Move-in day is filled with emotions—excitement, dread, happiness, sadness, etc. You are so proud of your new college student, but you know this day may be hard to get through. How can you help your child get through this day smoothly?

Considering these 4 situations can help you get your child moved into her dorm room and prepared for the year ahead. Discover how you can help this day go well!

#1. Carefully schedule your arrival time.

After arriving on campus, your freshman may be immediately ready to move into her dorm room. With all the excitement she probably forgot to think through some things. Before moving in, she will need to locate and determine a few things. 

First, figure out how she can access her room. Most dormitories require a student ID card to open the main doors. Your child will need to pick up her ID at check in or sometimes another location. In addition, she needs to figure out if she needs any sort of special access (like a key) to get into her room.

Second, figure out when she can move into her room. Some dorms have restricted times in which parents are allowed to access them. Additionally, avoiding peak move-in hours will help you avoid crowded elevators, stairways, and hallways.

Third, figure out when the weather is best. Somehow move-in day usually ends up being wet or too warm. Thinking through the temperature will prevent exhausting yourself unnecessarily.

Fourth, figure out the state of her room. Some colleges are better about cleaning and prepping dormitories better than others. Before carrying up belongings, think about assessing the status of her room. You may need to clean out drawers and wipe down surfaces before crowding the room with personal belongings.

#2. Make a running list of needed items.

No matter how much you prepared your child with the right things for her dorm room, you will inevitably forget something. As you move in and unpack things, make a running list of items that you will need to pick up later. Writing these items down or typing them into your phone will help you remember each of these little items.

Rather than taking multiple trips to stores, do your best to compile this list for one trip. Your day will be busy enough without running from store to store. Additionally, consider using in-store pick up options. You will avoid unnecessary purchases and be able to stay on task while moving your child to college.

#3. Think about eating.

Hanger is a real thing, especially while moving. Tempers can flare up, patience runs low, and hunger can strike. Avoid this triplet-threat by thinking through your meals on move-in day.

First of all, plan on bringing water for the daytime. The dorm water fountains and sinks will be heavily used throughout this day. Rather than having to run back and forth in the hallway, plan on bringing drinks will you.

Second of all, plan on bringing small energy-boosting snacks. When the mid-morning or late-afternoon slump hits you all, you want to be able to push through and finish the task. Bring small snacks, like granola bars or fruit, to keep you going.

Third of all, plan your meals. You can certainly save some money by packing lunches and dinners, but this may be more of a hassle than a help. Getting off campus or out of the dorm room may help break up the tension or monotony of unpacking. Additionally, your child (if she doesn’t have a car or regular access to transportation) will probably enjoy some variety of food different to that of the dining hall. 

#4. Plan your goodbye.

Saying goodbye is hard. You’ve worked so hard to get to this day, and now it’s here. You may wish you had more time or a small piece of wisdom to pass on. In reality, you may find yourself holding back tears as you hug your child goodbye.

As a student, I often heard about two extremes that made the parent goodbye more difficult for new students. One extreme is not truly having a goodbye. While you may want to avoid giving a goodbye, remember your child wants to be able to say goodbye. Please do not leave for the last time without truly giving a goodbye.

Another extreme is making the goodbye long and drawn out. The emotion and intensity of the goodbye will build and build. When it comes, there may be sobbing that makes it difficult for you to leave. Try your best to make your goodbye intentional but not final. You will see your child in a matter of months. Making this exchange as normal as it can be will help the parting of ways go well.

Move-in day starts long before you unpack your vehicle. You’ve been planning for this day for months. In the busyness of buying college must-haves, take time to plan for this important day in these 4 ways.