New boarder - what to pack?

[Londonmummy66]

My DD is about to start boarding for 6th form. Other than uniform and bedding/towels what should we be thinking of packing? It's 3 weeks before an exeat so I was thinking 6 sets of casual clothes? Also are things like sewing kits and shoe cleaning kits useful or not?

She has a beside lamp and a plant to cheer her room up - anything else?

Anyone else with a new boarder want to have a mutual handholding support thread?

Sunday evenings tend to be the worse for getting homesick at boarding school (though, looking back, it seems odd that it wasn't Fridays). Maybe, for the first few weeks send her a tiny treat to open on Sunday evening - a mini lip balm, a packet of sweets -that sort of thing.

DDs housemistress emailed to suggest a mattress topper - clearly it’s a thing. DD has been road testing it over the summer and loved it, she has also packed about five fluffy cushions and a hundred cuddly toys

XXcstatic - I think the mattress toppers have become a “thing” because most beds are just thin mattresses on boards with drawers underneath. No spring cushioning at all. It was a life saver for my DD.

Rather than Uno, Cards Against Humanity were big at my DD’s school. Not to everyone’s taste but the teens seemed to love this game and it certainly acted as a bonding activity.

I boarded and found mufti challenging.
Black tie is/was easy (LBD, not TOO short). Casual you figure out In the first 2-3 weeks and then it’s fine. But the really challenging one is “smart casual”. Smart casual was required for things like theatre trips off site/Sunday lunches with the headmaster and nobody ever knew what to wear - the only guidance you got was “not jeans”. I still to this day come out in a cold sweat thinking about smart casual.

My advice on mufti casual would be not to take much at first actually, and certainly don’t buy anything before you go. New boarders will want to fit in, so wait til you get there and see what everyone is wearing, then either bring it from home or hit the shops at first exeat.

I would add, don’t take your own favourite mug from home because they get nicked straight away and found three years later under someone else’s bed.

Do find out if you are supposed to iron your own shirts, and if so take a can of spray starch...

Notice board pins, if she hasn't left for school yet. pen pot holder for her desk. Coat hangers, headphones for doing something quietly, or if friends too loud.

Do be aware that schools have to check all electrical equipment brought in by pupils. For safety. I’m amazed at all the fairy light suggestions. Keep electrical equipment to a minimum. I still have hair straighteners and a hairdryer with school safety levels on them!

My dc went back on tuesday night and although it's a wrench for me, it was so lovely to see all the girls greeting each other and being so excited to see everyone again. The boys are much more 'cool' about it!

Dd is allowed battery fairy lights only.

Good luck every one. I hope all your boarders settle in quickly.