Doing College With Kids

The image depicts a mom and her baby sitting in front of a computer. The mother has study materials all around the desk as her and the child reach towards the laptop.

Parenting is a full time job.

School is either a part-time or full-time job

(including times in classes and studying).

If you have a job, add that into the time schedule.

Don't despair, prepare!

You have resources.

Know What You Need

Schools and organizations offer a range of benefits to student-parents. Here's a list of resources available at Pierpont:

Unsure as to what you might need?

Contact Pierpont's Support Services  

access@pierpont.edu

304-534-7878

Time Management

Connect with a Coach

at Pierpont's Support Services to get help with your time management!

Mindset

Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world, others, and yourself. 

It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation. 

We begin to create our mindsets when we are children.

Two Mindsets are Fixed and Growth, which address our perceptions about abilities.

Fixed Mindset is Limiting • Avoids challenges • Ignores feedback • Threatened by others’ success • Desires to look smart • Gives up easily • Fixed abilities

“In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.”  

Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. 

“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment,” 

Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. 

Growth Mindset is Freedom • Perseveres in the face of failures • Effort is required to build new skills • Finds inspiration in others success • Accepts criticism • Desires to learn • Builds abilities
Fixed Mindset • Either I am good at this or I am not. • That’s just who I am. It’s genetics. I can’t change it. • If you have to work hard, you don’t have the ability to do something. • If I don’t try, then I won’t fail. • That job is totally out of my league. Grown Mindset • I can practice and learn to get better, even if I am never perfect. • Genes are acted on by the environment. That’s a fact. I can change if I work at it. • There is a genetic aspect involved in abilities; and natural abilities can be strengthened by education and practice. • I only fail when I stop trying. • That job looks interesting and challenging. I am going to apply for it.

Depending upon the topic or context, we might have either a fixed or growth mindset.

Parent’s guide to a growth mindset Your brain is like a muscle. When you learn, your brain grows. The feeling of it being hard is the feeling of your brain growing. Brains can grow My intelligence, talents, and abilities are fixed mindset vs. I can develop my intelligence, talents, and abilities – growth mindset Failures and Mistakes = Learning Say “Mistakes help you improve.” “You can learn from your mistakes. “Let’s see what other strategies you can try.” Praise for: Effort, Strategies, progress, hard work, persistence, rising to a challenge, learning from a mistake Not for: Talent, being smart, born gifted, fixed abilities, not making mistakes The Power of “Yet” Say “You can’t do it yet” “You don’t know it yet” “If you learn and practice, you will!” Recognize your own mindset – Be mindful of your own thinking and the messages you send with your words and actions Ask “What did you do today that made you think hard?” “What new strategies did you try?” “What mistake did you make that taught you something?” What did you try that was hard today?” Biglifejournal.com

Since kids tend to not do what we say but do what we do, 

it is important for us to model a growth mindset in our own lives for them.

Below are some "thought tips" about having a growth mindset when we are in college.

• Avoid perfectionism – No two students are the same. Don’t worry about making perfect grades, try focusing on getting the work done and maintaining a good GPA. It’s important that you keep up with other aspects of life as well, even if that means getting a B in a class. • Keep Your Eyes on the Prize – When things inevitably get tough, reflect on why you started this journey in the first place. Imagine yourself succeeding and what this means for your own sense of self. Imagine the example you are setting for your kids. Keep pushing! • Enjoy the Experience – Going back to school is an accomplishment in itself. Celebrate that! Celebrate doing well on tests or finishing assignments before they are due. Include your children so they understand your accomplishments.

Can I Afford This?

The image shows a hand putting money in a clear piggy bank.

Sometimes, the biggest thing holding people back from going to college is the cost. 

Listed below are some different forms of financial aid that you may be eligible for. Click the underlined links for more information.

https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/guide-for-parents-going-back-to-college/

If you would like to speak to a financial aid counselor at Pierpont,

 call 304-333-3642.

