Consider the following scenarios:
Your child says she did fine this semester, but doesn't want to share
her grades. Or, your child does share his grades and they are worse than anything you could have imagined. Perhaps your child calls you in distress, wanting to come home right away because she is homesick or feeling depressed. Perhaps you are worried that your child might be drinking, isn’t attending classes, or is overly stressed. You feel that something is wrong, but your efforts to reach out and talk to your child are not going as well as you had hoped. You don't want to make things worse, and you aren't even sure where to start.
You are not alone. The Dean of Student Affairs Office is available to assist you with questions you may have about helping your child access appropriate resources for dealing with academic concerns and stresses.
When the concerns are of a more personal or emotional nature, Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS) has an excellent website with suggestions on how to engage your child in discussions about what may be troubling him, common developmental issues, tips for parenting through the college years, and resources for parents and families. CMHS is also available to work directly with your child, to help your child through a myriad of issues, including depression, eating concerns, stress management, and relationship difficulties. CMHS is staffed by professionally trained counselors who have special expertise in working with college students.
Please visit the Counseling and Mental Health Services page for Parents and Families for more information.
