The plan: Help your college-bound student move into his or her dorm by September 1.
The tools: Leaving the nest is exciting and emotional -- for both of you. Your life experience and common sense are key, but a budget, a tape measure, a handful of recipes, an Internet connection and some creativity come in handy, too.
The execution: You still have time to teach Junior the basics of banking, budgeting, cooking and cleaning -- and there are ways to make it fun. For example, you can give your teen a subscription to a magazine that has recipes, or have him download a cooking app to his phone. Get him cooking alongside you in the kitchen now, and create a computer file of quick and easy recipes.
It's never too early to start buying necessities for the new digs. If you can, visit the dorm in the spring, take measurements and figure out what you can fit in it. Or find a floor plan on the university website. Chances are the room will be small, so think about vertical storage. "Whether it's hooks, freestanding racks or shelves, or little hanging caddies," Demke says, "it's all going to make the space expand exponentially." A mini-fridge is a great gift for a frosh: having juice, fruit, milk and cereal on hand could fuel her late-night study sessions and make her more likely to eat breakfast.
The unexpected: A late acceptance means your child could decide to scrap her plans and go to a different school. If there's no room in the new residence, go online to help her find a place to live. And if you have friends or relatives in that city, call them. Even though she's had less time to become familiar with her new city, knowing there are friendly faces nearby will help ease her anxiety. "It's a point of connection," says Shannon, "so there's somebody who can check in on them once in a while to see that they're eating and taking care of themselves."
| This story was originally titled "Get a Head Start" in the January 2012 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue! |
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