If you haven’t yet taken your kids to see Disney and Pixar’s Monsters University, go now! It is adorable, and of course, after the show, my kids had a million questions about college. I suddenly realized that even though college is still 14 plus years away for them, I need to start preparing them now.
Right now, Juicy Juice is helping parents and kids prepare for college with a Monster-sized Instant Win and Sweepstakes Giveaway. For a limited time, Juicy Juice products are featuring characters from Monsters University. Of course my kiddos spotted those in the store with their little eagle eyes and we just had to stock up. I can totally justify it because not only are they 100% fruit juice with no artificial additives, but each specially marked product includes an instant prize! We won an automatic Disney music download and an exciting character call–Sulley called with a special personalized message! Better yet, Juicy Juice is offering TEN first prize $5,000 scholarships and one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship plus a behind-the-scenes tour of Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA with a private screening of the film. So let Juicy Juice be a part of your college prep and you’re guaranteed to get some pretty amazing prizes! *See Official Rules for how to enter for free and for full details here.
If you’d like to win BIG right now, Juicy Juice is giving one lucky HowDoesShe reader a fun College Adventure Kit loaded with college gear of your choice, college-themed books for your child, brainy puzzles, and more. Make sure and enter below!
So how do you start preparing your kids for college?
It is never too early to start talking to your kids about higher learning. My dad’s continual harping about going to college was an itch I couldn’t scratch fast enough. He didn’t attend college and it was a decision he’s regretted his entire life. Despite my eye-rolling at his diatribes, the point stuck. I attended Utah State University where I got a degree in English teaching and Physical Education.
College was one of the best phases of my life and I want my kids to know how important it is. In today’s tumultuous economy, getting a higher education is not only important, it is essential. So when do you start preparing your kids for college? Now.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A great way to start the conversation about college is to ask the classic question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As of yesterday, my four-year-old daughter wanted to be a “dance and book teacher” and my two-year-old son wanted to work at the zoo. Whatever ages your children are, talk to them about their dreams for the future often, because they will change. Make sure they understand the connection between their dream job, and the education it takes to achieve it. So your child wants to be a firefighter? Instead of just saying, “Sure, great idea,” have a conversation about the training a firefighter needs to have.
Visit a local college campus.
When it comes learning, a memorable hands-on experience can be the best teacher. Take your kids to a local college campus. Have a picnic on the grounds, explore buildings, or attend a sporting event. Let them ask questions.
We spent an afternoon at Boise State University and my kids had a blast exploring!
Get the gear.
Around these parts, if you go out in public on a game day without Boise State gear, you are either pegged for an outsider or a party-pooper. We have absolutely loved joining the throngs of fanatic BSU fans around town. Our kids love cheering for the Broncos at basketball and football games. My son can’t wait to be a football player and my daughter, a “Ra-ra!” By doing this, we are showing our little ones early on that college is a fun event to look forward to in their lives.
Gotta love that blue turf!
Prepare their minds and bodies.
Learning how to succeed in school comes down to learning how to work. Help your kids exercise their brains by offering opportunities that are difficult for them. Our brains thrive on challenge. For younger ones, this could mean doing puzzles and other thinking games.
My little ones love the puzzle What Comes Next? from Trend enterprises, Inc. It helps kids master the concept of sequencing and is just challenging enough without frustrating them. They love seeing the order of events from a monkey eating a banana, to building an ice cream sundae.
We had a lovely picnic on the BSU grounds. They could’ve stayed there all day playing that puzzle!
Babies can even start exercising their brains with engaging toys.
For older children, encourage them to take challenging classes and attempt things that are hard for them. Motivate them to try new things. Teach them the importance of studying and working toward their goals. Rejoice in their successes!
Nourishing their bodies is just as important as their brains. I love that Juicy Juice provides kids with at least one full serving of fruit and 100% of their USDA recommended Vitamin C. That’s great, because my kids guzzle it down in the hot summer months and the juice boxes are so convenient to take to parks and other fun outings!
Read, read, read!
It’s no surprise that literacy and educational success are closely connected. In a 2003 article in Principal magazine, the authors conclude that the more children read, the greater their vocabulary and the better their cognitive skills. If you want your prepare your children for higher education, and for life, then read to them like it’s your job! Even when you’ve read Where the Wild Things Are for the hundredth time, read it again. If you can foster a love of reading in your child early on, you will give them a skill that will help them their whole life long. For older kids, encourage reading by being interested in what they are reading. Read the same books along with them so you can have lively discussions.
