Tech Your Kid Will Need for Their First Apartment

Many parents begin planning for their child’s departure to college from the moment of that child’s birth, but nothing prepares them for the letting go. When that child decides to move out of the dorm and into her first apartment, the responsibility involved increases with their freedom. For mothers, this is an exciting and scary time, so naturally, you want to make sure she has everything she needs to be prepared, comfortable and safe. To help, here is a checklist of the essential tech items for your child’s first college apartment.

Water Filter

Her first glass of water from a dorm tap probably taught your daughter about the importance of water filtration. Gross water is a universal college dormitory experience, but don’t let her believe that the bad water ends at the dorm door. Depending on location, the water at her new apartment could be worse.

That’s why a filtering system or filtration pitcher is still a must. If she’s been living with a five-cup Brita pitcher, though, she can now upgrade since she’ll be leaving the tiny dorm room refrigerator behind. Time to graduate to a gallon container. Be sure to send a few extra filters with her too as those tend to fall to low priority when money gets tight. If it comes down to a water filter or toilet paper, toilet paper will win every time.

Security Camera

The No. 1 concern of parents when their child sets out on his or her own is the safety and wellbeing of their kid, no matter how old that child is. When your adult child leaves campus to get an apartment for the first time, they leave the protection the college provided. There are no R.A.s of campus security with off-campus housing.

For security and peace of mind, a security camera is a wise choice. The HD 1080p Outdoor Wireless Security Camera from Lorex offers an alternative to wired cameras with the 1080p resolution. With no wires, it is super easy to install, completely weatherproof and has a heavy-duty exterior that is vandal resistant. You can also listen in on the audio, so you can see and hear what’s outside from the safety and comfort of the inside.

Bluetooth Tracker

College students are notoriously a little scatterbrained, particularly around midterms and finals. They are bound to misplace keys, lose wallets, leave cell phones at parties, ahem, uh … “study sessions.” So, having a way to locate lost items could end up being a life-saver.

Tile Mate Bluetooth trackers attach to any personal item that one would want to keep track of and then can be tracked via a smartphone app. With a resource like this, your child has no excuse for not keeping track of their important belongings.

Portable Coffee Maker

College students are also notorious for staying up late (to study, of course) and for trying to function in a sleep-deprived state. Though a coffee maker is a great gift to combat this issue, a portable coffee maker may be more cherished by your child as it is conducive to an on-the-go lifestyle.

There are several models available on the market, depending on if your son or daughter prefers to grind their own beans or not, but all portable coffee makers do the brewing while in motion and pour straight into the attached travel mug. They are cheaper than a Keurig and take up less space, and with a little luck, it might cut down on your kid’s Starbucks addiction.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

Anyone who has experienced dorm life knows how loud neighbors can be, and unfortunately, loud neighbors are not restricted to on-campus housing. They’re everywhere. Whether your child needs quiet for sleeping, studying or working from home, a set of noise-canceling headphones will go a long way toward eliminating loud distractions. Plus, they’re great for Netflix shows and streaming music without disturbing others.

Many models are Bluetooth capable, so the key will be to find a pair of headphones that have comfortable ear cushions and that can last a good while without requiring to be charged.

Your kid’s first apartment is a big milestone. You may not have been planning for this moment since your baby entered the world, but following this checklist should help you anticipate the essential tech your child will need as she makes her new home as an adult.