10 Reasons College Kids Should Skype Home

Skype has provided a means for kids to call home over their computer. All it takes is to have the software downloaded on the home computer and their laptop at school. When they’re heading out on this new adventure, they may not see any reason why they would want to Skype home. After they have  settled in, they’ll find that there are several good reasons to Skype home.

1. Home sickness – Many kids are surprised by how homesick they can become after a few weeks in this new environment. Being able to not just hear the voices, but see the faces of your family, can help them make it through a lonely period.
2. Parent’s emotional needs – Parents miss their kids and worry about their kids, when they send them off to college. Video calls over Skype can help them adjust and make it feel like their kid is not so far away.
3. Introduce new friends – Skype is a much better way to introduce your new college friends to your family. They can all crowd around the webcam for a group shot or be introduced one by one.
4. Show off dorm room – With Skype, parents can be given a view of your dorm room after you’ve settled in. Seeing the room after is set up and lived can help set their mind at ease.
5. Siblings – Many college students have siblings at home, in addition to their parents. Skype is a great way to maintain those relationships and keep up on the family news.
6. Ask advice. You can ask advice over the phone or in an email, but facial expressions combined with tone of voice can often times say much. Both sides of the conversation can benefit from this. Or a college student may want their sister’s input on what outfit to wear. Skype will work much better for that type of advice.
7. Show off new… - Maybe it’s a new hair-do or hair color. Perhaps it’s a tattoo or piercing. There can any number of things that a college student may want to show their parents, rather than just tell them about.
8. Alleviate concerns – Sometimes parents worry for no reason. Being able to see their child’s face can help alleviate concerns about their well-being.
9. Saves cell phone minutes – Skype is free. It doesn’t use up anyone’s cell minutes. Using Skype for calling home may allow the college student to carry a less expensive plan for their cell phone.
10. Virtual visit – Skype can sometimes substitute for a visit home. The college student can talk to several family members at the same time. This can save a lot of time and money, that can be used for other needed things.

Being able to see, as well as hear, the people you call has lots of advantages. Being able to do this at no cost is an extra bonus.

(source:  http://goo.gl/gH4uK)
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