Start saving now.
College is expensive. So are trade schools and specialty schools. Give your child a head start by saving right now. Most banks offer free savings accounts for children which you can call a college savings fund. My kids each have a special savings account and every time they get money as gifts, instead of buying more toys, I deposit that money into their savings accounts. It’s not a lot now, but over time it will build. When they get a little older, we can involve them in saving for their futures. Teaching kids to save is a valuable life skill and will also show them that an education is important.
And remember to snag up those packages of specially marked Juicy Juice for your chance to win one of eleven $5,000 scholarships! Scholarships can be a life-saver, so be aware of what is available to your child when the time draws nearer.
Now it’s your chance to win a fun College Adventure Kit including your choice of college gear, brainy books, puzzles, and more! Just enter your info in the rafflecopter below:
The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. Good luck! And feel free to share any great ideas you have about preparing kids for college!
SmileyGirl says
I love the blanket you have down! Did you make it out of t-shirts? My daughter is a high school athlete and we are saving her shirts to make them into something like this but I hadn’t seen one quite like this one before.
Love the idea about preparing for college early. Just talking about how you graduate from high school and then go on to college instills a sort of grounding and path that kids grow up learning is the best way to succeed.
Nicolette says
My amazing aunt made that blanket out of old BSU shirts and jerseys and we love it! I wish I had saved my high school jerseys for something like this.
Sheri says
What a fun day and great learning experience! My husband and I live close to the college we graduated from so we have taken our 2 year old daughter there several times to walk around the beautiful campus. She loves to explore the bookstore on campus and picked out a toddler’s shirt the last time we were there. We also went to the alumni reunion this year where she really loved seeing all the other families and having a picnic with them. I hadn’t thought how doing these things could help with preparing her for college, especially at her age, until reading your post!
Melissa Geyman says
Great idea!
H. Horne says
By reading to him every day 🙂
Catherine says
Our girls know where they’re going to school: BYU! We live far away, but they’ve got enough plush cougars & BYU t-shirts between them to make up for it. Plus, we’re taking them to the campus for the first time when we’re there this summer!
Jenalyn says
We have been reading to our kids since birth, and so far they all still love reading and learning. We’re also big fans of USU and visit campus and attend sporting events as often as possible.
Shelly G says
It comes up quickly too! I have a 13 yr old son and 11 yr old daughter but I swear they are still your kids’ ages! We often talk about it here especially since my husband just finished his Master’s. College was never a choice for me- where I went was but my mom knew my sisters and I were all going. And we did!
Stephanie says
I look at how little your kids are in these pics, and see how little mine still are, and can’t bear to think of them in college already! But I know the time will fly by and before I know it, it’ll be here. While doing my best to prepare them, this posts also reminds me to savor every single moment with them up to the day they are old enough to make college decisions.
Liz says
I work at a college, so my kids meet current students and spend time on campus.
Shelley says
Oh my gosh that blanket!!!!! I love this post.
Mrs Shannon K Orton says
Mine are, 1, 12, and 14. We visit different college campuses when we go on vacation. Also, I have a 529 plan and they know they are going to college. I have been telling them since they were born.
Your pictures are so cute!!
Shauna Krantz says
What a great idea. It is never too soon to save. Great reminder. I have three kiddos and would love to help prepare them and get them involved while teaching them a valuable life lesson.
Emiko says
Hadn’t thought about it much (other than saving) since my daughter just turned three. But, other than saving, we read lots, talk up school, and she has some shirts from my schools.
Bernadette says
LOVE reading to our kids! Also love teaching them that learning is all around us. 🙂
Renee Nagle says
My daughter is leaving in the fall for ASU and we have been preparing for years. Not with just classes in school but many vacations filled with college visits before she finally made a decision. The places she was obsessed with she disliked many, and places I forced her to see she liked. She wanted to go somewhere warm and to experience time away from home. Being a single mom of an only child it is going to be hard for both us but I know we will both survive and will hopefully love her experiences away from home.
Chas says
Good grades are no enough to stand out on college applications anymore, we are getting our six year old involved in community projects and helping with volunteer work that we do. It is never to early to teach them to give back adding life experience to their education.
Teri says
Saving money…they are both smart and I think college is definitely in their futures, but we will have to have the money to send them.
Natalie says
We read everyday, and we talk to her about our college experiences.
rzg123 says
It is never too early to start talking to your kid about college! I’ve come across some great children’s books that introduce the idea and are written for especially for young children. You want them to look forward to it, and embrace the opportunities that each school offers, instead of seeing it as something they “have to do” or “4 MORE years of school.”