Support System

Support System - Family, Friends, School

If you are struggling to find support

or are having a hard time maintaining your work, school, home life,

contact Pierpont's Support Services

access@pierpont.edu

304-534-7878

Organize

Important Work Area Organizational Tips 1. Set Up Your Work Area: De-clutter your desk, so you have a place to work. 2. Stock Your Area: Put everything you need to study with in your work area. 3. Stock Your Backpack: Put everything you need for class and to study into your backpack. This is especially helpful if you share your study area with others. Always take your backpack with you to class. 4. Avoid Interruptions: Find quiet areas when possible to work more effectively. If needed, face a corned or wall and use earplugs. 5. Make Working in Your Work Area a Habit: If possible, work, play, and sleep in different areas than you work, so when you are in your work area your brain knows to study, not check email.
Important Class Notes Organizational Tips 1. Use Folders: Use folders to keep notes from different classes separate. Different colors for different classes make them easier to find. 2. Put Dates on Your Notes: Put dates on your class notes when you make them. Keep notes in order of their dates so you can quickly find them when studying. 3. Keep Copies of Your Completed Assignments: Make copies of assignments that you have completed and submitted in the event that your instructor cannot locate your assignment. Make a note of the date and times it was submitted and how it was submitted for reference. 4. Put Everything in Date Order: Keep together all handouts, PowerPoints, whatever you have associated with a specific lecture or unit, with your class notes for that lecture or unit. Keep them together in the proper folder in order of their dates. 5. Keep Your Folders in the Same Place: If you need to take your folders to class, store them in your backpack. If not, store them in your work area. 6. Organize Any Online Notes: If you are storing any class notes, syllabuses, handouts, or other things online, make a main file for each class, and make separate files for each of the contents in order of lecture dates, topics, or what works best for you to find it immediately. It is suggested that you use an online drive (ex. Google Drive) in the event that something happens to your computer or key drive, and you lose everything your started.

Develop Successful Study Habits

The image shows a father sitting at a table studying while his child sits on the desk with toys.

Studying can be exhausting, and sometimes a little time away from the books can help restore your energy. Make sure to use that time away to do fun things with your kids, like a quick game of checkers or baking cookies together.

Set up a space in your home as your school space, much as you would set up an office space to work from home. That gives you a place to focus on school so you can work and study in peace. You should also block out time for your school work.

Find time to study with a classmate or friend who is also going back to school. Adapt your studies to your learning style, whether that means taking plenty of notes, making flash cards, or doing whatever works best for you.

What To Do with Your Kids When You are Studying?

As much as you need support from your family, you also need boundaries. Make sure your family understands that you need to stay focused on your studies.

Let your family know how they should respect your education. This may include giving you quiet time in the mornings or setting study hall hours when you can’t be disturbed

If you're children are old enough to do their own school work, do school work at the same time. You can try making studying with your children a game. Quiz each other on what you learned at school. Reward yourselves after completing assignments together.

If your kids are not old enough to do school work or amuse themselves for an extended period of time, check out our Activities for Children page!

Take Time for Self-Care

Like they mention when you take an airplane, if there is a problem, put your oxygen mask on BEFORE helping others. 

Ways to Practice Self-Care 1. Sleep – your body and brain need 6-8 hours of sleep every day to function properly, heal, and store information. 2. Diet – Eat healthy, regular meals or snack and drink water daily to maintain energy and health. 3. Exercise – Exercise can help decrease stress and depression levels and improve brain function. Do yoga & dance. 4. Take breaks – When working or studying, schedule 5-15 minute brakes every 1-1/2 hours to give your brain a quick rest. 5. Journal – Writing gets thoughts out of our heads and in front of us, which gives us more objectivity for problem-solving when needed. 6. Meditate – Meditation is a great way to build self-awareness and helps to develop a stress management strategy. 7. Practice mindfulness – Mindfulness is the awareness that comes from intentionally paying attention in the present moment, without judgement; and is a wonderful stress-buster. 8. Set Realistic Goals – Set SMART short-term and long-term goals for your self-care. 9. Connect – Having relationship with positive, supportive people helps out mental health. 10. Structure – Keep up with your time management, because finding time to do everything prevents being late or forgetting things and reduces stress. 11. Use Substances Wisely – Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs can have negative effects on our body and brain, in addition to creating issues with our relationship when overused. 12. Schedule Pleasant Events for Yourself – Do nice things for yourself. Engage in activities that you enjoy, including some that are soothing and relaxing. 13. Take Time to Listen & Read – Read or listen to a book for pleasure, or listen to music. 14. Practice Relaxation – Sit or lie down comfortably in a quiet space. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in, counting slowly to 5 while you breathe. Listen to a guided meditation on YouTube. 15. Hang Out with Positive People – Attitudes can be contagious. 16. Ditch the Tech – Technology is helpful, but everyone can use a break. Schedule times to put away the phone, tablet, or computer and do other things.

Extra Resources

Academic Resources

Pierpont provides resources, whether you attend in person or online. Resources include in-person and online tutoring, an online library, and learning strategies.  

Use these resources as much as you need to, since they’re there to help you.

Everyday Life Resources

The following sites offer tips and tools on everything from parenting to finding work-life balance to making sound financial decisions:

 

Childcare Resources