9 Things Your College Freshman Needs to Know

College is a scary and exciting time for incoming freshmen students. It’s also extremely scary for parents. Letting go of your child and sending them off by themselves for the first time is terrifying. Up until now, their safety and care has been in your capable hands. Once they go off on their own, it will all be in their hands. To make sure that your kids can take care of themselves, make certain that they can tackle these 9 Things Your College Freshman Needs to Know before they leave home. They aren’t the big lessons that we all teach our kids and and can easily be forgotten.

9 Things Your College Freshman Needs to Know

How to Change a Tire- In an age where most people simply take their car to the mechanic or call roadside assistance whenever there is an issue, the “art” of doing a simple repair such as changing a tire has fallen by the wayside. Making sure your college freshman knows how to do this might just keep them from being stranded on the roadside if something would happen. You never know when roadside assistance simply won’t be available.

How to Balance Their Bank Account- Even if your college student won’t be writing checks, they should still know how to balance their bank account. Not having the skill to do so can lead to major issues if their debit card or identity information were to be stolen.

How to Budget Their Money- Along the same lines of balancing their checking account, your college freshman needs to know how to make a simple budget. If they can’t, they will run the risk of blowing through all of their money too quickly and having to call home for more.

How to Practice Self-Defense- No matter how much we as parents don’t want to think about it, college can be a dangerous place. Making sure your incoming freshman knows at least some form of self-defense may save their life.

How to Cook More Than Ramen- The old jokes about college students surviving on ramen aren’t really funny when you think about it. Ramen noodles are full of sodium and other additives that aren’t as healthy as they could be. Teaching your college freshman how to cook simple meals before they leave home can not only help them stay healthy but they’ll also stand a better chance of beating the “freshman 15.”

How to Use Proper Study Habits- While most college students do more than study, yours will absolutely need to know proper study habits to get them through their classes. Make sure that they know how to properly take notes, how to memorize information, and any other study skills that you think they will need.

How to Handle Their Own Financial Aid- Financial aid can be really complicated for new college students. While you may be handling it for them now? You won’t always be there to handle it for them. Make sure that your incoming college student is at least familiar with the basics of handling their own financial aid issues so that you don’t have to try from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

How to Wash Their Own Laundry- We all know the jokes about the college student bringing everything he owns home to Mom to be washed but unfortunately, it happens more often than most of us think. To prevent this, make sure that your child knows how to properly wash a load of laundry before he or she leaves home.

How Much You Love Them- Finally, the single most important thing that your college freshman needs to know is that you love them and will always be there for them. No matter how excited they may be, leaving home and going to college is just as scary (if not more so) for them as it is you. Reassurance can help make the transition easier on not only your college student, but yourself as well.