There is a wealth of literature available to help parents cope with the transition to college and the changes that occur throughout the college years. We’ve created lists of recommended reading, and there is something for everyone. Check out our Resources and Tools page for suggestions.
From time to time, we like to review some of the books available for parents of college students.
In this review, we look at Parenting College Freshmen: Consulting For Adulthood by Linda L. Bips, with her daughters Jessica and Kristina Wallitsch. This volume provides a good, basic overview of many areas of interest to college parents. Daughters Jessica and Kristina add their perspective as students to the topics discussed by their mother.
Although Parenting College Freshmen: Consulting for Adulthood was published in 2003, the basic information it provides to college parents remains current and important. We like Bips’ metaphor of the college student as a young colt who remains close to the barn but then gradually explores the expanding corral and ”challenges” ever expanding fences while still returning occasionally to the safety of home. The image captures the ”work” of the college student to explore and expand her world.