Tag: college

College Bound, Education, Parenting

Successfully Supporting Your Child at School Through College

Erin Sluka
supporting your child at school

A whopping 80% of college students say that they feel stressed, according to The American Institute of Stress. The cost of college, as well as new living and working environments, can really take its toll on college kids. But so long as you offer advice, and guidance, as you are supporting your child at school they will be sure to flourish during the critical college years.

Discuss financial responsibilities

An average year at college will cost between $10,116 and  $36,801, depending on whether the college is public or private and in-state or out-of-state. Most kids will have had very little financial responsibility prior to heading to college, so make sure you financially prepare them. This should include making it clear how much of the cost (if any) you’re prepared to cover and how much you expect them to contribute. Be sure to stress the importance of getting a part-time job during their studies and help them to write a CV, apply for vacancies, and prepare for interviews.

A helping hand

28% of college students worry about their academic performance, according to the American Psychological Association. There’s no need for students to worry, though, as they can obtain college essay help easily. Many students use online resources that show them how to write, structure, and edit essays so that they can be confident about receiving a good mark. As a parent, it’s a good idea to point your child in the direction of these types of useful resources. It can also help to offer to read through your child’s work before they submit it too.

Maintain contact

50% of college students attend a college that’s more than 100 miles from their parents’ home. While this can benefit their independence, it can also make your child feel isolated and alone. It’s a good idea to set up regular phone calls, video calls, and visits with your child so that they can ask for your advice and support if needed or just have a general chat. This also allows you to check that your child is doing okay and to see if there’s anything you can do to help make college life a little bit easier.

Heading to college is an exciting but often stressful experience for most kids. As a parent, it’s essential that you play a supporting role in this transition and guide your child in the right direction during this period of their life.

College Bound, Healthy Living, Parenting

Finally, The College Student First Aid Kit with Mom-Approved Items

Erin Sluka

With one son back home after 4 years at College and continuing online, we have an 11 year old on his heels. I learned a lot as a College parent. I bought many things that turned out unnecessary and then there were the things I never thought of that became an instant need.

We spend about 18 years cooking for them, caring for them, cleaning scrapes, spooning medicine and now who will have eyes on them? Who will make sure they can take care of themselves? No one will! This is it and all you can do is send them off with the right tools and let them be little adults now. I bought a shallow tote on our son’s first year. It was low enough to slip under his dorm bed. In it were band-aids, medicine, Kleenex and all he’d need with a label that read -‘when you get sick’. It was the best I could leave him with.

Had I known about The College Student First Aid Kit that would have been so much better! Even a shallow tote took up too much room in that small space. The College Student First Aid Kit has everything but the kitchen sink (and the good brands too) in a small box. It was created by Beth Palmer Stewart, a Nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents and young adults.

She also became a college Mom who quickly realized the struggle of finding first aid kits to leave with her student that wasn’t full of generic brands and wasn’t missing crucial items. She went to great lengths to research the best possible kits bundled into convenient sizes for dorm spaces and every student needs one as they head off to their new life.

I remember our son saying things like “..there is a student store if I need anything” or “…a Walmart is right down the street”. What they don’t realize is that when sickness hits you, that is one long drive to the store when you don’t feel like leaving your bed. Also, the student store was so far across campus and they lived at the bottom of campus hill and in the snow that town got, winter ailments were horrible if you needed to walk or find a parking space near that store. They need to have these essentials in the room and ready to go.

There are 3 sizes of kits to choose from. The most thorough is the Premium Plus Kit. With over 50 different medications, ointments, creams, drops, tools, and wound care items they will be taken care of just fine, Mom and Dad! Don’t worry. Before you know it 4 years have passed and you’ll be a pro at this. Visit College First Aid Kit to keep them prepared.

College Bound, Gift Guides

3 Unique Graduation Gifts that Promote Safety on College Campus

Erin Sluka

Sending one off to College? Scary, isn’t it? All we can do is help make sure they have all they need and let them go. For our own piece of mind, we can make sure we set leave them on campus as safely prepared as possible.

These Unique Graduation Gifts that Promote Safety on College Campus are great to give and in a time when needed, they will be so appreciative you made them available for them to use.

