<p>Any exciting ideas for Care Packages for Finals Week? Got the standards</p>
<p>Microwave Popcorn
Easy Mac
Her favorite Chocolate
Homemade Cookies</p>
<p>Just looking for new ideas</p>
<p>stress ball
wide up toys
fluffy socks</p>
<p>Check out this site:
Hip</a> Kits College Care Packages & Gifts
You can magnify the pictures of the different boxes and get great ideas.</p>
<p>Some more good tips from UMinnesota:
The</a> Fine Art of Care Packages : University Parent.
I like the idea of a mini Christmas tree. I did a great Halloween box for my D with lots of gormet chocolates, jelly beans, room decorations, glow in the dark nail polish, temporary tatoos, etc. It was so fun to make and it sounds like her whole floor enjoyed the contents.</p>
<p>I always found that finals week was exactly when everything started running out and there was no time to replace it, so my care packages were:
new toothbrush and toothpaste
new moisturizer
new shampoo
new shower gel and face soap
new printer ink and paper</p>
<p>my d also likes new teas- peppermint, and different knds of cocoa mixes, land of lakes does some lattes, mochas, etc packs</p>
<p>Yes, Siliconvalleymom. You are exactly right.</p>
<p>Though cookies, etc. are good as well.</p>
<p>I found the neatest thing at Wal-Mart today that I am going to include in the finals care packages we are sending our two Ds. They are self heating containers of coffee and hot chocolate made by Hillside brand. Built into the bottom of the cup is its own heating element. You turn the cup over and pull off a flip top. Then you push a button on the bottom of the cup which breaks a seal and allows water to drain into the heating chamber that contains something called 'quicktime'. In 5-8 minutes, your drink is hot! Sounds great for those freezing cold days when you get back to your dorm and really don't want to head down to the kitchen to make coffee or hot chocolate! Besides, they are just something new and different!</p>
<p>Last year Urban Outfitters sold the cutest small Christmas tree. It was made to resemble the sad little Christmas tree from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Had a crossed wood base and one red ornament to hang on the sad, leaning branch.</p>
<p>Be careful with microwaved popcorn. Gaseous by-products of the microwave popping process are poisonous.</p>
<p>Brownies are great and travel quite well.</p>
<p>I just send my kid a great care package -- and didn't hear from him until I called a week later and asked if he got it. That was a very bad decision on his part...</p>
<p>weenie,
So sorry to hear that, I hope he realizes and makes it up to you somehow.</p>
<p>Nutella, coffee flavored stuff, Rubik's cube...</p>
<p>Anything that will make her laugh. A silly stuffed animal or a funky winter hat or a silly movie... My mom always sends stuff that I can't get down here, so, baked goods and last year she sent malomars. Yum.</p>
<p>When I was in college, what got me through finals were chocolate peanut M&Ms. For my kids, it's probably cheezits.</p>
<p>How about jelly bellies?</p>
<p>Maybe key it to their courses -- astronomy students get "Milky Way",
students of Early Childhood Education get "Baby Ruth" etc.</p>
<p>I always put in a dreidl (spinning top for Hannukkah) because they're tiny and fun for everybody. Throw in some raisins or almonds, too, so they can gamble.</p>
<p>My D loved to receive beads and string from a bead store, so she could take a study break and make somebody a little bracelet or necklace gift for the season.</p>
<p>These are all such cute, thoughtful ideas! The kids are lucky! :-)</p>
<p>When my older kids were sequestered on campuses far from civilization, "care" packages were appreciated. Now, with just one daughter away at school, and that surrounded by a vibrant city offering all possible amusements and consumer goods, the care package seems redundant. Also, I'd likely hear about how inefficient/unsustainable the practice of shipping and reshipping goods is, and that we should all be eating locally grown produce and "making do or do without." Sigh.</p>
<p>Check with your kids schools dining service about putting together a package. My S's school does a cookie basket, birthday cake, etc. all the packages they offer are in the $15 to $20 range, shipping is nearly that amount. Also, the bookstore will put together a goodie bag with anything you want that they carry in the bookstore. They are happy to add it on to your next bill.</p>