I cart my children to Asda, measure their feet with the measurererer in there, and then order their shoes from Shoezone via Amazon. We are skint and my children are all in that phase where they go up a shoesize overnight roughly once a week. My eldest is now in size tens! HE IS TALLER THAN ME AND STILL GOING. He is in men's sized uniform. It is appalling.
I also label everything with a laundry sharpie on either the collar seam or the white inner pockets of trousers. Fuck name labels.
I am a massive fan of organization and lists, so thank you.
Can't extol the use of cubbies enough.
We use a 4 x 2 Kallax (other units are available). Each member of the family has two cubbies each. Each child can dump school bags, pencil cases, lunch boxes etc into one and hats, coats (when dry of course), scarfs, paper, rocks, sticks and other "collectibles" etc into another. Husband dumps work related stuff (lots of tech that is important to him and is hideous to look at) into one and whatever into the other, I honestly don't look - that's the point. Mine are for school stuff - laptop, planner, marking. The other is for hats, coats, handbag, stuff I need but does not need to be laying about the place.
Has worked a treat for over 5 years now.
People comment on how tidy my house is. Nope its just all shoved out of sight.
This is wonderful Esther and so timely as my daughter leaves for college in 3 weeks. Will definitely be getting a drying rack, had not thought of that!
We recently moved to Washington state (close to Canada) so one thing I will be sending with her is a “happy light” in case of season depression disorder, which hopefully she won’t have but at least the lamp might help. My daughter is a minimalist and dislikes shopping (not like her mom!) so we are trying to pack light. Thanks for these ideas!
Would add only one - a pack of safety pins. Frock hems fall down, buttons come off shirts - at inconvenient moments, and I've yet to meet a teenager who can sew on a button or repair a hem. (And that iron-on hemming stuff lasts precisely one wash...) And they can also secure the shank to the arm of spectacles that have lost those irritatingly tiny screws - pleasingly punkish. Lxx
The worm and nit theory is a game changer, so true and how have I not realised this??!! I would also share the theory that one child is a dandelion and one is an orchid. Your Dandelion will thrive absolutely anywhere and you never think about them twice, the orchid - well I think this speaks for itself. I love this annual list, always eye opening x
I moved my kid into their college dorm two weeks ago. Raiding the command hooks section of the local hardware store so that all headphones, bags, hats, keys, led lights, can be hung neatly, and a few of their favorite decorations displayed on floating shelves. We also use those small hanging boards covered in elastic weave to manage the desk mess, on more command hooks. And the small nightstands which hang over the bed and can store a phone, book, airpod case, are brilliant. My kid is a nester, so we also moved them in with houseplants, desk lamp, extra lap throws, an electric kettle and tea.
Uni- washi tape - for sticking photos/ pictures on the wall
Kids - big fan of the basic command hook - for hanging uniform / coats / pe bags each day - in their room / by back door - wherever. Easily visible- even my 4 yr old can see what he needs to wear / take each morning
Don’t use suitcases for the initial trip to uni, big squashy bags (or bin bags) fit in the boot more easily. Of course if your teen has a full set of Louis Vuitton they may object to this, but let the chauffeur sort it out
A key ring for students! Son was given a key and a door fob thing on moving into halls, dropped and nearly lost the key in the first five minutes 🙄 then we had to drag round the shops looking for a key ring (surprisingly hard to find) he got a distinctive one so if he lost them again they were easier to identify. Small but useful.
I said it last year and will every year - big paper plates for Uni, to go on top of a proper plate, for strength and stability, then bin (or recycle bin) one and no need to wash the other
Highly recommend the brilliant My Baggage service. Used it recently for a family wedding in London. Nightmare amount of outfits ( plus kilts etc) easily transported from Edinburgh. Effortless.
Whiteboard, marker pens and those command hanging strips, washing up bowl (not necessarily for washing up ...), packs of J cloths, many, many tea towels (Lidl, Aldi), summer term send extra pants and a couple of new t-shirts for exam season. Amazon lockers on campus are useful - find out which one is handy and next to your child's labs or whatever
I cart my children to Asda, measure their feet with the measurererer in there, and then order their shoes from Shoezone via Amazon. We are skint and my children are all in that phase where they go up a shoesize overnight roughly once a week. My eldest is now in size tens! HE IS TALLER THAN ME AND STILL GOING. He is in men's sized uniform. It is appalling.
I also label everything with a laundry sharpie on either the collar seam or the white inner pockets of trousers. Fuck name labels.
I am a massive fan of organization and lists, so thank you.
