When planning for college, be sure to make a list of supplies needed for the college dorm. Send your child off well prepared for his educational experience which includes an exciting college life outside the classroom. Living in college dorms gives students their first taste of living away from home. Parents can help them make it a positive experience by sending them off well prepared and with all the necessities. While your supply list will vary depending on your child's needs, here are a few suggestions that will help you begin the process of planning for the college dorm.
Bedding
Bedding is probably at the top of most college supply lists, especially for girls. If your child is a freshman, the dorm experience is likely her first living experience away from home so make her dorm room her home. Most colleges supply the beds, but they might allow students to bring their own. Check to see what your child's college allows and if they provide mattresses. You will likely be responsible for the sheets, comforter, and pillows. Her dorm room will be her "home away from home" so make every effort to match up her comforter, curtains, and accessories. Allow her to pick out her own pattern. She will be happier and less homesick if she feels at home in her dorm. If she is happy with her environment, her grades will likely be better as well.

Boys appreciate a homelike environment as well, but they are not as likely to be concerned about all the extras such as matching lamps and decorative pillows. Make sure they are comfortable with the way their dorm room looks and happy with their environment. Just like college women, college men need to be comfortable in their "home away from home."

Towels and Toiletries
Your student might have a private bathroom, but some college students will be sharing a community bathroom. Make sure your child has several sets of towels and washcloths. He will also need a toiletry bag that can be easily carried from his room to the bathroom, but it will need to be spacious enough to store all of his toiletries such as soap, shampoo, razor, shaving cream, and deodorant. Purchase him a pair of shower shoes. A durable pair of old fashioned rubber flip flops will work very well. Rubber flip flops will allow your child to wash his feet thoroughly while protecting his feet from fungi and they dry quickly. He might appreciate a long bathrobe for modesty while sharing a bathroom with several other students.

Laundry Supplies
Some students will still be bringing a car load of laundry home to mom, but others will be able to take advantage of laundry rooms available in their buildings. Those students will need laundry supplies such as detergent, stain removing agents, chlorine and non-chlorine bleach, fabric softener, and laundry hampers or baskets. Provide your child with sturdy baskets which have rounded, reinforced handles as she will likely be carrying her load to another floor for laundering. She might appreciate a few hampers so that she can keep her soiled laundry separated. Don't forget the laundering lessons before she or he leaves home. A few good lessons demonstrating the proper ways to launder clothes might me less soiled laundry coming home to mom or dad.

Lamp
College students will endure a lot of late night study sessions. She will need a lamp, especially is she has a roommate who wishes not to be disturbed. She can choose between a table lamp or a lamp that clips onto a desk or bed rail. The lamp should provide enough light for your child to see clearly while she reads or studies, but soft enough to be easy on her eyes.

Alarm Clock
Don't forget the alarm clock. Your child will need to get himself up in the mornings. This presents a challenge to many students who are accustomed to being awakened in the mornings by his loving mom's voice saying, "Time to get up, honey." Those days are long gone. He will need a sturdy, loud clock that will withstand the usual morning pounding while he hits the snooze button several times before finally falling out of bed. In fact, he might need two alarm clocks, one to place beside his bed and another one to place across the room so that he will have to get up and walk across the room to turn it off. Yes, two alarm clocks is probably a good idea.

Storage Containers
Most college dorms provide limited storage. Check with your child's college to find out if they provide dressers for students. If not, purchase a light weight dresser. Your student will likely be required to move completely out at the end of the semester so the dresser will need to be easy to move. You can also purchase plastic container for storing extra clothing, accessories, school supplies, or any category of "stuff" that she brings from home. Many stores stock up on storage supplies just before Fall sessions begin so you should be able to find a variety of sizes, brands, and colors or you can purchase a variety of storage supplies online at any time.

The Mini Refrigerator
A college dorm "must have" is a mini refrigerator. Though your child will be able to eat in a dining hall, he will still need a mini refrigerator to keep a few items such as water bottles, soft drinks, and a few snacks. Dining halls are usually open during certain hours so he will need healthy snacks (and a chocolate bar or two) to keep him nourished during times when the dining hall is closed or to keep him sustained during those late night study sessions. A medium sized mini refrigerator is best as it will allow room for fruits and dishes such as plastic bowls with lids to store left-overs for later consumption.

A Good Attitude
Talk to your child about making wise choices out there on his own and encourage him to practice the values you taught him. Send your child off with a good attitude and a load of confidence. Let him know that you are not only counting on his success, but you have all the confidence in the world that he will be successful. A student who feels comfortable with his new environment and confident that he has been well prepared for this next chapter in his life will be a much more successful college student.