In several parts of the country it’s hard to believe that spring is coming. The calendar says that the first day of spring is actually Friday, March 20th. As I look out over my balcony and see the snow and ice falling, I am a little skeptical. Spring will hopefully bring with it warm weather and fabulous spring break destinations.
Parents of college students have additional concerns when spring break arrives. The main concern is whether or not they should let their college freshmen go on the spring break trip with their classmates or should they encourage them to come home?
A spring break trip with classmates can be the downtime your college student needs. They’ve just finished mid-term exams and dealt with the stress that goes with preparing for those exams. If they are a freshman, remember the entire college experience is also new and nerve wrecking. A week or two with family is always great but a trip with friends in a fabulous destination is a great opportunity to relax, regroup and get ready for the rest of the semester while experiencing a totally new culture.
If you do agree and let your favorite college freshman go on that spring break getaway, there are a few things to do before the trip.
- Remind them safety first. Yes, you will be nagging them but they need the reminder to be safe and aware of their surroundings at all times. Drill in them the age old rule, “We arrive together…we leave together!” No exceptions.
- Establish a check-in schedule. Arrange a schedule for your child to check-in on a regular basis. Remind them that if they miss a check-in, you will embarrass them and call one of their travel buddies.
- Can I get your phone number?! Obtain the phone numbers of all of their travel buddies and their parents.
- Enroll them in the STEP program. The State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) lists all the current travel warnings and the locations of all the US embassies. They may never need to use the information on this site but its valuable information to access in the event of an emergency while traveling. Click here to enroll in the FREE STEP program from the State Department.
BMWK family what was your favorite spring break vacation when in college?