<p>So far I have thought of:</p>
<p>Slinky
Silly putty
Small book of favorite cartoon
Clean socks and underwear</p>
<p>Chocolate! (although some consider this food…)
A gift card to favorite place to splurge as soon as finals are over.</p>
<p>I love Clean socks and underwear - what a hoot! And so necessary, too!</p>
<p>How about a coloring book and crayons, for GROUP stress relief?</p>
<p>Sounds good; a gift certificate for a massage? ;)</p>
<p>Coloring books were always greatly appreciated at my college. Also stickers, CD mixes of good study music (or study break music), stress balls, pizza money, headphones.</p>
<p>A small electric clip on fan for the coming hot weather to relieve those hot dorms.</p>
<p>My son loved it when I sent him his old Yo-yo from 6th grade. It’s a great stress reducer.</p>
<p>D loves the stuff from the Dollar Store…silly crafts, play dough, noise making silly putty (okay high school S had a blast with this one too), streamers etc. It gets used as group stress relief.</p>
<p>“Aromatherapy” lotions from Bath & Body Works. One for energy / concentration, one for relaxation. The little purse-size bottles don’t cost much.</p>
<p>(probably a better idea for girls…I don’t imagine guys want to rub lavendar-scented lotion on themselves before bed)</p>
<p>How about movie gift certificates for when it is all over?</p>
<p>My daughter will be finished Wednesday for the summer, so she just got an Easter package designed for a simple sugar high. Oh, I did send new pens and a mechanical pencil.</p>
<p>Something disposible, so you won’t have to move it back home in a week.</p>
<p>Bubbles. Saw an ad for Crayola colored bubbles - purple, gold, pink. Also, I like to go down the party aisle at KMart or Target to see the treat bag items. Sometimes I take them on car trips with the kids to keep them entertained, but I think they could be a fun diversion from studying.</p>
<p>For Easter (yes, I still send my daughter an Easter basket) I found something called a Butterflyer at the drugstore. Its a big butterfly with a wind up propeller. I’m thinking it will be something fun to play with in the commons to take the stress off.</p>
<p>A handle of whiskey to celebrate?</p>
<p>Be sure to wrap everything in LOTS of bubble wrap - the kids seem to love to pop it.</p>
<p>Lots of good ideas - I think I’m going to make my trip to the Dollar Store tomorrow.</p>
<p>I send goodies that are for sharing in the library.</p>
<p>But I also send cash and specifically label the envelope --" this is for you to go get a very healthy meal that you might not ordinarily do b/c you consider it too expensive. please go eat some healthy fish – it’s brain food!"
It has been much appreciated-- last semester a hunk of fresh salmon was enjoyed.</p>
<p>I also stop sending any text messages or unsolicited emails once finals begin-- I stay far away. The stress is too thick to tolerate.
I just wait until it’s all over to say hi- when do you want us to pick you up from school? </p>
<p>Oh I am so glad not to be a student- they work much harder than I remember working 30 years ago ! And the stress…yikes</p>
<p>Some fun reading material for a mental break --Sunday funnies, latest copy of his HS paper, sports section.</p>
<p>Along with Easter candy, I sent dried fruit, trail mix, a box of tea, mango-scented lotion, and a gel-filled face mask you can either chill or heat before placing on the face.</p>
<p>I thought I would post an update since I took my box to the post office this morning. I thought the yoyo was a particularly great idea, but apparently yoyos are not popular now–neither Wal-Mart nor Target had any. I did find one at Toys-R-Us. I had not been in that store in a long time (my only child is a college freshman) and it was fun to walk around. In addition to the yoyo, I ended up buying a Slinky and a Magic 8 Ball. I would have bought some other stuff, like a playground ball, but it would have been hard to mail.</p>
<p>I found this finals care package online when I was searching. It has stuff like play-doh, a frisbee and some other cool toys. Hope it helps.</p>
<p>[Spring</a> 2011 Final Exams Care Package - Bundled Cargo - Spring 2011 Final Exams Care Package - CargoCabana.com Store - (Powered by CubeCart)](<a href=“HostGator - Please Configure Your Name Servers”>HostGator - Please Configure Your Name Servers)</p>
<p>And sorry I’m not very good with links :(</p>
<p>-Jess</p>