You may feel confused about your role at this new stage in your child’s life, especially since it coincides with progression from adolescence to adulthood. Universities treat their students as adults and deal directly with them. There are no parent-teacher interviews or newsletters, and the only way you can know how well they’re doing is to ask them yourself.
Meanwhile, your child will be meeting a lot of new people, exploring new interests and learning about themselves, so it’s understandable if you feel a mix of pride, shared excitement and perhaps some anxiety.
Be interested and make sure your child knows they have your support, but also be prepared to let go to an extent. If you sense that there is a problem that you can’t help with, remember universities are full of support services. You can encourage your child to use them. Many universities have transition programs and counselling services that also offer advice for parents of new students, so look for their information on websites or at open days.