Can't extol the use of cubbies enough.
We use a 4 x 2 Kallax (other units are available). Each member of the family has two cubbies each. Each child can dump school bags, pencil cases, lunch boxes etc into one and hats, coats (when dry of course), scarfs, paper, rocks, sticks and other "collectibles" etc into another. Husband dumps work related stuff (lots of tech that is important to him and is hideous to look at) into one and whatever into the other, I honestly don't look - that's the point. Mine are for school stuff - laptop, planner, marking. The other is for hats, coats, handbag, stuff I need but does not need to be laying about the place.
Has worked a treat for over 5 years now.
People comment on how tidy my house is. Nope its just all shoved out of sight.
Thank you! This is brilliant!
This is wonderful Esther and so timely as my daughter leaves for college in 3 weeks. Will definitely be getting a drying rack, had not thought of that!
We recently moved to Washington state (close to Canada) so one thing I will be sending with her is a “happy light” in case of season depression disorder, which hopefully she won’t have but at least the lamp might help. My daughter is a minimalist and dislikes shopping (not like her mom!) so we are trying to pack light. Thanks for these ideas!
I love these annual tips.
Would add only one - a pack of safety pins. Frock hems fall down, buttons come off shirts - at inconvenient moments, and I've yet to meet a teenager who can sew on a button or repair a hem. (And that iron-on hemming stuff lasts precisely one wash...) And they can also secure the shank to the arm of spectacles that have lost those irritatingly tiny screws - pleasingly punkish. Lxx
that hemming shite is such a waste of time
The worm and nit theory is a game changer, so true and how have I not realised this??!! I would also share the theory that one child is a dandelion and one is an orchid. Your Dandelion will thrive absolutely anywhere and you never think about them twice, the orchid - well I think this speaks for itself. I love this annual list, always eye opening x
I definitely have a dandelion and an orchid...
yes, me too.
extremely perceptive
It was me! I worm us all regularly and never had a problem- so far!!
yay!
I moved my kid into their college dorm two weeks ago. Raiding the command hooks section of the local hardware store so that all headphones, bags, hats, keys, led lights, can be hung neatly, and a few of their favorite decorations displayed on floating shelves. We also use those small hanging boards covered in elastic weave to manage the desk mess, on more command hooks. And the small nightstands which hang over the bed and can store a phone, book, airpod case, are brilliant. My kid is a nester, so we also moved them in with houseplants, desk lamp, extra lap throws, an electric kettle and tea.
I need to buy shares in Command
This list would also be helpful for someone moving out to their first house share. I would add lots of toilet roll and cleaning products.
Uni- washi tape - for sticking photos/ pictures on the wall
Kids - big fan of the basic command hook - for hanging uniform / coats / pe bags each day - in their room / by back door - wherever. Easily visible- even my 4 yr old can see what he needs to wear / take each morning
I love the washi tape idea!
Previously recommended by you I think, Esther, a door wedge so you can be friendly and not miss out.
Don’t use suitcases for the initial trip to uni, big squashy bags (or bin bags) fit in the boot more easily. Of course if your teen has a full set of Louis Vuitton they may object to this, but let the chauffeur sort it out
A key ring for students! Son was given a key and a door fob thing on moving into halls, dropped and nearly lost the key in the first five minutes 🙄 then we had to drag round the shops looking for a key ring (surprisingly hard to find) he got a distinctive one so if he lost them again they were easier to identify. Small but useful.
My husband has those alarm ones so he can find keys and/or phone if lost - Chipolo is the brand
Yes or Airtags are brilliant and there are many AirTag associated key rings e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNBREAKcable-Protective-Scratch-Resistant-Protection-Keychain-Black-Blue/dp/B096F7NJ62/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=JEIBMH0LWMZ3&keywords=airtag+holder+key+ring&qid=1693223160&sprefix=airtag+holder+key+ring%2Caps%2C475&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
I said it last year and will every year - big paper plates for Uni, to go on top of a proper plate, for strength and stability, then bin (or recycle bin) one and no need to wash the other
Highly recommend the brilliant My Baggage service. Used it recently for a family wedding in London. Nightmare amount of outfits ( plus kilts etc) easily transported from Edinburgh. Effortless.
Whiteboard, marker pens and those command hanging strips, washing up bowl (not necessarily for washing up ...), packs of J cloths, many, many tea towels (Lidl, Aldi), summer term send extra pants and a couple of new t-shirts for exam season. Amazon lockers on campus are useful - find out which one is handy and next to your child's labs or whatever