This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you have a child who is finishing up their senior year of high school, college might be a big topic in your home. There are some basic college must haves that you should add to your prep list to help your freshman feel more at home when their first day arrives!
College Must Haves for Freshman Year
When you’re helping your child prepare for their freshman year of college, you probably have a list of college must haves you think they need. On the flip side, they probably have their own list too.
Both lists are important!
There are some basic college must haves that most of us will think of, including:
- Bedding including sheets, comforter, and pillows
- Dorm room decor
- Hangers for clothing
- Dependable computer
- Television and DVD player
- Desk/nightstand lamp
- Bath towels
- Shower tote
But there are some other basics that you might not think of right away. They can mean the different between your freshman feeling at home and feeling like they aren’t as prepared as they could have been.
Apps to Make Life Easier & More Affordable
Most of our older kids have their own smartphones. It’s one perk a lot of parents I know didn’t have when they were in college.
There are tons of apps that can help make freshman year easier. Think along the lines of apps that help with transportation, food, and shopping.
These kinds of apps can help your freshman save time and money!
Ways to Get Organized
In my experience, college living spaces are on the smaller side. This is usually true with dorm rooms but seems to be the case with apartments too.
So organization is crucial to making space work, especially if it’s a shared space. Finding stackable crates, shelves, bins, and other things can help make a small space feel bigger!
Organizing time is also important when your child is in college. So finding apps or a planner they like can really help them keep track of everything they have going on.
Having an organized space and planning their time is one of the best things we can try to teach our kids!
A Little Taste of Home
Most of our college must haves are focused on being prepared to move away from home.
For a lot of kids, college is the first time they’re away from home. It can be an exciting time but can also be a time of feeling homesick.
Encouraging your freshman to take some things from home can help them handle feelings of loneliness as they adjust to the exciting new stage of their lives.
Have them take photos with them or other sentimental items with them. You can even put together a care package and include a few things to send once your freshman has gotten settled in a bit!
Putting together an environment that feels like home even when your child is away at school can help them do better in their classes!
For more great ideas to help prepare your child for their freshman year of college, check out 6 Things You Can’t Live Without Your Freshman Year from CORT.
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