College Life: 5 Ways You Can Make Your Child's Campus Housing Feel Like Home

If you’re getting ready to drop your child off at college for the first time, one of the most important questions on your mind will be, “where will my baby be living?” College dorm life certainly has its ups and downs, but one thing it isn’t is home. To help your child have an easier transition and enable them to enjoy their time at college even more, here are a few ways to bring a little bit of “home” to your child’s dorm room.

Pictures

Hanging pictures is typically a given in a girl’s dorm room, but pictures are important for any college student living away from home. Provide some family shots in nice, sturdy frames that can be placed on desks, since putting holes in walls is typically not allowed. Don’t forget to send updated snapshots from time to time so your child continues to feel connected to the family they’ve left behind.

Food

Nothing provides a more instant connection to home than a good home-cooked meal. While you can’t stay with your child to cook for them, you could certainly provide a few staple favorites, such as cereals, snacks, or sodas, that will remind them of home whenever they enjoy the items. Leaving a batch of homemade cookies or brownies behind will also certainly help make the transition that much “sweeter.”

Technology

While your college-aged child likely prefers to utilize their cell phone for most communication, there is something to be said for the larger screen a laptop can provide when it comes to engaging with other people on a video call.

While it is standard on almost every college campus, do ensure that Internet connectivity is available on your child’s college campus so he or she will be able to utilize their laptop. If it’s not, then invest in a service from somewhere like TruVista. They will be better for it amidst the business of the semester.

Blankets

Dorm rooms are notoriously difficult to keep warm in the winter, so if you want your child to feel more at home, providing plenty of blankets can give them plenty to appreciate on those cold winter nights. Personalized blankets allow your child to stay warm while adding a little pizzazz to their room, as well. Try to avoid those blankets that are too personal, though, as it might be hard for your college freshman to recover from the humiliation of having a teddy bear blanket on their bed- even if they’ve had it since they were a baby.

Lamps

Due to lower maintenance and energy costs, many dorm rooms are outfitted with fluorescent lighting. While this is great for those working in campus maintenance, the harsh lighting feels like anything but home- unless of course, you live in an office building. That said, providing a lamp or two that your child can use in place of the harsh overhead lighting can definitely add a homey feel to any dorm room. Plus, the soft white light promotes better sleep than the bluish light from fluorescent bulbs.

Be Yourself

One of the best things you can do for your child as they get their first taste of independence is just to be yourself. Don’t change your personality around them just because you want them to “like you.” Your child should have the respect for you to love you for who you are, and being the parent they grew up with will greatly assist them in finding their own personality in college.