6 Ways to Nurture Connection This Summer
Whether your student’s returning from their first year as a Wildcat or graduating, the end of an academic year can be a time of transition-for you and them. A lot can change from August to May. From major assignments and new friends to new goals and challenges overcome, your student is returning with valuable life experiences. Don’t be surprised (or alarmed) if it feels like you need to get to know each other all over again. You can embrace this time of change as an opportunity to appreciate who they are and discover what they have to teach you.
It might look different now, but connection is still one of the most important things you can offer your student and encourage them to pursue. No matter our personality, we all need to feel seen, heard, and understood. Feeling like we matter and that our experiences make sense benefits us all.
You can nurture connection with your student this summer by:
Being present first. You may have a thousand questions to ask and important advice to impart. Play with being present first. Listen, notice, and let everyone settle in for the summer.
Letting them know they’re free to choose. Offer your guidance, support, and the lessons you’ve learned while giving your student the freedom to choose their own path.
Having fun together. Fun times don’t need to be complicated or expensive. Any moment together can be an opportunity for play and laughter.
Encouraging exploration. No one can have all the answers or be all things to all people. That’s just part of being human. If you find yourself straining to answer a question or solve a problem, pause and take a deep breath. Nurture your student’s self-reliance by encouraging them to seek answers for themselves, and make yourself a safe person for them to return to and share their discoveries with.
Recognizing the very real challenges they may have faced. Overwhelming workloads, relationship stress, and mental health concerns are prevalent among college students nationwide. These concerns can be strong enough to affect grades, friendships, and overall well-being. Foster a trusting connection with your student by listening and validating that they have faced real challenges over the last academic year. Let them know that you value them above all else.
Helping them get support. If you’re concerned about your student’s mental health or suspect that they’d benefit from talking with someone outside of the family, offer to help them find a counselor or suggest they try a free tool for connection like Counseling & Psych Services’ (CAPS) Togetherall: a free, safe, anonymous online community moderated by mental health clinicians. Sometimes, it feels safest to ask for advice or share something private with someone we don’t have a personal relationship with. Friends and family know your history, and sometimes, that can bring too much pressure or fear to really open up.
These six paths to connection are just the beginning. Family members can have a big impact on one another’s well-being in many ways. Learn more ways family members can support one another’s mental health.
A word from Campus Health’s Counseling & Psych Services for parents and family: Parents can be helpful in so many ways, but they may not always know where to turn for support and resources. Parents Matter is a free consultation service offered by CAPS any time of the year. We want your student to live well and succeed just as much as you do, and we're here to help you help them.