Packing for campus life

Have you thought of everything? Here’s a checklist of some special items your son or daughter may find helpful in their new digs:

  • Laptop and printer/scanner
  • Land line telephone for their room, or a cell phone
  • Bicycle and lock (or money to purchase a bicycle on arrival)
  • Ear plugs – in a dorm, these can be essential!
  • Alarm clock
  • Mattress cover
  • Bathmat
  • Bathroom tote – handy for stashing soap, toothpaste and other toiletries
  • Bathrobe – cozy enough for venturing outdoors in mid-winter. (False fire alarms are commonplace in student residences, since students faced with cooking for themselves for the first time often burn their meal!)
  • Flashlight
  • Coat hangers
  • Message board for dorm door
  • Umbrella
  • Laundry soap
  • Personal tea towels
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Wet wipes
  • Fan – offers great refreshment in a small dorm room
  • Sports equipment such as a tennis racquet, ice skates
  • Musical instruments
  • Insurance - check whether your child’s belongings will be covered under your home insurance policy once they leave home; you may need additional coverage for computer and camera equipment, musical instruments and other big ticket items
  • Cookie jar – makes a great parting gift when filled with home-baked cookies. Send a new batch of cookies every month or so as a special reminder of your love!

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