Tag: dorm

Staying In Touch With Children Studying Away From Home

Starting university is a major milestone in a young adult’s life. While it’s an exciting time for the teen, it can be a cause of concern for parents, who would understandably be worried about their children’s welfare. Will their child be able to make friends? How will they cope if they need help with their studies? Will they be eating properly?

It’s important for parents to stay in touch with their children, especially when they live far from home. Finding the right balance between being supportive and being overbearing can be tricky, but it’s necessary. Here are some ways to do so.

Schedule regular video calls

Parents should be more open to all the possibilities technology offers. Video calls are a lot better than phone calls–they allow you and your child to see each other’s expressions in realtime. You can see your child’s mussed up hair, roll their eyes when you crack a dad joke, and get a glimpse of their messy dorm room in the background. On their end, they’ll be reminded of the things that make home special.

Share photos with each other

This is an easy way to keep your college student updated about what’s going on at home. You can agree with your child to send each other photos on a regular basis–maybe once a day, or once a week, no matter how mundane your schedule might be. Finding beauty in the mundane is a great way to hone your photography skills.

Sharing your photos will be more fun with a Nixplay Frame. This way, all your photographs will be displayed instantly without the need for USB drives, memory cards, or other devices. Now’s the best time to buy a Nixplay Frame: With our Secret Sale, you can get up to 30% off selected frames, only until August 23!

Visit as often as you can

Phone calls and video calls and care packages are great, but in-person visits are way better. If you have some free time, try to make a trip to your child’s campus. Nothing can replace the thrill of seeing your college student in their second home, where they’re hopefully learning, growing, and thriving. Make sure to tell your child of your plans to visit so you’ll both have something to look forward to and plan for.

Send care packages

A care package filled with food, supplies, and other dorm room necessities would be greatly appreciated by your child. You’ll brighten your kid’s day in a pinch, and you’ll help them save some cash during their next shopping trip. Make your care package more meaningful by adding a letter, a sweet note, or printed photos among the items so they’ll have a meaningful reminder of home.

Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

5 Dorm Essentials For College Students

By Nixplay Team

On September 3, 2019

In Home & Interiors

Seeing a child or a grandchild off to college is always a bittersweet experience: They grew up in front of your eyes, and it’s absolutely exciting to send them off to university. On the other hand, they’re a reminder of how quickly time flew by, and you’ll miss them terribly if they’ll be studying in a different state (or country).

One way to make the transition easier is by helping your college student select the dorm must-haves they’ll need for the place they’ll be moving into for uni. Here are some of our picks:

A set of towels

You never know when you need a towel until you need one. A set of towels should cover all your needs, from bath to beyond.

A shower caddy

Dormers shouldn’t leave their toiletries in the shower unless they don’t want to see their shampoo and soap forever. Have them stash all their supplies in a caddy for easy portability.

Laundry supplies

Detergent, laundry bags, hampers, an iron–these are all must-haves for any college student. Send them off with these supplies so they’ll always have clean clothes on hand.

Earplugs and a sleep mask

Few things are more annoying than noisy roommates stumbling in at 2 a.m. when you’ve got a major exam coming up. Make sure you get those much-needed Zzz’s with earplugs and a sleep mask that can block out everything that might disturb your slumber.

A Nixplay Frame

Make sure your student doesn’t miss your family’s milestones even if they’re several miles away with a Nixplay Frame!

Give them one of our Smart Photo Frames and easily share moments with them as they happen. Take advantage of our Dorm Room Must-Haves Sale and get 25% off selected Nixplay Frames, only until September 15!

nixplay digital frame dorm room must-haves nixplay seed 8"

8 Simple Things That Can Make Your Dorm Room More Homey

By Mars Salazar

On September 2, 2018

In Home & Interiors

For teenagers, there are few things more exciting than entering college. Meeting new people, attending interesting classes, finding lifelong mentors who can bring out the best in them—these are all amazing experiences that can encourage good habits and build character.

And if they’re attending college far away from home, the chance to stay in a dorm is another opportunity they shouldn’t miss. Aside from fostering independence and camaraderie, being able to decorate your own nook is also a great chance to flex those creativity muscles. That said, here are some items that can make any dorm room feel like home.

1. Clean bed sheets and fluffy pillows

Nothing beats collapsing on a cozy bed after a long day of classes and meetings. Plus points for freshly laundered sheets!

2. An area rug

Placing a small rug in the dorm helps a lot in making the room feel more like home. For dormers with roommates, make sure you all agree on the rug’s design so it doesn’t clash with their own decor.

3. Photos of loved ones back home

Displaying pictures of friends and family helps a lot in easing homesickness. Better yet, get a Nixplay Seed 8″ Wi-Fi Cloud Frame—it can display hundreds of photos in vivid HD, plus it’s small enough for any desk or bedside.

The Nixplay Seed 8″ also comes in four colors, so it won’t clash with the rest of the room. Get it at up to 30% off, only until September 14!

4. Cozy room scents

Scents can evoke certain feelings or trigger certain memories. A reed diffuser or a room spray in your favorite scent—lavender, freshly baked cookies, whatever floats your boat—will instantly make your dorm feel more like home.

5. Plants

A low-maintenance plant, like a succulent or a snake plant, adds some color and livens up your space. A plant also has a lot of benefits: They’re natural dehumidifiers and stress relievers, they can make you more responsible, and, as any grade schooler can tell you, release oxygen and help you breathe better.

6. Your own lamp

Some dorm rooms have really bad lighting, making them not the best place for all-nighters. Bringing your own lamp is a quick fix for this. Get a portable one that you can take from your desk to your bed easily.

7. A first aid kit

And we’re not talking about those pre-packed first aid kits you can get in a store (though they’re useful to have!). You know your body better than anyone else, so stock up on medicine and supplies you know you’ll use often.

8. Extension cords

Watching a movie or Skyping in bed are both great ways to unwind after a long day at school. These activities, however, can drain your gadget’s juice, and the “low battery” sign easily puts a damper on your “me time.” Since most dorm rooms have limited power outlets (which are usually located in the most inconvenient, impractical places), an extension cord can be a lifesaver.