Parenting Tips for College Age Children

Power Outage Survival Kit for College Student

My niece is about to leave for college. In addition to the normal stuff a college bound student requires, I prepared a mini "college survival" kit, all packed within a small tupperware like container

Contents:

• Flashlight (LED) with spare alkaline batteries
• Chemical light sticks (2)
• 3 juice boxes (comfort drinks - she likes apple juice)
• 8 snack bars (granola like, but with flavor)
• Space blanket
• Rain poncho
• Assorted bandages
• Antibiotic (Neosporin)

She will be instructed that this is for "emergencies only". The LED flashlight runs for an incredibly long time. The chemical light sticks (snap to activate) will light up a dorm room overnight. The juice boxes and snack bars will need to be rotated out every year. Hopefully she won't need to use any of this, but she can have some peace of mind knowing that it's there if her dorm is without power during the winter.

By BMCCUE from Litchfield, NH

Sending Coupons To College Student

My daughter is away at college and she loves to get mail. Whenever I send her a card I like to enclose a little surprise, something that will fit inside a card like a bookmark, flat decorative magnet, stickers, shampoo samples, etc.

Lately I have been sending coupons for the foods she likes, makeup she uses and cleaning supplies. She called me last week all excited and said, "Mom, guess what? I saved $13 at the store because they were taking double coupons." She is now becoming a thrifty person like her mom.

By Luv to cook from NC

Encourage Students To Be Frugal In College

Some of my daughters' friends ran up huge debts at university. Their parents had said "We will pay your college bills". This sounds practical, but the students had carelessly charged everything to their college accounts, thinking that it did not matter, parents would pay. Sometimes there was a minimum amount of money that could be charged to account, for example on a meal, and the students deliberately spent more, so that mum and dad would pay.

It is cheaper to tell your student that you are willing to give them a set amount of money. If he or she manages to underspend then, they deserve to keep the surplus. But do not make the mistake of putting in place a system that rewards your son or daughter for being extravagant.

By Julia in UK from UK

Reminder of Love for College Students

We have started a tradition for our children when they go off to college. Each time my daughter comes home for a break from school, she is met with a single red rose. Just a reminder of how much we love her! Many times roses are only $1 each so this is also not expensive!

By Robin

College Student Care Packages

Care packages are always welcomed by college students, but they are expensive to ship. Instead, I recommend trying gift cards or money. Then the student can get whatever he or she needs or wants. Also, Wal-Mart has a reloadable shopping card now that a parent can put money on and the student can have it within just a few minutes to use for whatever they need.

By Robin

Dorm Room Necessities

Sending our oldest away to college was going to be difficult enough as she selected a college 4.5 hours away and would be leaving her 10 year old sister behind. To make it more challenging, my job had just been reduced to part time hours so paying for college was an additional concern all of the sudden. In order to provide some basic DORM ROOM necessities, I began collecting items last September to present to her upon graduation from High school.

First I selected a HIGH quality LARGE laundry basket (I wrote her last name on bottom with a black sharpie).

I began by scouring the drawers and closets at home for unused items, purchasing from the dollar store or outlet malls and began redeeming FREE offers from some of the websites that give free samples and redeemed the FREE with purchase gifts when ordering office supplies. I've included most of the following items:

Kitchen Items:

• coffee mug-both regular (microwave safe) and insulated
• immersion heater
• mini-coffee pot
• food storage containers
• pizza "sleeves"*
• can opener
• spatula
• measuring spoons
• chip clips
• dish towel and pot holder
• salt and pepper grinders

*disposable plastic pizza slice shaped bags which store an individual piece of pizza

Cleaning Items:

• dust mit
• dust buster
• wipes
• comet
• toilet brush set
• dish scrubber
• MR clean magic eraser
• free samples of laundry detergent
• stain remover stick
• ice scraper

Office Supplies:

• paper clips
• magnets
• push pins
• pencils
• pens
• desk blotter
• mouse pad
• portfolio
• wipe off board
• sticky tac
• post it notes
• CD's
• extension cord
• desk lamp

Closet/Storage:

• over the door hangers
• sweater hangers
• shoe rack
• air freshener
• lingerie bags
• monogrammed towel set

First Aid Kit

• band-aids
• Neosporin
• pain reliever

Inspirational Items

• puzzle book
• book mark
• picture frames
• blank greeting cards/stamps

• umbrella
• sewing kit
• personal hygiene items (tampons, nail clippers, lint brush)

I plan on adding food items such as Easy Mac, Ramen noodles, canned soups, etc. I will add a roll of quarters too and probably a certificate to a fast food restaurant in the area. Then I'll wrap with cellophane purchased after Easter and top with a big bow. Purchasing the items a little bit at a time has been FUN. I made a list and only bought when on sale so it was like a scavenger hunt. This spread out the economic impact of the gift.

This gift is practical and can be personalized to each recipient. I have given them in the past and they have always been a hit with any teen. You can use any item as your "gift box" if a laundry basket is too expensive or large to fill.

By Diana from Prospect, KY

Tips for Parents Sending Kids to College

A few tips as your student goes away to college.

• Send an umbrella. They may never have used one in high school, but they will to walk all the way across campus in a downpour.

• Be sure to have 2 pairs of eyeglasses. If one pair breaks or is lost, it is not so easy to get a replacement pair in another city/state.

• Take something that can be used to lock up valuables. We used a locking file cabinet that doubled as a nightstand.

By Plopmom from Olmsted Falls, Ohio