Create a Fun Care Package for Your College Freshman

Ah, college. Land of the pizza box end table, all-night study groups, and crazy, themed, costumed, because-it’s-Tuesday parties. You’ve sent your college freshman off with a combination microwave/toaster/coffee-maker and enough quarters to (fingers crossed) take care of his laundry until fall break. But after the first few weeks, nothing makes a college student’s day like getting a fun care package with sweet treats, practical goodies, and some memories to ward off the homesickness.

Even if your college freshman isn’t the homesick type, a thoughtful care package is always exciting. Don’t forget to send care packages during mid-terms and finals to boost their spirits and re-focus their energies. Many colleges offer a pre-made option for parents to send during testing times, but a home-made, personalized care package will score the most points with your son or daughter. Pre-made care-packages are often over-priced and may not include your student’s favorite candies, snacks or treats.

Be Practical

Set a budget for your care package, or you may get excited and over-spend. With careful planning, you can package a lot of care for around $25. Don’t forget to consider shipping costs in your budget. Before you purchase any goodies, decide on a flat-rate shipping box-medium or large works best. Next, take the box with you when you shop to make sure you don’t overbuy. Remember, weight is not a factor with flat-rate, so load it up!

Feed Them

Even with the best dining plan in the Ivy League, your college freshman will be sick of cafeteria fare by the second week. If you’re really feeling generous, consider including a gift card to a local restaurant so your student can take a date or roommate and have a nice, adult dinner. Gift cards to fast food restaurants near campus may not be the healthiest option, but can provide more off-campus meals for a change of culinary scenery. Then, load up on your child’s favorite snacks. Single-dish meals that can be prepared in a dorm microwave, like Easy Mac and Healthy Choice Steamers, are great for after-hours snacking when the cafeteria is closed. Include some healthy options like protein or breakfast bars, dried fruit, and microwave popcorn. But don’t forget some nice, sugary sustenance as well. Miniature wrapped candy bars make it easy to share with roommates and individually packaged chips are less likely to go stale like full-size servings. Add some single-serving drink mixes to spice up bottled water. Finally, include your famous home-made brownies (or fake it with some Duncan Hines box mix). Nothing says “I love you” like a plate of home-baked goodies.

It’s the Little Things

College is one of those times in your life when you realize all the little things you took for granted living with your parents-like a mold-free bathroom floor, for instance. Whether your college freshman is sharing a bathroom with a few suitemates or an entire hall of co-eds, a cheap pair of flip-flops makes shower time more comfortable and sanitary. Likewise, a small first-aid kit (with bandages, antiseptic, pain reliever and nausea medicines), and a small basic tool-kit will come in handy more times than you realize. Other small, practical items you could include: safety pins, Post-It notes, nice pens, 3M Command strips, gift card to a local drug store for emergencies, plastic silverware, emergency sewing kit, and another roll of quarters (still keeping those fingers crossed that you don’t end up with a mountain on your washing machine come fall break).

Pamper Them

Include a few items that most budget-minded college students won’t spend money on. Lip gloss (Chapstick for the men in a manly mint flavor), scented hand lotions, body washes, new loofahs, and manicure/pedicure kits can be tailored to your child’s favorite colors and style. A newly released DVD or video game, travel-size board games to play with their roomies, and a simple pack of playing cards can provide hours of entertainment. Again, a generous addition would be a pre-paid subscription to Netflix or Blockbuster Online so he can download new movies on his laptop.

Finally, add something from home. A favorite stuffed animal (or a miniature version of one), an iPod pre-loaded with his favorite songs, a cute photo-frame with a photo of her and her high school friends, or a cheesy card from the family pet will bring a smile and ease the tension of a new school and all those toga parties.

Check First

Different dorms have different rules, so be sure to check policies before sending certain items. For example, when I was in college we had a “candle cop”-an RA who scoped through our rooms looking for candles, which were forbidden in the dorms even without wicks.


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