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CHARLOTTE, NC – Most thoughts about sending kids off to college these days are for things like headphones and Bluetooth speakers. But parents need some extra college gadgets for peace of mind. If students are leaving home for the first time, their parents may be concerned about their safety and security. The good news is that many of the tech gadgets are much better and cheaper than when parents themselves were in college. Some of these gadgets didn’t even exist 20 years ago. Here are some of my favorite tech gadgets that every parent wants their students to take with them.
Everyone needs a flashlight. That means something pretty big to put in a bag. Older flashlights are heavy and require large D-batteries to operate. Today’s most powerful flashlights are small enough to keep in a bag, purse, or glove compartment. Anker makes rechargeable flashlights to light up the entire neighborhood when you’re walking through the yard, walking to your car at night, and standing on the side of the road. Anker Boulder flashlights (and there are many models) are rechargeable and don’t require a large battery.
Some flashlights serve double or triple duty for safety. The JumpSmart flashlight also replaces the need for jumper cables. Keep it charged and you can jump the car under the car seat or under the trunk and the battery without having to have someone else connect their car battery to jumper cables. Portable jump starters also have flashlights and USB chargers for phones.
Speaking of their car, getting a phone call from your student when their check engine light is on means telling them to take it to a mechanic. This may not be necessary and may cost $100 or more to turn off the lights. An OBD II reader will tell them and you what’s wrong. They simply plug the small device into an OBD II port (usually under the steering wheel or near the emergency stop) and connect it to a companion smartphone app. The reader detects what caused the error and displays a code. The app will check. If the fault is something simple (and it usually is), you can use the diagnostic and trouble code to kill the light. It also tracks maintenance schedules and sends notifications when it’s time to change the oil.
You don’t want a phone call telling you they’ve lost something they need. Apple Airtags are convenient to throw in their bag for quick access. Even if someone steals that wallet and takes the city, when the Airtag connects to other iPhones in the area, they’ll see exactly where their wallet is. Tile Trackers are similar and a good option for non-iPhone users.
Leaving their belongings in the gym locker, they need a lock to protect them. Tapplock doesn’t require a combination or key, just their fingerprint to unlock. You can also unlock Tapplock with a smartphone app.
Calling a student away from college and not being able to resolve it. These gadgets will make parents feel a little better about letting their students out on campus.
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