LisaJQ says
I love your ideas about getting kids excited for college. Thanks so much for the post!
JFreeb says
Reading to them every day
Heidi says
Great ideas! Thanks!
Heidi says
I’m preparing him by reading to him a lot and I plan on trying some of your ideas out in the future too 🙂
Maya says
Lots of great ideas! Just three more years before my oldest will go to college so I definitely need to think about it!
Rhonda says
I am 61 years old and I am still not sure what I want to do when I grow up!!!!!
Amy Ragland says
We are making sure our daughter gets good grades and does the best she ban do with her sports in hopes of a scholarship. We have a very small savings going for her. She already had a couple of schools in mind and she is 10.
Jackie says
We read to our children everyday when they were young. Now we have our first granddaughter and we spend a lot of time with her. She loves to read like her Uncle.
Sheri says
I love the idea of just visiting a college campus for part of a day. What a nice, free, opportunity for the kiddos to run around across a campus lawn.
Maryanne @Scrappy Gifts says
I’m preparing my kids for college with SimplyFun games – awesome educational games that connect my family through play. Also just trying to talk to my children, explain things to them instead of assuming they know what something means.
Thanks for the great tips!
susan says
We talk about it with our little one and read daily.
Wendi says
I have my kid actively start saving for college basically when they not even out of the womb….it is just habit for my 2 year old to put all his money in his piggy bank for college and a church mission. This way when we talk about our college experiences he knows he is working towards his own college education.
Heather H. says
I agree that it is never too soon to start preparing for college and the future. We often talk about what the children would like to be and how they will achieve those goals. We emphasize the importance of learning — reading, math, practicing skills. We have fun workbooks and games for them to do at home to reinforce skills they’ve learned at schools and to introduce ones they will need in the next school year. I love the suggestions included in this post. We have several major post-secondary institutions within a half-hour radius of us, all of which would be great places for them to attend. I’m going to look into ways we can not only visit them, but engage in activities that are happening — and pick up some gear in the process. Thanks so much for this post!!
G. Mackey says
We live near a university and do some of the things in the article. We attend games and other university sponsored activities. We have the gear even though we are not pushing any particular school.
Karolyn says
I read to my kids every day. Also, we try to get them things that interest them. For example, once we saw a presentation on cheetahs. My son was fascinated. We ended up adopting a cheetah in Africa. He would get updates on her. It was amazing to see him dive in and learn all he could about them.
Michelle Gallo says
Thank you for the encouragement. My husband and I took advantage of our state’s (Florida) prepaid college tuition program for all four of our kids. We still put a little away, and use the Upromise system, which pays back a little for shopping, to save even more. We are strongly encouraging our oldest two to start looking for scholarships now (they are going into the 10th, and 11th grades this year). College or University is expensive, but essential. Even though I am a stay at home mom, I use my Psychology degree every day!
Kailee g says
My little one is still very young but I make an effort to read to her often. Hopefully she will grow up loving to read and learn.
Andre Terry says
I have two boys, aged 5 & 7. They both have 529 plans. But, my husband and I are really pushing the endowment schools. My older DS wants to go to Harvard. The school scout comes to campus each year and the Upper School children come to talk to the little ones about college choices. He says that he wants to go to Harvard because the politicians , CEOs and people that are interviewed on NPR went there. My younger DS wants to go to school in California, because he wants to be a developer and surf. :-). We take the boys to the local college for exhibits, plays, and an occasional science club meeting. Next summer, my older son will be eligible for a summer program at another campus. We are planning a tour of the Harvard campus in September that both boys are looking forward to. During play, they pretend to be quad-mates. It is surprising how much they already know about the college experience. We went to my sister’s graduation when she got her masters. My older son remembered that we often tell both boys that they should look for a wife while in grad school. He remarked that he could get married after he got his hoodie and when was my sister going to get stripes and a hat. We tried to explain that doctors wore hats. My younger son, who is often at one doctor’s office or the other, remarked that none of his doctors did. It was a happy moment, but hopefully one that makes at least one of them want a funny hat of their own someday.
Brooke says
Read to them daily, took them to visit our alma maters and try to incorporate learning into everything we do 🙂
Stacey says
I am trying to get my children the best education I can as well as instilling in them the value of hard work & dedication.
Marlena Urbain says
We started College Saving Accounts at birth and contribute each year!
