In every parent’s life, there comes the day when it’s time for their baby to leave the nest. Usually, this day is when that baby turns into a young adult and is ready to enter the next chapter: college.
A great transition from household to adulthood is by living on campus in college dorms. To make sure your student is comfortable in their new environment, here are some items to keep in mind while packing up their belongings.
Electrical Items:
Dorm rooms are tight for space; therefore outlets are limited as well. It is important to pack extension cords and power cords to ensure all electronics can be plugged in. Additional electrical needs include laptop chargers, phone chargers, an alarm clock, and a printer.
Lighting and Decorations:
It’s great to add a personal touch in a dorm room to make it feel like home. This can be done with decorative floor and lamp lighting, pictures and frames, posters, an area rug, a mirror, and bedding. Decor will go a long way to make a dorm room feel more like a comfortable sanctuary.
Storage/Organization:
Space is limited when it comes to a small room; therefore organization is the best way to get the most use out of an area. Some items that are great include door hangers, closet organizers, a hanging shoe rack, under the bed storage containers, and small containers for desk and/or miscellaneous items.
Appliances:
Depending on the dorm room, some appliances may be provided, but other times you’ll need to bring your own. Useful appliances include a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker, a fan, a television, and a DVD player.
Bathroom Items:
The unfortunate part about dorms is the community bathroom. Having all of the necessities can be a big help. Important items include shampoo, conditioner, body/face wash, razors, toothpaste and toothbrush, a set of towels, floss, deodorant, a hairbrush, and hair styling products. These last two items are essential for a shared bathroom: a shower caddy and waterproof flip-flops.
Clothing:
One rule of thumb: if it isn’t worn at home, don’t bring it. Closet space is not great in a dorm room, so less is better. Pack clothes for each season, but keep it light. In addition to clothes, important items include a laundry basket, laundry detergent, stain remover, a lint brush, and an iron with a small ironing board.
School Supplies:
Last, but not least, the items for educational use. Students should have notebooks, printer paper and ink, binders, folders, pencils/pens, scissors, a stapler, a calculator, a flash drive and a bag to carry it all in.
Although there are probably more miscellaneous items to add to the list, this is a great start for the basics. When moving your student anywhere in the country, call Navis to help with packing and shipping!
Image courtesy of My Home Ideas.
