The moment has finally arrived: your child is leaving the nest and heading to college. It’s a day filled with mixed emotions — pride, excitement, nostalgia, and perhaps a bit of anxiety. Move-in day is a significant milestone, and as a parent, you want to ensure everything goes smoothly. Here are some practical tips to help you prepare and maintain your calm during this pivotal time.

How to prepare emotionally

Lead by example

This is a big day for you and your teen. Some students may only experience excitement as they take their first big step toward independence, but others will be anxious about leaving home. You can help guide their emotions by setting the tone. If you’re constantly expressing sadness over your child’s new chapter, they will likely feel the same and maybe even some frustration. But if you’re positive about your teen’s journey to adulthood, they will likely follow suit.

Don’t make the day about you

It’s their big day. While you should help set a positive tone, they should be the one deciding how they’d like to organize their room and what they’d like the day to look like overall. Don’t make comments about what you’re losing by your teen going to college. Instead, focus on what they will be gaining to keep the focus on them. 

Give grace

Moving is already stressful. But moving to a new city, adding heat and lots of people, it’s even worse. Keep this in mind as you interact with your teen and do your best to show them grace if they express frustration from time to time. 

Leave a surprise (or two)

It’s a good idea to leave behind some reminders that you care about your teen. This could take the form of a handwritten note you leave in their desk drawer or even some cash or gift cards tucked under their pillow. Just make sure if you’re choosing to hide your gifts you leave them in a spot where it won’t take too long to find them.

Plan for after the trip

In the chaos of all things associated with the beginning of the school year, you may not have the capacity to fully process that your teen is moving out. That can make going home to an empty bedroom that much more difficult. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a plan for what you’re going to do when you get home. Choose to take a relaxing bath or get coffee with a friend, something that will hopefully occupy your mind and stop you from thinking too much about your changing family dynamic.

How to handle the move

Make sure your child is communicating with their roommate

Hopefully, even if your teen was assigned a random roommate, they have had the opportunity to communicate over the summer. Make sure they are touching base on who’s bringing what. Space is premium in a dorm room, so the last thing you want is for them to end up with two microwaves or two TVs. 

Instruct them to review college regulations

Every college has different rules about what is allowed inside the residence halls. Make sure your teen has reviewed these rules, so they don’t show up on move-in day with forbidden items. Commonly forbidden items include candles, halogen lamps, wireless routers and air conditioners.

Have move-in day essentials at the ready

In addition to your child’s own packing list, there are some things you should pack that will make move-in more seamless, including:

• Snacks and water to eat and drink throughout the move in process
• Tool kit for putting together furniture, hanging curtains, etc.
• Cleaning supplies to clean the dorm room before you start unpacking
• Command hooks for hanging up decorations
• Step stool to assist with room setup

Plan to buy some items in town

Space will not only be limited in the dorms, but it will also be limited in the vehicles you are using to move. Because of this, you should avoid packing basic necessities like laundry detergent and extension cords. You can purchase these things at a local store after you’ve moved the majority of your teen’s items into the dorm. 

Pack for one season at a time

Again, because space is limited, don’t pack for the whole school year. Instead, pack primarily for one season at a time. Most likely, your teen is planning on coming home for fall break or at an even earlier time for a weekend. You also might be planning on visiting them at some point during the semester. These are opportunities for your teen to switch out their clothing based on the season.

Have a successful move-in at the University of Northern Iowa

Your teen’s move-in at the University of Northern Iowa is the beginning of an exciting journey. You can expect to be welcomed to campus by move-in crew, who will be eager to assist you. This will make your teen’s first day on campus that much more seamless. 

For more information about move-in at UNI, visit the online move-in guide.

Don’t forget that your teen’s school likely has a Family Weekend at some point during the fall semester. This is a great opportunity to connect with your teen, see how things are going and check on their overall progress. You’ll love seeing your teen in their natural habitat, and they’ll love having family on campus.