Congratulations! Your teenager has been accepted to their college of choice — that’s a weight off of everyone’s shoulders. But now, the hard part: helping them prep for living independently, and overcoming the emotional hurdle of letting them go. This summer, teach your teen practical living skills while sharing moments to cherish long after they leave the nest.

Money matters

Your teen will need access to money and know how to manage it. Consider opening joint savings and checking accounts with a bank or credit union that services both of your locations and offers online banking. Show them how to write checks, balance a checkbook, pay bills online and use a debit card. Venmo and Paypal let you transfer money to friends and family without fees. To help them establish a credit history, consider co-signing for a low-limit credit card. USAA offers a Secured Platinum Card, available to servicemembers and eligible family members, that is backed by a certificate of deposit (CD) that you open with the card account. The amount you put in the CD (from $250- $5,000) becomes the card’s limit, and you build credit and earn interest on the CD with the card in good standing.

Help them create a basic budget with categories such as “food, transportation, entertainment and savings,” and also “housing and utilities” if they live off-campus. Mint.com offers a money management app for creating and maintaining a monthly budget. Expense accounts, credit cards, loans and bills can be monitored from a smartphone or home computer, and both of you can have access to the same account. Goals can be set for future purchases, alerts tell you when bills are due and more.

Public transportation

Many freshmen don’t have access to (or aren’t allowed) vehicles on campus. So ensure that they can navigate public buses, trains and subways on their own.

Laundry & personal space

Show them how to do their laundry, what products they will need, and then have them do their own laundry for the remainder of time they are still at home. They should be ready for the Laundromat when they hit campus. If they are in a dorm, they will probably have a roommate. Discuss cleanliness and respecting others’ belongings and space. Never borrow without asking, learn how to give the other person peace and quiet, and keep shared facilities clean. Staying neat at home can also lead to better organization in other aspects of life.

Time management

You’re not going to be there as their personal alarm, chauffer or event planner. Help them establish a schedule for classes, studying, sleeping and extracurricular activities that works best with their lifestyle, part-time job schedule or campus activities. Show them how to use to-do lists and calendars, or encourage them to find a productivity app they enjoy using.

Healthy living

Talk about healthy eating and the “freshman fifteen” phenomenon. Encourage healthier snack choices, and show them how to prepare a couple of basic meals that are nutritious, easy and need little prep or ingredient storage space.

Look into your TRICARE or private insurance plan about healthcare coverage for college students. Ensure that enrollment cards are up to date and your teen knows how to access the online provider directory, make appointments and refill medications. Help them create a basic first aid kit with bandages, topical solutions, over-the-counter medications, antibiotic cream and a thermometer. Also ensure that campus police, health center, dorm mom or residence assistant numbers are saved in their phone.

Since you won’t be present at college to help guide or monitor lifestyle choices, reiterate expectations and guidelines about sex, drugs and alcohol. Encourage them to keep open communication with you (or a trusted mentor) about encounters and choices, and remind them that you’re only a phone call way, 24/7.

Shared moments

Make plans doing fun things with your teen before they go. Take a family vacation to one last bucket list location. Or, take a few small road trips to places you’ve been and enjoyed. Be sure they have one-on-one time with other family members, but don’t smother them if they seem distant. They are about to spread their wings. It’s time to let them fly.