Penelope says
Well, I am definitely teaching him that he BLEEDS BLUE! Does that count as preparation? 😉
But seriously: I love your what do you want to be when you grow up question! I’ll have to use that one soon, and have a talk about the training needed.
Heather Haugen says
My husband and I both read with our 2 kids (ages 7 and 3) every night. In addition, the school where I teach (and where my 7 year old goes) is a “No Excuses University” that promotes high expectations because “after high school comes college.”
Wendy says
Hi! I just adore the blanket in these pics! A previous post said that your aunt made it. Would you be willing to show more pics (perhaps the back too)? I would LOVE to make one for my daughter. Thanks!!
Amanda says
We read nightly and talk about what they want to be when they grown up. Each one of my kids has a piggy bank where the get to put money from chores, grandparents, etc. We make a big deal out of cheering for college money each time they deposit.
Melissa says
Great ideas! Thanks. 🙂
Cortney says
We started talking about college early and often. My daughter is only 5 and our son is 2 but we know the importance if higher Ed so we talk about education with them and make learning a priority. Our daughter has visited 4 campuses and our son 2 and we even lived on one for awhile.
Winona says
We talk about it in “when” terms, not “if. As in, “When you go to college….” etc.
Karibeth Soto says
We talk about our experiences at college and have taken them on campus tours. We talk about different careers and what different major options are available to achieve them.
Maricel says
Hubby works for a university and takes the boys to work and to different events .
Kathleen says
I have one in college and one who is going to college in a year. We did a lot of college visits to help decide on which college is the “one” 🙂
Vicki I. says
I’m preparing my children for college by talking about college as if they are going. My 7 year-old is already talking about “when” he goes to college. We also read together as much as possible, talk about everyday math applications and throw in as many math computation questions as we can.
Karen Field says
Wonderful ideas! Love the way you are visiting college campuses so early giving your children the opportunity to grow up feeling comfortable and confident with a vision of themselves being a part of that culture of higher learning!
tammy d. says
We’ve talked about it with since day one. They understand they are going..no ifs, ans or buts.
Lori says
We love taking our kids to Texas A&M to walk around and see where mommy and daddy met. 🙂
And reading to DD4 and reading and writing during the summer with DS6 is sooooo important!
Susan @SugarBeans says
With one heading to college next year, we have been studying for the SAT, teaching money management and enjoying every moment with her.
Joanne Erenberg says
My son is a cub scout and we explain to him if he goes all the way to Eagle Scout it is really prestigious and colleges will think he is a hard worker. I also explain to him that in elementary school the grades are not as quantifiable for his college entry but the habits he learns are very important. So if his grade is not 100 percent because he missed a question on the test no big deal but he needs to pay attention so that careless omissions don’t bring down his grade. We also discuss casually what they think they want to be when they grow up. I write it in a school journal I keep for them every year. It keeps track of their likes etc. From Preschool through 12th grade. I really wonder what they will end up doing.
Rita says
I have been preparing my kids since day one for college, interestingly I didn’t think they were listening because it used to be well maybe I don’t want to go to college, however now my kids at 9 and 10 are saying when I go to college and they have started to identify which colleges they like, I think watching several of their older cousins graduate from college and going to their schools (UC Santa Cruz, USA and UCLA) has helped, now I’m including in my you will go to college talk that you will also live away from home in the dorm for at least one year (just in case they go to a local college) and that isn’t working at the moment – I figure give them time….
Sarah S says
Can’t wait to take my kids to see the movie!!
Sarah S says
I guess I never really thought about preparing them this early. I have talked about college with my almost 7 year old and told him about my college adventures. What degrees I have. Etc.
we are very adamant about his schooling and education and he even does workbooks in the summer.
Peggy says
As a new Nana and former educator, I am helping with the read, read, read advice. Also, at church I help sponsor a summer reading challenge for our children at church. Reading skills are what all other disciplines of education are based upon. Thank you for this opportunity!
Mae says
I never really thought about anything to prepare them specifically for college…we’ve mentioned college, but we haven’t encouraged them…yet. We have been focused on getting them through elementary, but I see now the value of planting the seeds for college early
Anna C. says
I homeschool, so everything I teach is preparation for LIFE, not JUST college. However, both of my children have learned through classical education, and have a very good start on college life. Mostly, I just instilled in them a love for learning, and the ability to find answers to questions that they don’t know the answer to yet.
Kristin Jones says
I am preparing my little one by starting a college fund, and by reading, reading, reading tons of books to her.
