<p>My D will be almost 5 when S starts school this fall. Despite the 14 yr age difference, they are very close. On one hand, we want to include her on his move out of our house, but on the other hand, I'm afraid she will just be really bored. </p>
<p>His school has a few things planned for parents, but from past college visits, I know how challenging it can be to keep her occupied and somewhat quiet.</p>
<p>We had an 8-year old last year and we didn't take him to move-in day for his sister. They are very close and we knew it would be very hard for him, so they said their goodbyes privately and he stayed with my mom. For the best because the actual day was chaotic and fraught. Easy for a little one to get injured or bored. I also think that it was good for my attention to be on D and on getting myself through the day. I didn't need to look after my little guy.</p>
<p>I'm concerned about this, too. I really would like ds' younger siblings to see where he's going to be living and be able to picture it. We homeschool and they are <em>very</em> close. His little sister keeps saying, "I'm going to college with you!" I'm kind of thinking to take them, but one of us stay with them at the hotel except for short visits. We'll see.</p>
<p>When we moved my older daughter into college four years ago, there were three flights up stairs to go up and down (and up and down and up and down). I cannot imagine having a 5-year-old in tow, especially considering there are scores of other parents and incoming students trying to go up and down those same flights of stairs.... Boring and dangerous for the little ones.</p>
<p>The problem with taking such young siblings is that you will necessarily cheat yourself out of savoring the pleasures (and sadness) of moving your son in--getting his room set up, meeting other parents, just walking around campus soaking it in and spending those last moments with him. We took our then-13 year old when her brother started college--she INSISTED on going--but even at her age it became a challenge because she eventually got bored and cranky.</p>
<p>For really young ones, they won't even remember much about the experience--how about making a video for them that you can show them when you come home? Also, can you bring them for a visit on Parents' Weekend? Then your son can show them around himself. Also, are you getting (or do you have) a webcam so they can talk over the computer and see what your son's room looks like?</p>
<p>Good luck--it's a hard choice, I know.</p>
<p>We also have quite an age gap between our kids. We always left the younger ones home for move in and parents week-end. It is so hectic at move in and very unpredictable that it would be hard to plan for a young child. Some of the things we encountered were, waiting in line for 40 minutes in the hot sun for our turn to move our daughter into her dorm, unbearably slow elevators to the twelfth floor, a fifth floor dorm with no elevator for another daughter, getting to our sons room and roommate was already there with his family and we couldn't even turn around. I would suggest a special time for just the two of them to say their farewells to each other. It doesn't have to be fancy just make sundaes together or a walk in the park whatever is special to the five year old. Make sure they exchange framed photoes, it meant so much to my daughter and five year granddaughter last year. One last thought, is it is nice to have quiet time after you leave to return home. Its not easy saying that last good-bye..</p>
<p>Cross posted with others I'm a slow typer. lol</p>
<p>On the other hand, for a 15-year-old his sister's move-in day was the moment the penny dropped and he thought, "Whoah! This college thing is great! I want to go to college!"</p>
<p>In my opinion, it's definitely not a good idea to bring younger siblings so please avoid it if you can. As others have pointed out, younger children will only be bored and get in the way, and even older children can be distracting.</p>
<p>Your child going off to college is one of those really big events that only happens once in his/her life and yours too. You want to be able to focus on that one child -- sharing those last few moments together is priceless. Have your other children say their own goodbyes to the sibling at home; tell them that it's a special day for the college student and the parents, and that they'll get all the attention when it's their turn to go to college.</p>
<p>A lot of people posted their experiences on a similar thread last year.<br>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/371549-bringing-small-sibling-move-day.html?highlight=younger+move%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/371549-bringing-small-sibling-move-day.html?highlight=younger+move</a></p>
<p>We always took everyone, but our kids are close in age. It was just the natural thing for our family.</p>
<p>We are bringing our youngest (4 yrs old) with on moving day/weekend. Big D picked a college clear across the country - and we will be flying out a day early to pick up some of the things she nees there. We went back and forth, but thought it would help little D understand this change better if she got to see where big D was going to be living,and actually dropped her off there. We plan to tag-team it most of the time, with one of us assisting with the move or attending a function while the other entertains little D by running her back and forth across the quad. Also buying a portable DVD player and some new DVDs, hoping to bring these out when/if we need them. I know it would be more relaxing without little D, but with the amount of time we would be gone, and the reasons stated above, feel this is the best way.</p>
<p>Well my brother was 6 years younger than me and my mom decided it was his job to help carry stuff up and down the stairs. One year when it was time for me to move OUT, he had stitches in his forearm (from a baseball accident) so he couldn't help. He loved sitting on his butt and watching us schlep all that stuff into the house!</p>
<p>My D is only 3 years younger, but she misses her brother's move-in day because she has tryouts for her fall varsity sport that weekend.</p>
<p>If I had a 5 year old, I think the decision on whether or not to bring him would depend on the kid. If I could trust him to sit on the bed and wait while we carried stuff in, and then he got to choose where his sibling would hang a favorite poster or help make the bed or something to make him feel like a part of the move, and like his sibling would be thinking of him while living in the dorm, then it would be ok. But if the child is prone to wandering off.... no way.</p>
<p>I was a younger sibling brought along to my brother's move in day. Yes, I was bored, but as someone else mentioned, it made me really want to go to college! I was able to entertain myself with a gameboy, and it was fun to watch sometimes and even help with windexing stuff, putting picture frames up, etc etc. But in retrospect, I probably was somewhat in the way. In the end, it should really be your son's decision. Ask him if he wants his sister to come along or not. Some kids might not want their first impression on their peers to involve a younger sibling. In my brother's position, I would not have wanted me along (guess that doesn't say much about me, but what can I do). In the end though, if you can find something to occupy her,a project or something, she can probably just sit on her brother's bed and watch you guys do all the hard work!</p>
<p>We took our 13 year old son to his brother's move-in day. He not only was not bored, but was actually helpful. He is computer savvy and figured out how to get his brother's laptop hooked up etc. Also, it was kind of nice to not have to return home childless. Someone on the flight back remarked that we are so lucky to still have another child with us. I wholeheartedly agreed!</p>
<p>Of course, a 5 year old is a different story...</p>
<p>I think it depends on age. An older child could benefit from getting a glimpse into the college world. But a very young child is probably going to be bored, and also require your time & tending. This is a big moment for you and your older child, one that you'll want to be able to give your full attention.</p>
<p>Maybe you could plan a going-away party at home before your departure, so the 5-year-old could say "bon voyage" there before you go?</p>
<p>Five is pretty young, but once my kids were readers we could pretty much take them anywhere. They just parked somewhere with a book or gameboy. Mathson's younger brother is only three years younger so he helped fetch and carry.</p>
<p>S2 was 15 when S1 left for college. S2 had NO desire to go which was a good thing since DH and I were making the drive in his pick-up truck and it would have been a tight squeeze. It was a day trip so we had no problem leaving him home alone for the day. I really wanted to be focused on S1 anyway without having to listen to S2 complain.</p>
<p>S was 13 when D went to college. He enjoyed seeing the dorm, helped other parents put together shelves, and in general loved listening to the accents (Boston.) </p>
<p>But unlike JHS's kid, he only said "whoa, college's great, can't wait till I go" until he saw the playstation and guitar hero in the boys' common room :/</p>