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Back to school means weaning for mom and dad
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Jan Fialkowski, director, residence and housing, 604.291.4535
Jan Fialkowski, director, residence and housing, 604.291.4535
October 4, 2005
Labour Day has come and gone and school is back in session, but for some parents of university-age children the labour pains are just beginning.
During this year's move in to residence and housing at SFU, staff noticed a greater parent presence than in previous years. Parents stayed in the campus hotel, The Simon, or camped in the dormitories. They attended barbecues and orientation sessions with their children and assisted with everything from buying text books to helping their students settle in their dorm rooms.
To help parents, the university has created a Handbook for Parents and Families, which is available on the SFU website. The handbook covers everything from the emotional strains of having a child in university, to financial, academic and cultural issues. “We recognize that the beginning of the school year is a huge transition for students and their parents and families,” says Jan Fialkowski, director of residence and housing. “Especially when this is the first time the student will be living away from home.
“It can take up to a full semester for students and their parents to adjust to the rhythm of university life,” adds Fialkowski. “What parents can do to help is to educate themselves on what it's like for the students and help their children to become accountable, independent adults. They need to learn to do less for their children and help them learn to problem-solve and make responsible decisions.”
Fialkowski stresses the best way parents can help make the year successful for their students is to make sure they feel supported and loved while allowing them to grow into an independent adult. And even if their child is hopeless at laundry, there are community advisors, and plenty of potential friends, to help them separate their darks from their whites.
The handbook can be found at students.sfu.ca/residences/Parents.htm
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During this year's move in to residence and housing at SFU, staff noticed a greater parent presence than in previous years. Parents stayed in the campus hotel, The Simon, or camped in the dormitories. They attended barbecues and orientation sessions with their children and assisted with everything from buying text books to helping their students settle in their dorm rooms.
To help parents, the university has created a Handbook for Parents and Families, which is available on the SFU website. The handbook covers everything from the emotional strains of having a child in university, to financial, academic and cultural issues. “We recognize that the beginning of the school year is a huge transition for students and their parents and families,” says Jan Fialkowski, director of residence and housing. “Especially when this is the first time the student will be living away from home.
“It can take up to a full semester for students and their parents to adjust to the rhythm of university life,” adds Fialkowski. “What parents can do to help is to educate themselves on what it's like for the students and help their children to become accountable, independent adults. They need to learn to do less for their children and help them learn to problem-solve and make responsible decisions.”
Fialkowski stresses the best way parents can help make the year successful for their students is to make sure they feel supported and loved while allowing them to grow into an independent adult. And even if their child is hopeless at laundry, there are community advisors, and plenty of potential friends, to help them separate their darks from their whites.
The handbook can be found at students.sfu.ca/residences/Parents.htm
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