Best small gifts/care packages for newly away students

<p>I got a good idea from this board a couple of years ago for when the kid has a cold - send a stuffed rhinovirus toy (from I think geek.com), a box of tissues, cold medicine and a couple of containers of chicken soup. I assembled all of the items ahead of time and mailed it off when I got the first snuffly nose phone call, and it was a big hit. Especially the toy. I also put in some chocolate for when she felt better.</p>

<p>In fact, I’ve found that chocolate appearing unexpectedly in the campus mailbox has been a hit at any time!</p>

<p>More lounge games: Apples to Apples game and Bop-It.</p>

<p>Son also likes art supplies, which are expensive. In addition to the usual (tubes of paint, canvases), I’ve sent fabric markers, with which he and his friends made their own T-shirt designs, and supplies for silk screening.</p>

<p>I told my son that shipping is expensive, and I know that he’ll mostly like money anyway. But this week I likely will send a box with stuff he has forgotten. So far the list only one item on the list, but I suspect there will be more reported. I’ll give him the option of more socks/underwear/tshirts since he fit all of his clothes and gear into 2 suitcases on the airplane.</p>

<p>Also found some $5 movie DVDs near the checkout at Target yesterday so I bought one of those (an Academy Award winner that I know she hasn’t seen) to stuff in the next box. Tubes of scented lotion or body wash. Love that cold box idea! My D1 has her first cold right now, and that would have been funny!</p>

<p>This is like trying to come up w/ stocking stuffer ideas.</p>

<p>I’ve sent my kids food (obviously), DVDs, pez, make-up, socks, newspaper clippings, coupons for items they buy. D2 liked Miley Cyrus, so I sent her a MC light-up pen. And I’ve sent holiday decorations and “office supplies.” </p>

<p>As I think someone said, go to the dollar store and pick up crazy things. The students just love getting the package. It really does not matter too much what is in it.</p>

<p>Even if they already have a flash drive, a spare/back up is a good idea. My S loved it when I send him among all the other things (mostly edible) in a care pkg, a pkg of oreos and a jar of peanut butter. He likes to dip the cookies in the jar.</p>

<p>Our church also sends packages to college students. The package usually includes baked goods, office supplies and sometimes stationary. </p>

<p>I think the last is a great idea. Either stationary or thank-you cards. Our kids need to send thank-yous for their packages and often for scholarships.</p>

<p>WOW!!So many great ideas…the holiday decorations,and Disney coloring books sound like her thing-she is in a suite of 5 girls,and coloring is very relaxing.I hope I can find some glittery crayons at the Dollar Store.I know Halloween decorations are easy to find there.Thanks all!!</p>

<p>Our yearbooks had just come in a couple of weeks ago. I sent it along with a framed pix from vacation, some post it note highlighter stickers, our college themed ‘jelly’ shaped bracelets & ink pen, homemade fudge, seasoned crackers (I usually make at Christmas), doritoes, forgotten things, deck of cards, etc.</p>

<p>Thought I’d send a halloween box and maybe one at the beginning of December. It’ll cover Christmas but also finals time.</p>

<p>I’ve sent two boxes with things he’s forgotten. In the first, I included some Mike and Ike candy, two bags of beef jerky, some gum and a bottle of Spongebob hand soap, since I noticed they didn’t have any when he unpacked. In the second, I included more candy and two boxes of cookies. He seems to like the food so I’m going to send another one in a few weeks.</p>

<p>My son loves fruit candy things…not the fruit rollups - but the shaped things. So - with DS#2’s assistance - I bought up a bunch…SpongeBob, My Little Pony, Dora the Explora, etc!! Should be a bit hit!!!</p>

<p>Hey-- I found the plastic bubbles stuff [Magic</a> Plastic Bubbles](<a href=“http://explore4fun.com/magplasbub.html]Magic”>http://explore4fun.com/magplasbub.html)
and the parachute army figures <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/TOY-STORY-GREEN-ARMY-PARACHUTES/dp/B003NQ6GBU[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/TOY-STORY-GREEN-ARMY-PARACHUTES/dp/B003NQ6GBU&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’ll be sending S2 his last paycheck from his summer job…</p>

<p>My son, now a college sophomore, likes those gift cards. Gives him a chance to get off campus and out for dinner with his girlfriend and other friends.</p>

<p>I sent decorations to my older son the first year. He never even took them out of the package. Homemade cookies were the only thing he ever appreciated.</p>

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<p>John Deere fruit snacks, a treat only an Iowan can love! Both my boys beg me for these (they are exactly the same as the Sponge Bob etc., but they are shaped as tractors, pigs, barns, etc.).</p>

<p>I always send one package to the college kids I know…always include home baked item…Last year, for my neighbor (a boy) I baked mini loaves of banana nut bread, sent packs of gum and a new pair of flipflops (ones they wear in shower get gross quick!)…for my dd, sent some faves of instant chai tea, dvd, odd halloween dec, etc…just kept picking up little things to fill the USPS flat rate medium box and mailed for $10.95. </p>

<p>Sent stockings to her for St Nick’s and sent ones to her roomie (local and never got packages) and friend from dance whose mom worked at med ctr so also rarely got mail. Included goofy walgreen’s pin and xmas candy.</p>

<p>My girls absolutely love it when I send alice dot com packages. You can do food, gum, candy, makeup, shampoo, bathroom stuff, etc. Free shipping! It gets there quick and always reliable. Has really worked well for midterm and finals gift packages. Love it! :)</p>

<p>The only thing I don’t like about alice dot com is there is a minimum number of things you must order.</p>

<p>About the Christmas stockings: D’s best friend in HS was Jewish and we always included her in our Christmas celebrations (and D was included in her Hanukah, etc.) Friend loved getting a stocking filled with treats. This year, D’s roommate is Jewish, so I’m thinking about sending stockings for both at Christmas. I just want to make sure with D that roommate won’t be freaked out or insulted. Any thoughts?</p>