1. The Bunk Trunk

This is the best space-saver gift you can buy a grad heading off to a small dorm in College! If you have someone graduating High School and heading off to a College campus in a few months this is a gift that will get a lot of use! Dorm rooms are small and furniture just makes it smaller, so the Bunk Trunk is several spaces in one.

It is a safe/locker, nightstand and work surface all in one. But you can’t mount things or drill into the walls of a dorm room per the rules? There is no mounting hardware! It easily fits above the top bunk in college dorm rooms or under the bed. The BunkTrunk has a digital combo, so you never have to worry about losing a key. It even has a power strip with USB ports to charge your gear when it’s locked away.

The Bunk Trunk protects your valuables while you get to know your roommates and their friends. When student leaves their dorm room, they lock up their Bunk Trunk and take the key with them. Keeping valuables safe is on every students mind and this is a space saver and peace of mind for them. This is your must gift that you can buy HERE!

2. SABRE Pepper Spray Keychain for Women

Mom and Dad, take a breath! Remember putting your daughter on the bus for the first time and not letting out a breath until that little girl walked back off of it hours later? That doesn’t compare to leaving her behind on a big and scary campus! Leave her with SABRE!

Every female student (and males too) should carry a safe protection for themselves. I know a pepper spray is not cool-lookimg to carry around, so how about a pink one with quick release maximum police strength OC Spray. It also has finger grip for accuracy, 10-foot range with 25 bursts. So no one is messing with her now! This can be ordered right now on Amazon!

3. Securityman 2-in-1 Adjustable Door Knob Jammer

This is great for all dorm rooms. Not only does it keep intruders out, but there is no hardware installation needed which most dorms will not allow and it is easily removed in a fire or other emergencies where they need to leave in a hurry.

Whether they are in a co-ed building and needs that extra intruder safety or there is a campus-wide intruder alert they can safely barricade inside. Grips to hard floor surfaces or carpet. Available on Amazon.

College Bound, Education, Parenting

6 Ways to Prepare Your Teenager for College

Erin Sluka

You’re excited that your child is headed off to college at last! Most likely, you’re a bit worried and anxious, too, and so is your college-bound teen. Follow these tips to prepare your child for the first year away from home.

Determine How to Finance College Costs

Image via Flickr by CollegeDegrees360

Finalize college financing before your teen heads off to school. Help your child fill out federal and school financial aid forms and apply for scholarships. You may also need student loans to cover remaining costs. Remember that financial aid and grants don’t pay for some expenses, such as clothing, food, and car insurance. Consider taking out a private student loan to have extra cash on hand to cover such expenses.

Boost Emotional Skills

Right now, when something goes wrong, you’re right there to help your child through tough times. At school, your teen must manage emotions and challenging situations alone. Sit your teen down and talk about how to handle life events, relationship issues, and stress. Work to build your child’s confidence in handling emotional issues.

Review Basic Life Skills

Does your teen struggle to keep the bed made and the bedroom clean? Most likely, your child will share a room. Review how to clean, do laundry, go shopping, and cook some light meals. Make sure your college student will be a welcome roommate.

Discuss the dangers of alcohol and drugs, too. A college campus is a fun place that can be full of temptation. You won’t be there to help your child say no to risks like drinking and trying party drugs. Prepare your teen to make the right decisions when you’re not there.

Create a Budget

Teens who have not managed their own money will be in for a shock when they head off to college. Create a budget to show your child how much money to spend each month. Review how to track debit and credit card spending, and discuss the importance of paying bills on time.

Focus on Health

Immunizations must be up to date before your teen arrives on campus. Your child should also have a health insurance card and know where to go for help in case of illness. Review how to use campus health services, urgent care facilities, and emergency rooms.

You won’t be on hand to make lunch or dinner.  Teens will have a lot of food options, not all of them good ones. Help your child avoid the dreaded “Freshman 15,” which refers to extra weight college freshmen tend to gain. Review nutrition guidelines to help your child make healthy choices when you’re not around.

Make Your Expectations Known

Make it clear that your child is in school to learn. You’re not footing the bill or helping with loans so your freshman can hang out and drink beer. If you expect a report card with all A’s, make sure to tell your teen to work toward those grades.

Put your child on the path to living independently before your teen leaves for school. Review these tips with your college-bound teen to give him or her the necessary skills to be successful while living away from home.