What You Need to Teach Your College Freshman

Sending a child off to college can be scary for the new freshman and the parent. Suddenly, the kid is off on his own, without Mom or Dad to fall back on. College is a brand new world with plenty of adjustments. They will make lots of mistakes, and they'll learn from those mistakes. Still, it's crucial to teach a few important things to the kids, so they won't be quite so unprepared.

First, you need to teach your child about money. You may set up a checking account for daughter, give her a credit card or just hand over cash. Whatever system you choose, teach her about budgeting. When it was Mom's money, a quick stop for fast food, a run to the drug store for some new eye shadow and nabbing the just released movie seemed fine. But when it's hers, it goes fast. The best way to get your child to realize how much it all costs is to have her write down every penny she spends. She'll rebel at this extra work, but stand firm. With this plan, she can see exactly where the money goes.

You will certainly want to help your child learn how to manage time well. Since you won't be there to bug your son about getting that report done, he'll have to find another way to stay on top of assignments. A paper planner? That will work fine. A PDA? It will also keep him on track, but you'll have to shell out some dollars. A computer program that helps him calendar and sort projects? If he'll be taking a laptop to classes, this may be the best idea.

We all have to eat, and your child is no exception. But for your daughter to avoid the dreaded "freshmen fifteen," she'll have to eat healthy. Talk to her about the importance of fruits and veggies, give her the tip about eating a little protein in the morning in order to be more alert and caution her about caffeine addiction. If she's living off-campus, get her a basic cookbook, and encourage her to try her hand in the kitchen. It's a lot cheaper than eating out every night and can be the start of a life-long hobby.

If you never made your son do laundry at home, you'd better start now. He needs to realize that real men do laundry, and you don't just go out and buy new stuff because all the old clothes are dirty. Equip him with a clothes basket or laundry bag, a box of detergent and a few rolls of quarters. Then, have him practice, practice, practice before leaving home.

And if you haven't had a serious talk with your child about drugs, alcohol, date rape and casual sex, now is the time. Yes, they will roll their eyes, sigh and look bored. But they really will listen. And even though it's hard to believe, they appreciate your interest in their life.