Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham Dish on Kids Leaving the Nest, College Advice

Mark Wahlberg's Advice for Parents

In an interview with PEOPLE, Wahlberg shared how he will support his kids off to college this fall.

"We try to give them as much information and as much access to us as possible and to all the tools necessary that they'll need," Wahlberg, 51, said of his parenting strategy.

"Let them make their own mistakes and learn from them and be there for them every step of the way."

Rhea Durham's Feelings About Her "Babies" Leaving

Model and actress Rhea Durham, Wahlberg's wife of 13 years, is in a bittersweet place as the family gets ready to drop their oldest off at college.

"As our oldest baby heads off to college, I can't help but smile and feel like it was just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms and singing her to sleep," Durham wrote on Instagram.

"It's a bittersweet time as I watch her spread her wings and fly, but I know she will always be our little girl. We're so proud of the young woman she's become, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for her."

College Experts' Advice for Parents

College experts share how parents can best support their children leaving the nest and heading to campus:

Encourage open communication. Talk to your children about their worries, concerns, and dreams.

Be available to talk. Let them know you are there for them no matter what, and that you understand what they're going through.

Help them develop coping mechanisms. Talk to them about how to manage stress, anxiety, and homesickness.

Get involved. Attend campus events, meet their friends, and get to know their professors.