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Helping a young person prepare for life as a student can be both exciting and daunting.
On one hand, they are about to become more independent than ever. On the other hand, they face new challenges in new environments, such as managing money, balancing study with social life, cooking, washing, and much more.
Below, we’ve created a list of things to teach them before they leave, to help them settle in and thrive with independence.
If your child is starting university, the luxury of home-cooked meals may be a thing of the past. Learning to cook can be daunting, but you can help your child get started – cooking with rice and pasta, how to cook meats or meat alternatives, how to create basic sauces using chopped tomatoes and spices, and even how to cook an egg, all of these will come in handy! It’s important to build their confidence so they can begin to cook easy meals, batch cook, and explore new options.
Good old-fashioned cookbooks, Google, and social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook are all good options to find recipes. Most supermarkets even have sections dedicated to everyday recipes on their websites. We would also recommend writing your easy-to-make, cheap recipes down in a book so they can make them away from home – whether it’s your Bolognese recipe, their favourite stir-fry, or fajitas.
What you teach your child about laundry ultimately depends on them – you might choose to teach them to use two-in-one laundry capsules to make washing easier. However, you might also opt to teach them about how to do washing on a budget, and the cost-effectiveness of washing powder and conditioner.
We would recommend showing them how to sort their washing into similar colours and use the machine, how to read the instructions on their clothes, and to show them how to use products like stain remover and colour catching sheets.
If your child is staying in halls of residence, it could be worth visiting the campus launderette when they move in, so they know where it is and the facilities available.
From pasta and milk to toilet paper and shower gel, make sure your child knows what essentials they’re going to need to buy regularly and how to prioritise their shopping. Make sure they have realistic expectations when shopping for themselves regularly for the first time. It’s also a great time to pass on your top money-saving tips like buying own-brand products over big brand names or buying dry rice in bulk instead of microwaveable sachets.
If they’re living in a group, it could be worth them collaborating with friends to order a shopping delivery to their accommodation as this can work out cheaper and there are plenty of large supermarkets surrounding each of the campuses. Of course, this all depends on your child and what is best for them.
Most students love a bargain, whether it’s hunting for yellow labels in the discounted section of the supermarket or getting a free pizza. Make sure your child has signed up for a TOTUM card.
The card, which is the official National Union of Students card, is also free with some banks’ student accounts. With discounts ranging from as little as around 5% to as high as around 70%, they can find bargains with many household-name brands.
It's also worth encouraging your child to sign up to free loyalty cards with their local supermarkets – such as Tesco Clubcard, Nectar Card for Sainsbury’s, or ASDA rewards - to help get offers and money off some of their favourite items.
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Money matters
For a lot of students, leaving home to attend university is their first time planning their own spending. While you may be able to support your child financially, they will still need to budget for their food and essentials, rent and utilities, and in some cases travel as well as the all-important socialising.
It is worth sitting down with them to help them work out how much money they will have, what their outgoings will be each week, and how to budget for daily costs. Some students work part-time while they’re studying – head to our careers service to see part-time job opportunities available.
Many banks offer online resources for students, so it's worth signposting your child to help available from their own bank if they need it. The student money advice service is also on hand to offer advice and guidance on budgeting, and to support them with any financial difficulties throughout their studies.
Asking for help
Your child will possibly need help or support at some point during their time at university. We have a range of student support services available from counselling and health services to financial advice and careers support.
They will have to ask for help if they are struggling, however, our Advice Zone is on hand in person and online to assist students to where they need to be for the best support possible.
Make sure your child knows that leaving home for the first time can impact everyone differently and that if they need help at any point during their time with USW, it is always okay to reach out for help from our teams who will be happy to offer confidential and professional support.
Staying safe at university
Before your child leaves home, have a conversation with them about the importance of staying safe and keeping their valuable items secure. Pass on tips such as locking their bedroom in halls when they're not around to keep laptops and phones safe and making sure to lock the front door at night.
It’s also worth bringing up how to stay safe at a party or on a night out as well as the importance of sexual wellness and consent. Offer them tips such as making sure they watch drinks being poured and not leaving them unattended, not travelling home alone late at night, and using condoms so they can have safe sex.
We know these conversations can be difficult – if you’re unsure, look at our ‘Keeping Yourself Safe’ advice on our website for tips you can pass on and ask your child to sign up for USW’s ‘SafeZone’ app, which provides safety and security guidance, advice, and support.