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How to Help High School and College Grads Move Out

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May is National Moving Month and many high school and college grads will soon be packing up and moving in or out of college dorms. So as part of our series for Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad, I’ve gathered some tips for you to help your new graduates move on to their new homes.

How to help high school and college grads move out

I’ll admit, I’m not looking forward to the day one of my girls first moves out. I think I’ll be an emotional wreck. Fortunately, it’s still rather far into the future since my oldest just turned 11 years old. But I know the next decade of parenting will pass as fast as this first one.

In the United States, it is extremely common for high school grads to move away from home to attend college and live in a dorm.

Here in Canada, while many students will live in dorms, those living in the Greater Vancouver area often stay living at home while they attend one of many nearby universities or colleges.

So to be honest, I’m kinda hoping my girls stay living at home while they go to school.

I stayed at my parent’s house while I attended the University of British Columbia for a year and then part way through my time at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, I moved 20 blocks from my house to an apartment that I shared with a friend.

But whether your child is 18 years old and moving across the country to a college dorm for the first time, or she is moving into an apartment a short drive away, there’s a lot of planning and preparation (and anxiety) that goes into the move.

Since May is National Moving Month, I’ve gathered some ideas for helping grads move out and get settled into a new dorm or apartment.

  1. Check the weather.

    Try to avoid moving on a rainy day. If you have the option of what day to move, check the weather forecast. If it is raining, ensure you cover items effectively. When I moved into my apartment, it was pouring rain and my TV got wet in the move and stopped working. (Although about a few days later, it strangely and suddenly starting working one night and randomly started, nearly scaring me to death.)

  2. Be open about anxiety.

    This is a scary time for most kids and their parents. Talk openly about the fears and the adventure.

  3. Ask if help is wanted.

    Before you start interfering in your adult child’s packing, ask if he/she wants your help packing and moving. This is a big step toward independence and by asking if you can help, you show respect to your child and a positive shift of responsibility can take place.

  4. Plan purchases effectively.

    Remind your son or daughter to ask the college or university what furniture or appliances they provide and get an accurate floor plan with measurements. You don’t want to waste money on unnecessary items or those that don’t fit.

  5. Pack clothes on hangers in garbage bags.

    If kids are moving into a small dorm, encourage them to take only their favorites from their wardrobe. Hang the clothes on hangers and put a large garbage bag over the top of the hangers so that it protects the clothes and keeps them together in a bundle. Then tie the hangers together so they don’t separate.

  6. Get a few padlocks.

    There are many times college kids need to lock up their belongings. Send a few of these Master Lock 4400D Bluetooth Smart Padlocks along with them. This Master Lock 4401DLBH Bluetooth Smart Padlock is similar but better for outdoor use on storage lockers or tool chests.

  7. Get deadbolts for apartments.

    If your college grad is moving into a house or apartment, make sure it has a good solid door lock such as this Master Lock BCCO0615 Door Lock with Single Cylinder Deadbolt.

  8. Pack a lock for the bike.

    Getting around a large campus is best on a bike, so make sure you pack a good bike lock such as this Master Lock 8300D Bike Lock.

  9. Lock up small valuables.

    Wherever your son or daughter is moving, one of these Sentry Safe Small Privacy Lock Chests will help keep valuables safe during and after the move.

  10. Pack an overnight bag.

    Remind your son or daughter to pack a bag with everything necessary for the first night. This should include laptop, smart phone, chargers, toiletries, and a change of clothes. You might also encourage him or her to toss in some simple cleaning supplies to wipe down the room before moving in.

Major life milestones — such as your high school or college graduate moving out — seem to come and go too quickly, so try to enjoy the experience together.

Enter to Win!

Master Lock is giving away a prize package valued at over $140. One winner will receive one Master Lock BCCO0615 Door Lock, one Master Lock 8300D Bike Lock, and one Master Lock 4400D Bluetooth Smart Padlock! Use the entry form below to enter!

Master Lock Security Prize Pack

 

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How to help high school and college grads move out

 

live-secureAs part of the Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad, I’ve been compensated for my time in writing this post. My opinions are my own.

Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
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Comments

  2. this would be a perfect gift for my eldest nephew who will be going to college in the fall and also has a birthday coming up mid June

    Kathryn C

  3. I would give this to my brother in law as he moves into the dorms for his first year of college!

  7. I have a toddler who just learned our locks so I need parts of this for myself and would gift other parts to my oldest son

  11. I would give the bike lock to my tween, the padlock to my teen and keep the door lock.

  15. I think I would give this nice set to my son who would really like it. It has it all.

  16. I would keep the prize pack for myself. It would come in very handy where we live now.

  19. I’d keep it, as I will most likely have to move in the next 3-6 months

  24. I would give this to my husband. He would love it! Thank you for the opportunity.

  32. I would use the items for my household but give the bike lock to my granddaughter.

  34. I would give it to my grandson–he has a lot of tools that have to be secured. The bicycle lock however would likely go to another grandson–he is the one with the bike!

  42. I personally would give it to my boyfriend. He’s not in college, but could totally use this! 🙂

  43. i would give this prize pack to my husband. he has a use for every single item.

  66. My son, he is moving to work as an apprentice. Waaaah!!! 😭😭😭😭

  69. I would love to win this prize pack for myself! There are so many different uses I could make of it.

  70. I would love to win and share this awesome Master Lock prize pack with my sisters
    Thank You for the chance

  75. I would give it to my girls because they are off to college this Fall and will be roommates.

  77. I would give it to my mother. She locks her stuff up at work and needs new locks.

  88. I would share it with family members, my son needs the door locks for his apartment, the smart lock for hubby to lock up his tools with, and my daughter needs a bike lock as the neighbor’s bike got stolen last week so it’s best to be careful and protect our investments.

  93. It would be used for our family and the locks would be given to whomever needed that particular lock. We have bikes which require locks while out, gym membership but you have to take your own lock for the lockers, etc.

  94. i would give this to my boyfriend cause he is always finding something and needs to look it down also good for his work

  95. My best friend’s daughter needs this to be safe in college. Wow, she is in college already. Seems like just yesterday I was changing her diaper and she was putting herself in time out declaring herself ‘naughty’.

  101. I would give the door locks to my parents.
    The other locks I would use myself, because I have use for them.

  126. I would keep it for myself – our locks are in desperate need of replacement!

  132. WOW, rockstar . I keep it for myself for safety. A life saver.Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂

  139. Split it up between hubby and my dad. They would both have a blast with it

  141. I would share this with my whole family! My daughter would get the bike lock, myself the door locks, & my dad the padlock so we’d all benefit from Master Lock products.

  143. I’d give it to me! 🙂
    well, I don’t need the bike lock so I’d give that to one of my friends who rides her bike on the weekends.
    thanks!

  144. I would keep this for my family. My husband and our oldest daughter have started biking a lot, including biking to the store to pick up groceries and i have been thinking that we need to get a lock for their bikes.

  147. I would give the bike lock to my sister, the padlock to my brother, and use the house lock myself.

  152. The door lock might go to daughter at college or keep for myself
    Bike lock will go to son at college
    Bluetooth lock will be used for locking a travel locker we have

  160. I would give to my Nieces. One just finished her first year of college. The other one starts college this fall. They are both moving into their first apartment together.

  163. My nephew could really use these. First person I thought of so they’d go to him.

  164. I’d split it up — I could really use a new bike lock, my sister needs to replace her doorlock, and the kids can fight over the padlock 🙂

  172. If I win, I will give this master lock prize pack to my daughter who will graduate in June and will start college in the fall.

  182. I would give the MasterLock set to my husband. He would put the items to good use.

  184. I would keep this prize pack. I’m worried about my bike being stolen and people getting into our shed.

  186. I am going to give to a friend of mine who has a son in college already!

  202. I would give this to my son and his girlfriend who just moved into an apartment downtown

  204. I would give this to my son who just graduated from pharmacy school…

  210. I would give this to my dad so he can lock his room away from the grandkids,older kids who steal.

  211. I would share this package with my daughter and give her the lock and cable and have my own door lock replaced with the dead bolt.

  212. I would give this to my niece who is moving into her first apartment in the big city.

  224. I would give this prize pack to my dad or boyfriend as a birthday gift, they’d both really love these!

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