by Dave Donovan
You’ve done all you could up to this point in your child’s life. You’ve given them all the life lessons you could over the past 18 years, now it’s time for them to go and experience life on their own. That includes doing things for, and by, themselves. Hey, they’re in college now!
An important, yet easily forgotten, piece of dorm equipment they should take with them is their own tool box. There’s only one requirement—Teach them how to use everything before they go.
Having worked at an Ivy League University for 15 years, I’ve seen it all. Makeshift bookshelves, custom-wired doorbells, you name it and I’ve seen it. Inform your child that their toolbox is for very minor jobs only. If there is a problem with their room, they should contact the maintenance department immediately.
If your child tries to fix something and they don’t exactly know what they’re doing, they, or one of their friends could get seriously injured. Leave the dangerous jobs to the professionals. Also, keep in mind that many Universities have unionized maintenance, so if your child is doing work they shouldn’t be doing, they could get caught and face a fine if the school decides to go that route. Your child should be made aware very early on just what they can and can’t do as far as maintenance is concerned.
Now, what items should you include in your child’s toolbox? Here’s a list of the items they’ll most commonly need.
- Screwdrivers—Both Philips and Straight Head
- Cordless Drill Kit
- Hammer with Claw
- Measuring Tape
- Adjustable Wrench
- Pliers
- Utility Knife
- Flashlight
- Duct Tape
- Torpedo Level
- Putty Knife (If they need to spackle walls)
- Poster Putty (For hanging posters without scarring the walls)
- Small Socket Set
This is the immediate list of tools. If a job requires anything other than what’s listed here, they should contact the maintenance department.
A toolbox should be used to keep all these tools in one easy-to-find place. Picking up a padlock for the box will help ensure that their tools don’t accidentally grow feet and “walk” away. Writing their initials with a permanent marker on the toolbox also helps.
Miscellaneous items that are tool-related, but won’t fit into the toolbox include a broom and dustpan, a mop, a bucket, a re-chargeable vacuum, bug spray or traps, power-strips and extension cords and plastic totes. Sealable plastic containers are important and necessary for keeping critters out of food-related items. Don’t forget, there are a lot of people living in the dorm and not all of them are clean. Sometimes, bugs or mice have been known to make their rounds.
Ask that your child treat their room as if it is their own. Keep it clean and don’t damage it. I’ve seen grown men and women cry when they get the bill for damaged rooms. Don’t let that be you. College is a time to grow and with that comes responsibility. Let your child know before they leave how important it is to respect their dorm room. It will actually make their time away at college that much more valuable.
Yes! It’s finally here; your child is heading off to college. You paid for the semester, you bought your child a laptop, you treated him or her to a nice new wardrobe, not to mention the weekly allowances for food and necessary items throughout the school year. Man, this college thing can get expensive! Maybe you’re not so eager to get them out of the house after all!
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