Jen S says
My children know that their Daddy is going to college (the big school) and when they grow up they know they need to go to college so they too can get a good job. Education is so important, and and scholarship would help so much! Thank you for the opportunity!
Evonda says
I am preparing my kids by exposure. I’ve been taking them to different events to see and speak with people in different professions. They’ve come to my job to see attorneys and judges ‘on their feet’. My daughter who will be entering 9th grade this year is already career planning and doing volunteer work to build her ‘resume’. I talk to them so much, because I never finished college and I don’t want them to make that same mistake. I’m going back this semester though, just registered for classes yesterday. I want to show them how important it is to obtain a degree, no matter what age, no matter where life has taken you.
Jamie says
My 5 year old daughter asked me last week “can I choose which college I go to?” Of course I said yes! I secretly hope she stays within driving distance because I can’t imagine her being far from me.
Ashley says
Great ideas! We talk about our experiences in college and how great it is that you get to choose your favorite thing to learn about. Also, we don’t really talk about it like it’s a choice. 🙂 It’s just the next thing you do after high school!
Debbie says
We have TONS of books for our kids–even ones that aren’t for their age yet. We let them have access to them in their rooms and downstairs because we want books to always be “ok” as opposed to some toys that we deem only okay sometimes 🙂 We also live by a college and talk about it as we drive by–what happens there, when they can go, etc. My daughter can’t wait to go and she’s only 3 🙂
Brandi s says
We are preparing by paying off our house so we can save save save for it.And getting the excited about schools here in TX 🙂
blima says
would love to win
S Lake says
As a family we are all saving for college. From kids saving their pennies, grandparents donating to their college account (instead of gifts for birthday & Christmas), and parents saving every little bit we can. We are trying to financially prepare now even though college is 10 to 18 years away. Academically, we talk about our college experiences with our children, share pictures from the past and visit our alma mater. We support our teams. My kids love looking at the annual magazine the college sends every year. They ask ‘if I was in that building’, ‘was that my apartment’, etc. as they look at the pictures. They even chime in when mom and dad debate which school was better. :). All in fun. Our kids are excited to go to college, at least at this point it is something to look forward to.
Amy says
We work really hard to have a good solid routine. Hopefully that will help them to be able to keep themselves self disciplined and have healthy habits when they’re off on their own!
Alessandra says
We talk about when Mamma and Daddy went to University. We have planted the idea now that they are young and hopefully it will sprout when they are older.
Jessica Isch says
We’ve talked about it with since day one. They understand they are going..no ifs, ans or buts. There are no excuses!!
Darci R says
We read, play educational games and have started 529 college savings accounts.
lori phippen says
I am preparing all my children in different ways. My 17 yr old I am working on studying for ACT. My 5 year old we daily work on learning to read in 100 easy lessons. The other 3 we make sure to talk about goals and following through with them. Plus with my boys we are always having them wear the college school shirts they want to go to. Love all the ideas on here.
Sammie M. says
This is fantastic, I had to take my daughter with me to buy books, but I hadn’t thought of showing her around the campus (: a picnic is also a great idea!!
A. Brown says
I totally agree with beginning the conversations and exploration of college at a young age. I am a guidance counselor for grades 6-8, and I strive to initiate that thought process with my students as well as with my own three little ones.
Susan K says
What a great article. It’s never too early to start teaching children about the importance of education, school and even college. While college might seem like an eternity away for my 2 year old, I know it’ll be here faster than I want to imagine! Right now, we’re working on shapes, colors, letters and numbers and getting her ready for K-3 school. She’ll attend a good local private school which will give her a educational foundation that will serve her well in the future.
Erin says
Love this!!! We have taken our little ones to visit our alma mater a few times now, and they are already talking about going to college one day! Thank you for some great ideas!
Kim says
I am preparing my kids for College by helping them work hard in school and understand that education is a priority- not activities or sports.
TrailmixyMel says
Great post…The pics were great, too. How did you make that t-shirt quilt? It is really nice.
Nicolette says
Thanks! Check back tomorrow for the blanket tutorial!
Shayla Thomas says
I’ve been preparing my children for college for the last 4-5 years. We started off by having a conversation about it. Now my oldest is going into her senior year of high school and we are excited! She’s been visiting different colleges since her sophomore year but last year I started taking her to colleges as well. We are in the process of searching for scholarships. We also have some books on SAT prep and the public library is our best friend right now. There are lots of things to do to prepare but I feel like one of the most important things is talking to other parents who have already gone through the experience.