<p>On a lighter side for college parents, have you ever included silly trinket gifts in a care package? If so, share your stories. </p>
<p>I know most if not all college students LOVE to receive care packages from family and friends. Now that our S is at a service academy, we have sent large packages with goodies since freshman rarely are allowed to go off campus. Freshman also have many restrictions (ie: no cell phones during the week, no TV, no refridgerators, no stereos or MP3s, no microwaves) which play a factor in what type of things we send. To help make light of the conditions in the dorms, I always include at least one silly gift. </p>
<p>First I sent an airplane night light. S did not care for it but the upper class from his squadron liked so much that he told my S that he MUST have it on at all times. </p>
<p>Next I sent a sleeve of mini Playdough containers (the size you find in kids party bags). </p>
<p>Just yestarday I sent long wacky balloons that fly all over the place after you blow them up and let the air out. I included a paddle ball games for S and each of his two roommates.</p>
<p>I have sent stickers, decorations, candy and festive earrings (only to D!) to our kids for all the holidays (Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, St. Patrick's Day and Easter) and silly cards. They love it! S1 professes to not care about anything but the candy, but I have seen evidence of the decorations and cards when we have visited!</p>
<p>Sometimes....
but just keep in mind they don't have a lot of room
I have heard some moms buy XMAS hershey kisses on sale and then send the red ones for valentines day and the green ones for St Patricks day.</p>
<p>I mostly made care packages with vitamins and echinecea tea for colds , with some cute socks or a sweater.
Mostly practical things
The bookstore, also would put things together for when I wanted to send something, but knew I wasn't going to be able to get it together for a while.</p>
<p>I'm new at the care package game since this is my first at college, but I did plan on sending D Halloween decorations, stickers, etc., in her next package.</p>
<p>I always send her a silly card at least once a week, so she knows we're thinking of her.</p>
<p>momof3boyz, is your son at the Air Force Academy? I live less than 5 miles away from it as the crow flies. Wonderful place.</p>
<p>I do the Christmas M&M's-will keep an eye out for kisses this yr. Son's friends look forward to the green ones in March. I guess it's a what floats your boat thing. Latest thing to send-Monterey Jazz festival program autographed by Chris Botti, MJF t-shirt, tech magazine, & cash. The cash is aways a hit. Son's always seems to find a home or use for the food products, decorations etc. I send. I try to stuff in an umbrella or flashlight every so often-they seem to be used. I love the priority boxes that are only $8.10-stuffing them to get money's worth.</p>
<p>I was thinking to send a very "scary" special package for Halloween, but I guess it would come back with a note "please Mom, grow up!
I do send cards every week, and sweets ands cookies every other week.</p>
<p>One package to D included one of those ostrich feather-headed birds pens (in purple) purchased at a dollar store. Parent's Weekend found it displayed right next to her laptop. He makes her smile!</p>
<p>Previously, too, have sent her a card with one of her old favorite daily comics taped inside and a page from my "page a day" calendar that reminded me of her.</p>
<p>She just hates to open an empty mailbox -- so something simple is very appreciated.</p>
<p>My favorite silly gift was a set of parachute men from the party aisle. the parachute men jumped of the balcony of the third floor hallway, bailed out of the window, and were seen coming out of several classrooms. The ultimate was the top of the library jump, but the girls couldn't open a window, and they were afraid the parachute men would get lost.</p>
<p>I think that college kids regress when they go away to school! :( My son was always a pretty serious student in HS, and he seems to be a little goofy now. The most important purchase before he went back for sophomore year was a really great Halloween mask. He has acquired Estes rockets, super shooter squirt guns, water balloons and more. I have sent some goofy toys, and I think it's great fun. Most of the time, his classes are pretty heavy duty, so it's nice to lighten things up.</p>
<p>These are some good thoughts. I'll try to see if I can find him a cheapo black umbrella to send in his next care package (I imagine they sometimes break). Was planning to send a huge box of candy bars for S to share with his floor & the girls' floor for Halloween & his Bday (which is early Nov). Might also send money, but haven't decided quite yet. So far, I've already sent him 4 boxes in just over a month, so I'm trying to wait a bit & not deluge him with boxes.</p>
<p>Maybe his sister will have ideas of what we should include in his next box--I was thinking of some instant soup & some JellyBellys (he & she love them).</p>
<p>Not sure what silly gift would be best---hmmmm.</p>
<p>Confession:
My son's birthday isn't until March, and I've already started compiling silly toys to send to him: squirt guns, small nerf football, bubble potion, the army guys with parachutes mentioned above,.....</p>
<p>Pretty pathetic, but a harmless outlet for the parent of a new college student!</p>
<p>I just sent a box that included Halloween decorations among other things. Purple bat light strings, 'fringe' door decoration, spider webs, etc... My d loved it. Apparently Halloween is a big deal down on Franklin Street....so the kids really get into the spirit of things.</p>
<p>I also sent water balloons, a frisbee, the army men with parachutes (saw this idea here on CC) and other fun stuff in addition to practical things like bandaids and extra socks.</p>
<p>I absolutely LOVE to send the goofiest, happiest, silliest fun stuff I can find. Bottles of bubbles, slinkies, silly string, decorations, interesting or unusual toys, sometimes a really cute stuffed animal (not too many of these though), frizbees, etc. Also like to send fun food. </p>
<p>I think that even when I'm in my senior-most years I will still be sending my daughter happy, fun mail.</p>
<p>I've themed my care packages--sent my daughter a stuffed Giant Microbe, decorated Kleenex, echinacea, Coldeeze thingies, etc. when she was sick; an emergency Heartbreak First Aid Field Kit when she was dumped by a bf (more Kleenex, a survival breakup book, hot choco packets, Magic Fairy chocolate to make it all better, Gummi Army guys to charge to the rescue, etc.), an emergency Stressbuster kit at finals/project time with Sleepytime tea, relaxation book, smooth polished stone from her favorite beach to rub in her hand, etc. Most recently, a Lighten Up box with a Gummi rubber chicken, gummi rat, more sleepytime tea, vintage candies, Eloise DVDs since she liked the books as a kid.</p>
<p>The 1st yr, I sewed several pairs of soft flannel PJ bottoms for D & her roommate...to keep them warm during the cold winters back east. The fabric designs were great---even one of Charlie Brown & gang singing Xmas caroles in the snow---so they were a big hit. Apparently, they don't sell Flaming Hot Cheetos back east...so several packages were sent.</p>
<p>These are great ideas! I admit that my well was running dry, three years into this routine. Mafool, I really like the idea of M&Ms as packing material. Please post more ideas for the guys. (I suspect girls are a bit easier to shop for.)</p>