Newswise — HOW PARENTS CAN KEEP ACTIVE WHEN KIDS FLY THE NEST -- Much is written about jittery freshmen coping with the uncertainty of the college experience as they say goodbye to their parents, but what about those poor parents who suddenly have an empty nest? John DiMino, director of Temple's Tuttleman Counseling Services, suggests parents fill the void by rekindling old interests or undertaking new projects around the house--with discretion, of course. "Don't convert your child's room to a pool room or bar the minute the kid gets on the train," DiMino says. "But you can view it as a time to start taking care of your needs again. Maybe there's something you placed on the back burner while raising your children that you can refocus on." During Temple's new student orientations, DiMino orchestrates role-playing sessions for parents to help them process their emotions. "Parents often feel sad when their child leaves for college, but I tell them they can take a lot of pride in their child's achievement," says DiMino. "They shouldn't be worried, though, because students usually touch base and refuel periodically. There's a certain comfort in knowing you can always go back home--even if your room's been changed a little." .
END OF SUMMER MEANS RETURN TO CHAUFFEUR DUTY FOR MANY -- The hazy, lazy days of summer will soon be over and parents will once again have to juggle the responsibilities of work and getting kids to soccer, karate, dance classes and every other activity imaginable. But, as Temple sociology professor Annette Lareau points out in her new book Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life, making sure your child's every waking moment is packed with activity isn't all there is to parenting. "Middle-class parents, whether black or white, engage in a process of 'concerted cultivation' designed to draw out children's talents and skills," she says. "Working-class and poor families rely on 'the accomplishment of natural growth' in which a child's development unfolds spontaneously--as long as basic comfort, food, and shelter are provided." While both parenting styles have benefits, Lareau warns that many institutions, particularly schools, have come to equate "concerted cultivation" with good parenting and "accomplishment of natural growth" with bad parenting. "Instead of making judgments, we need to understand these class differences and figure out how to provide appropriate support for all parents," says Lareau. Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life will be published in September. Reach Dr. Lareau through NMR.
MORE TEMPLE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EXPERTS AVAILABLE -- What should students know about making the transition from high school to college? How can you live harmoniously with your new roommate? What should today's freshmen do to prepare for their careers? And how do you deal with a school bully? For a list of Temple experts who are available to address these and other back-to-school issues, visit the NMR website at: http://www.temple.edu/news_media/nmr0308_154.html
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