Helping Your Child Get Organised for Life in College

When your child has accepted their place at college, your next step will be organisation. It takes a lot of preparation to get someone ready for life at college and the sooner you can start, the better. Here are some of the things you should think about if you need to help your child get organised for their college experience.

Insurance

College can be rough without the proper protection. Your child’s laptop is likely to be their lifeline. They will use it to communicate with you and complete all their coursework. They could turn their back on it for a moment in the library only to have someone swipe it.

An easy way to protect it is to take out a student renters insurance policy. This is great as it won’t just protect their electronics when they are out and about but it will also protect their items in their dorm or student apartment. From pranks gone wrong to someone simply attempting theft, anything can go wrong. A student renters insurance policy will help keep there things right.

Storage

A dorm room has limited space. There are some storage facilities that every student has but you need to make sure that your child is making the most of their space. No matter where they end up at college, they are likely to go through several seasons and that requires clothes. On top of this, you need to account for books and other personal effects.

Under-the-bed storage will be key here. From any store, you should be able to find plastic boxes with lids and wheels. The lids will keep the contents dust-free while the wheels will allow the boxes to be pulled in and out easily. These are a great way for your child to maximise their storage despite any limitations on the space they have in their dorm. Don’t forget about separators or hanging shelves to go inside any built-in storage. If possible, try to scope out the dorm room before you buy things. This should make it easier to find items that work well with the room instead of buying superfluous items.

Cooking

If your child can’t cook, teach them how to make some simple dishes before they leave home. Even if they are headed to a dorm with a canteen, teaching them how to cook will help them get ahead. They can make friends and impress acquaintances with a whole range of different dishes.

None of the dishes have to be that complicated. A roast chicken recipe, a dessert like brownies, and a one-pot wonder like chilli might be the perfect collection for them to be able to impress anyone they like. Make sure they have the utensils they need and have them practice each dish a few times to ensure everything is perfect.

Budgeting

College is likely to be one of the first times your child will have to manage their own money. You need to make sure that they are going to know how to handle their money without running out each month. Whether they are making a go of it by themselves or juggling a job alongside their studies, they need to know how to make their money last.

Why not get them to help out with some simple exercises like the weekly shop? This will be a great way for you to teach them some life-long budgeting skills. Give them a set amount to spend and ask them to buy enough food for a set number of meals. It will help them plan their week’s money once they are at college. You could also tie this in with the cooking by having them fully budget, plan, and make a few meals that week. Not only will you get to assess their skills, but you or your partner can take a break from meal planning yourselves.

Letting your child go to college can be a big step for both of you. As a parent, you need to prepare them for adult living as best as you can. Whether you are teaching them about budgets or finding them the perfect storage for their room, you will soon make sure that they are perfectly ready for college.