’s also important for them to become more  independent as they start the transition to adulthood. Allowing your child to  be more independent and autonomous will help them when they leave for school.

5) Most importantly, try to enjoy these last few  months with your child before they leave for school. Let them know you are  proud of them, believe in them, and are excited for their future.

At times, it’s difficult to know if  what you and your child are experiencing are normal growing pains, or if you  could benefit from some help, guidance, and support from a professional. A good  indicator that it may be time to get help is if you start to notice significant  behavioral changes in yourself or in your child (ex. someone who used to be  very outgoing is now quiet and withdrawn), problems begin interfering with  daily life functioning (ex. unable to go to work, difficulty getting out of  bed), or if you or your child are experiencing thoughts of suicide. There are  many other reasons to seek help as well!

Dr. Jennie Ozan has spent many
years working with adolescents, college-aged students, and adults. If you would
like to seek help for yourself or a family member, please contact Barnes &
Klatt at (847) 981-9200.