As you know, I have just gone back to university, studying on top of my day job. It got me thinking back to when I was a teen and I went to uni for the first time. Sending your child into the adult world may seem frightening at first, but it needs to be done, so here are some tips on tackling some grown-up responsibilities before your bird flies the nest! You are no longer preparing them for back to school, but adult life! You have cared for them, nurtured them, and helped them grow into fine, upstanding people! So they will be fine, and it doesn’t need to seem daunting, so how can you both prepare for university?

Stationery for University

While also packing for moving away, stocking food and other utensils, it is also good not to forget about the main reason they are going to university, to learn! And what better tools to help them learn than stationery! Make sure they have a laptop or desktop computer stocked with FileMaker shared hosting, which is great if they need to secure and share files! If the library has a good printing service, then they don’t need a printer, but if they don’t, then a desktop printer is required! Pens and pencils, binders, post-it notes, highlighters, and A4-lined notepads are all needed for note-taking! A calendar is also necessary to help them keep track of their new frantic lifestyle! 

Visit the University Before the Big Move!

Being familiar with your surroundings is always a good idea and helps a new situation. It helped me to feel settled when I went to visit the uni first. So, visiting the campus early gives you the chance to do just this! Whether it’s an open day or if the uni has an open campus rule. You can explore the grounds and town yourself to get a glimpse of what the future holds. This way, both you and your sprog know the area a little bit before it becomes their new home.

Help Teach Them to Cook!

Depending on how much cooking your child already does, abilities can vary strongly, and you want to make sure they know how an oven works and don’t just eat noodles or beans on toast. But, on the other hand, no one wants to move into halls and accommodation completely confused at the contraptions in the kitchen. So, teaching them simple recipes that are easy to pick up can be a good bonding experience and make you feel less worried about them!

Help them with Laundry!

As well as cooking, the kids are going to need help with laundry. University laundry machines are relatively simple to use too. Start by teaching them how your household one works, and everything else will follow. Try your best to insist they need to give it a go too, as you don’t want to be washing endless bags of washing whenever the holidays come about.

Have The Safety Talk

The safety talk can cover various topics such as nights out, drinking, relationships, and mental health. They won’t be under your roof anymore, so they might not have someone checking if they’ve got home okay after a night out. 

Simple things like not getting in the car with a driver who’s been drinking, getting in licensed taxis, guarding your drinks, and not suffering in silence. Universities have support systems and counseling services, so just lay that out, and have an honest chat together.

Make sure they know that if they are not coping with the university lifestyle and feel they need to come home, that option is there for them! 

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