It’s happened. That little tiny baby you once held in your arms is now a high school graduate and heading to college. Where did the time go?

As a Savvy Auntie, you may not be paying the tuition bill  (or maybe you are!), but you can help with the really important stuff – getting your niece and nephew ready for college life!

First things first, read the information your niece or nephew has received about their dorm room. In their excitement, they may have overlooked critical information. For example, some dorms may not prohibit microwaves and/or only allow certain items. Some schools are stricter than others.

Since dorm rooms have limited space, you have to break the room into different zones. You have the sleeping zone, the study zone, the personal care zone, the dressing zone, and the food zone. One of the basic principles of organizing is to group like with like.

The Sleeping Zone

In a dorm room, the key decorating element is the bed so most of the “design” is centered around bedding. For most nieces, colorful bedding with matching rug, pillow shams, and trashcan are the biggest decisions. Most nephews will wonder what the big deal is, but steer them to something that hides dirt and is durable.

Sheets. Most dorm beds require extra-long twin sheets, and stores such as Target, K-Mart and Wal-Mart will have them clearly marked. Buy two sets of sheets.

Alarm clock. If they don’t use their cell phone as an alarm, buy them an alarm clock.

The Study Zone

College kids need a backpack or messenger bag and school supplies. Those supplies include: spiral notebooks, highlighters, pens, pencils, and paper. Other supplies may be needed after they get their class syllabus.

Pencil cup. Buy an official pencil cup or make your own by using a coffee mug, a small flower pot, a large vase, or a jar.

Day planner. If they don’t have a calendar feature on their phones, they need to either keep an electronic calendar or a paper one. Make sure they’re set up.

Desk area. Even though most of us use our laptops on our lap, it’s good to have a desk space to use the laptop.

The Personal Care Zone

Shower caddy. Find a plastic one preferably with holes in the bottom and a handle. Depending on their shower situations, they can either carry it with them every morning or keep it in the bathroom. The shower caddy should include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, shaving cream if needed, and a washcloth and/or a shower poof.  Make sure they’re stocked up for at least a semester.

Robe or towel cover-up. If they have to walk to the shower from their room, make sure they’re covered in all the right places.

Towels. Have a set of towels, hand towels and wash clothes.

Facing the day. Use another caddy to house cosmetics, facial scrubs, acne cream, hair gel, hairspray, moisturizers, a toothbrush, toothpaste and other necessities to put on their best face. This keeps everything together.

First-aid kit. Buy a ready-made one or make your own. Make sure the kit has different kind of bandages, anti-bacterial ointment, burn ointment, pain relievers, anti-nausea medicine, and cortisone cream. If your niece and nephew have any allergies, make sure they have anti-histamines or anti-itch creams in case they have a reaction.
 
The Dressing Zone

Slim hangers. The flocked hangers are much slimmer than the plastic ones and take up less room in the closet. For pants and skirts, use the ones that can hold several pairs to maximize space.

Laundry supplies. IKEA and other places sell pop-up laundry hampers. You can use them to drag laundry to the washers and dryers. They’ll need laundry detergent, fabric softener, a Tide-to-go stick, and money for the washers and dryers. If your niece and nephew have experience doing laundry, you may want to spring for bleach and Wool-ite. If they don’t, well…don’t buy them bleach. Save that lesson for when they get their first apartment.

The Food Zone

Refrigerator and microwave. First of all, check to see if they’re allowed in the dorm. If so, this is the time of the year these pint-size appliances are advertised everywhere. Shop for the best deal.

Snacks. When you arrive at the college, go and buy some snacks and sodas to stock the refrigerator.

Dishes. Pick up a few plastic plates, bowls and glasses. Don’t forget to throw in a few forks and spoons.

Cleaning supplies. For the first time, they won’t have parents hanging over them to clean their rooms, but you’ll be amazed by how they realize a little cleanliness is good. Pick up cleaning wipes for wiping down glass, wood, and plastic. If they will have dishes to wash, pick up a small bottle of dishwashing liquid.

And a couple of other things...

Workout clothes. Encourage them to work-out, and if they don’t, encourage them to start. Exercise helps reduce stress, and as a major life transition, there will be some stress involved. Tell them to pack their workout clothes or buy them some.

Money. College kids always need money. If you’re going to send money, send a gift card that functions like a credit card. Some cards are reloadable so you can keep adding money, but check with your bank or where you bought the card.

The Gift of Fear by Gaven De Becker. I use to just recommend this book to women and teen-age girls, but after the shooting at Virginia Tech, 9/11, and other sad incidents, I now recommend it to anyone. The book discusses how to trust your intuition, instinct and inner voice, how to enhance your personal safety, and how to avoid a potential stalker and abuser. If you’re worried about your niece’s personal safety, maybe the two of you can take a safety course before she heads to college. Arming them with information and skills is the first step.

Make sure they have all of your phone numbers – day and night and your e-mail. If something happens, they will more than likely call you before their parents.

It’s not only parents who feel empty nest syndrome when their children head off to college. It can happen to Savvy Aunties and Uncles. Those tiny babies are now practically grown up and head off to the time of their lives. With these tips, you can help make the experience even more special.

Please share YOUR advice about sending your niece or nephew off to college? Are we missing any great ideas?