Parents' Guide: What to do when they leave

Make time to talk about what a son or daughter going away to university means for the family

Establish ground rules for what to do in a crisis; how to keep in touch

Do not jump to conclusions about changes in lifestyle

Compare notes with other parents who are in the same position. You are not alone

Re-evaluate your own lifestyle - it may be a good time to retrain, take up a new hobby or go back to an old one. You may decide to go back to full-time employment or to travel abroad

Do not make major changes in lifestyle or to the home without also talking it through with the absent son or daughter

View your child's going to university, not as the end of parenting, but as another stage, like the first day at school or the first day in the sixth form

If you have real worries try contacting the university counselling service