Some Advice for Parents when Their Kids Go to College

It’s hard on parents when kids leave home for the first time to go to college especially if it in a new city.that you and your child are not familiar with at all. I am writing this guide to help ease your worries on how to help your kids survive in a new city during their college years .

First, get them a subway,library, bus and area city map. In some cities people drive less. In New York City some people don’t drive at all. It’s not necessary.

Other items you should consider getting them are calling cards (collect calls are too expensive) a larger cellular phone plan, a first aid kit, condoms (you may not approve of them having sex but they will anyway), a quilt cover so their blanket won’t get as dirty, instructions on how to do laundry once the blanket gets dirty, a big bottle of aspirin to relieve the tension headaches, a small reading lamp so they have a small light for reading by their bed, extra ink and paper for their printer, and a date book for writing down all their important class information.

Third, find out where the area coffee bar, clothes stores, bookstore and supermarkets are located. Get them some gift cards that they can easily fill up or that you can easily sent to them. Kids with too much cash will spend it very easily on not what is necessary.

Speaking of clothes find out where the area thrift shops. Kids love to shop thrift. Kids can find more then clothes at these stores. Here they can  buy for a  cheap price dishes, pots,and pans and books and furniture cheaply also. It might not be a bad idea to look at these places for art or furniture for your kid’s dorms. Remind them when they buy to donate something too.

Speaking of donating their time encourage them to give some of their time to charity. Websites like www.volunteermatch.com, www.onebrick.org and www.nycares.org list many volunteer opportunities that don’t require a long commitment. Also, this is a great way to help them explore career options. For example, if they volunteer at a hospital, then they can see if nursing is the right fit for them.