Tips For Getting Your Student Prepared for the Winter!

It’s been a very confusing fall when it comes to the weather and it’s starting to get very cold outside. Winter is coming upon us! For some, this means snowball fights and snowmen, hot chocolate and staying inside with friends to watch movies, but for others this means long commutes, tons of shoveling, and being cold all the time. New York snowstorms create a winter wonderland on campus. But although snowstorms bring joy to many people, there are a lot of supplies that students can use that will really help them get through the winter months. You can help your student become prepared by making sure they have exactly what they need for this winter.

Get those warm clothes ready

This is one of the most important things to remember. For first-year and transfer students coming from warmer areas, the cold can surprise them if they are not used to it. Therefore, make sure that your student has all of the winter clothes he or she needs including: a warm winter coat, snow boots, snow pants, hats, gloves, thicker socks, etc. Believe us, it will get cold...fast! Mary remembers when she was a first-year, her mom sent her a pair of battery-powered warming socks, and although they were quirky, they were one of the best gifts she ever received.

Help get your student’s car prepared

Whether your student is commuting to school or has their car on campus, taking steps getting your student’s car ready for the winter can save him or her hours of frustration later on. There are few things worse than getting up early for class to find snow dumped on your car and it not starting! Help your student by checking and showing him or her how to check his or her battery and getting the car’s oil changed. Other items you will want to stock in your student’s trunk with includes: plenty of anti-freeze windshield fluid, a snow brush and strong shovel, and a winter emergency roadside kit. If you have snow tires, go ahead and help your student switch his or her tires to those. Teach your student how to use the defroster in his or her car properly. Constantly remind your student to drive safe and slow when the roads can be very dangerous: it’s okay to be a nag, that’s your job! For those whose students commute, encourage your student to make friends with other commuters and set up a carpool or make friends with resident students. Sometimes classes end late, sometimes the roads are dangerous. Stay worry free while your student is warm on campus watching the snowfall from C-Square!

It’s just snow- encourage your student to enjoy it!

Encourage your student, especially if they’ve never seen snow or experienced winter weather before, to take advantage of it. Deter them from staying in their residence hall or home and instead, encourage them to take a walk in Hofstra’s winter wonderland. Tell your student to get on the intramural fields with some friends and start a fun and safe snowball fight or build some snowmen and snow angels!

Also, make sure that your students know about all of Hofstra’s fun activities that go on around the community during winter. Inform your child about Hofstra’s Ski and Snowboarding Club, or encourage them to look into ski trips run by local businesses. For around $100, ($150 if you need to rent gear) many businesses, like Sundown Ski and Snowboard (http://www.sundownski.com/), run day ski trips to Vermont and New Hampshire. Included in the price is transportation, a lift ticket and breakfast. These are a great and fun ways for your student to get off campus and explore a little bit.

Winter at Hofstra is an exciting experience and one that many students look forward to every year. Just make sure that your student is prepared for the winter months, and make sure that they stay safe!

-Gabriella Novello, Class of 2018