It’s almost that time of the school year—move-in!

The day that parents have been dreading and kids have been waiting for.

It’s going to be odd not having your teenager at home anymore, and it’s going to be hard to say goodbye when you leave them at college to start living on their own.

There’s a lot of questions that first-time (or even last-time) parents have when it comes to move-in, and one of the main ones is: What do I need to provide for the dorms or apartments?

For dorms, the answer can vary because each university is different in what they provide students. You’ll have the basics no matter what: mattress, bedframe, desk, desk chair, and dresser.

But everything else? That’s on YOU!

For parents, deciding what to bring can depend on a lot of factors.

No matter what, these are a few items you’ll want to strongly consider (or go ahead and purchase if you’ve already thought twice about it)!

Buy Some Extra Storage

This can range from rolling carts, cube organizers, hanging shoe slots, or a basket for your child’s desk.

If your child wants to bring quite a lot along for their first time, make sure you’ve got enough space to put everything away.

The easy way to do this is to pack as you buy—clothes, toiletries, and dry goods can be packed away into any rolling cart or cube organizer.

If those items don’t fit, you may want to think about buying plastic crates or bins to store under a bed, as well.

What does your student need in his or her first apartment? Find out with our First Apartment Essentials Checklist.

Think About A TV and TV Table

While it’s not essential to college living, if your child likes to watch sports games, movies, or play video games, then having a place to do it is important.

This also makes it easier for your child to have friends over without having to go elsewhere to watch something.

Plus, if you invest in this now, your child will likely have it for the rest of their college career and onward!

And don’t forget a place to put the TV—having a table or a stand (or maybe a cube organizer) to stand it on is important if you’re going to have the TV in the dorms.

Get A Mini-Fridge

While some universities have policies on the size of mini fridge you can buy, it’s a worthy investment to have one in the dorms.

On weekends, it may be easy for your child to store frozen meals or leftovers in there rather than throwing food away. If they need groceries, such as milk or juice, they can store it there rather than having to buy single-serving sizes of these at a time.

If your child wants to have this in their apartment, they can do that, as well! Some apartments provide refrigerators that may be small compared to what you have at home, so having an extra place to store frozen pizzas or fresh produce would be ideal.

These are some of the main essentials you should think about buying before sending your child off to their first college dorm. They may work out trades with roommates to bring one item or another, so make sure you’re only buying what you need as you go. 

For apartments, the list is much the same, but some furnishings may vary for different living spaces. For these you may consider buying even more extra storage, such as a bookshelf or ottoman.

Don’t be afraid to ask leasing companies what they provide and what they recommend!

And happy move-in!