Care Package Ideas for College Students

The nearest place for your college student to purchase school supplies may be the campus bookstore. It likely is the most expensive place too with notebook paper, pens, binders and computer supplies marked up two or three times over the office store rate. No values here — just plain financial misery.

Your choice here is to simply include a gift card to a nearby big box retailer or to send desired items out in a care package. If you choose the latter, shop for writing supplies, sticky notes, highlighters and paper. If computer peripherals are needed, order these online to have shipped out to your college student separately.

Delicious Foods

Your daughter’s favorite homemade snack bars or your son’s desire for chocolate fudge chip cookies can be satisfied by baking these items and carefully packing them in a plastic container. Make enough for you college student and his friends, carefully stacking cookies in a sealable plastic container, separating each layer with wax paper.

Other food items to include are mints, gum, hot chocolate mix, tea, coffee, chips, popcorn and instant oatmeal. Dorm rooms typically come equipped with a microwave and a small refrigerator, perhaps a hot plate to warm up those ramen noodles you have debated sending.

Personal Effects

What student can’t use personal items for grooming, health and practical needs? Avoid sending bottle that can leak — instead, order these items online and have them shipped out in the appropriate containers and boxes. Shipping is usually free when you hit a certain spending threshold.

Go ahead and include bars of soap as well as a toothbrush, toothpaste, towels and washcloths, and shower shoes. If your child wears contact lenses, a lens solution can be most welcome. Lip balm and cold medicine tablets can come in handy during the winter months.

Practical Stuff

Think of all the things that your son or daughter could use and plan to include these items in your care package. That may mean visiting his or her now empty room, looking through things your child may not have packed and forwarding these items too.

Don’t forget the fun stuff too! A frisbee may seem so inconsequential, but it can be a fun thing to toss on the college green after classes. You can also pack items that are thematic. For instance, if your son is going on spring break, include suntan lotion, a beach towel and sunglasses. When a holiday approaches, put in the appropriate items including chocolate eggs, candy and toys for Easter.

Shop Smart

There are a number of very practical items that any college student would want. The Fun Times Guide advises including a roll of quarters, very useful for the laundromat. CDs, DVDs and thumb drives are also very useful. Don’t forget to include a gift card to a nearby restaurant or for a coffee shop for some off-campus joe. You can also transfer cash to a checking account, an easy process if your student’s account is at your bank.

References
The Washington Post: Eat, Drink & Be Healthy: Tips for Creating a Care Package for College Students — http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-10-11/lifestyle/35417086_1_care-package-college-students-100-calorie-snack-packs

The Fun Times Guide: Top 10 College Care Package Ideas — http://holidays.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/03/college_care_packages.php

Author Information
Kiera Noble is a certified shopaholic and she uses LateLateGifts.co.uk to find the perfect flowers & gifts for her friends and family.