Recommended Reading List for Parents

The dynamics of family life can change dramatically when your son or daughter begins their university education.  From birth through high school 'good' parents in our current cultural climate are expected to play a hands-on role with their children.  Parents are expected to know the names of all of their children's teachers and have meaningful conversations with all of them.  A 'good' parent is aware of every course, textbook, field trip and extra-curricular school event their child participates in.  'Good' parents join the PAC and volunteer for school and club events.  'Good' parents know the names and families of all of their children's friends.  'Good' parents are involved!

Then your student heads off to university and everything changes.  Privacy laws in most North American jurisdictions prohibit institutions from sharing information about students with anyone, including the student's parents.  As a result, the role of the parent necessarily changes from that of a hands-on, custodial parent to an arms-length mentor. 

In order to assist parents with this transition, we've listed below the titles and authors of a number of books that deal with the university student/university parent relationship.  Most of these publictaions are not written from a Christian perspective, but they nonetheless contain information that may be of help to parents and students.  Many of these titles are available through online booksellers or your local library.