Keeping in Touch With Your Teen on Their First Year of College Abroad
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When your teen embarks on their first year of college abroad, it's normal to have many questions about their experience. CIEE takes participants' First Year Abroad safety very seriously and prioritizes open lines of communication between students and support staff for the peace of mind of everyone involved.
However, you may also be worried about how you will be able to stay in touch with your teen while they're abroad!
These tips for parents of students studying abroad offer guidance on how to best communicate with your teen even when they move across the pond.
1. Make It Easy to Stay in Touch
Long distance communication is no longer limited to sparse physical letters. Today, it's easier than ever to stay in touch with your recent grad doing a study abroad program, but you must ensure you both have everything you need to do so!
Ensuring your teen has an international phone line or a local phone plan is of the utmost importance for consistent communication. Thankfully, data plans abroad are usually more affordable than in the U.S.
Providing your student with a smartphone with important phone numbers saved, including yours, important emergency numbers abroad, and any other emergency contacts, is a must.
Finally, having communication apps downloaded prior to their departure is also recommended.
2. Have an Honest Discussion and Set Expectations for How and When You’ll Chat
Having an honest chat and setting expectations with your teen helps ensure you both are on the same page before they go abroad. How and how often you think is best for keeping in touch may differ from what they feel is appropriate. Not setting these expectations in advance can cause friction or disappointment while they’re abroad.
For example, you may expect daily check-ins via text and video calls, and your teen may feel that's too much. Be sure to discuss your teen's preferences and help them understand what you're most comfortable with while they're away from home.
3. Respect Their Time Abroad and Their Newfound Independence
Your teen's style of communication abroad is likely to change. That's because they're off on a grand adventure, undertaking an experience vastly different from home. When they’re focusing on their studies or having fun, they may become less communicative than you would like.
On the other hand, the new stressors of life abroad may cause your teen to want more communication and support than they normally would at home.
Remember to stay positive and supportive even if you're not hearing from them as often as you'd like or if they're in need of extra attention during this time.
4. Offer Positive Reinforcement and Encourage Their Entrance to Adulthood
One important thing is that as much as you will miss them while they're gone, this experience marks their exciting transition into adulthood. Therefore, offering and maintaining positive reinforcement for their sake is essential.
During their first year of college abroad, your teen will encounter new challenges outside of their comfort zone that will allow them to acquire valuable skills like adaptability, flexibility, open-mindedness and problem-solving, improving their professional and academic opportunities after their program. Not only that, but your teen will come home as an independent, empowered and confident young adult prepared for the next step in their college career.
Read our blog: "Everything Parents Should Know About First Year Abroad"
5. Prepare to Help Them with Culture Shock and Homesickness
Studying abroad comes with ups and downs, including dealing with culture shock, homesickness, and the frustration of a language barrier. Don't be alarmed if your teen comes to you with these feelings of sadness or annoyance.
It’s nothing to be alarmed about and is a part of adjusting to a new culture. These feelings typically fade away once they become more acclimated to their new host country, leading to acceptance and a positive view of their time abroad.
6. Try to Learn the Local Culture to Understand Their Point of View
Researching the local culture and customs of your teen's host country can help you better understand their experience and their point of view on both the positive and negative aspects of studying abroad.
With a foundation of knowledge about the country, you'll be more connected to your teen’s experience and better equipped to offer appropriate support that makes sense for their situation.
7. Remember That Your Teen’s Attitude May Be a Reflection of Your Own
If you’re feeling stressed, worried or scared about your recent grad moving abroad, you’re not alone!
However, it's important to be aware of how you visibly react to and speak of your teen's First Year Abroad experience in front of them. While it's not necessary to completely hide your emotions, your reactions may affect your teen and influence them to feel the same way.
Before they leave, you'll also want to make sure you've created a safe, inviting and supportive space for them to be able to talk to you about anything and everything. If your teen perceives they may receive a negative reaction from you, they may not come to you with future feelings of homesickness or culture shock. When they do, try to listen without reacting too negatively or judging the host country.
CIEE’s First Year Abroad Will Help Shape Your Teen into a Young Adult
For your recent high school graduate, spending their first year of college abroad is an exciting opportunity to earn college credit while being shaped into well-rounded young adults. Your support as a parent is an integral part of your teen's experience abroad, and with the steps listed above, you both will have an enjoyable time throughout their program!
Discover First Year Abroad opportunities for your recent graduate by scheduling a call with a CIEE Enrollment Coordinator.