Care Package Ideas for College Students
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If you have a college student you’d like to surprise here is a list of care package ideas to brighten their day.
Well, our daughter is now happily settled in for her first year of college. It’s hard to believe. It hit me the day before yesterday when I was grocery shopping and instead of shopping for four, I was shopping for three. It was sad and weird. We couldn’t be more excited for her. She’s already begun to develop friendships and is fast friends will most of the other students on her floor. It’s such a relief for us, that’s for sure. But still … we miss her and worry about her and wonder if she has clean clothes or toothpaste. I’m still a mom, right?
With that said, I began trying to think of all the things that could be sent her way in a care package from time to time. I think it’s important for our students to get snail mail or packages. There’s something so fun about opening the mailbox and finding something unexpected, isn’t there? So I have started a list of ideas for care packages for college students and thought I’d share a few with you. Please share any other ideas you have too! I’m going to keep a running list.
College Student Care Package Ideas:
- Popcorn: Popcorn is a healthier snack and a must have for movie time on the weekends.
- Gum: You can never have enough gum.
- Favorite Movies: Favorite movies are comforting when you’re away from home.
- Lip Balm: Napoleon Dynamite isn’t the only one who struggles in this area.
- Nerf Basketball Hoop Set: A study break calls for some hoop time.
- Poo-Pouri: No explanation needed. All I’ll say is that it works.
- Assorted Teas: A collection of teas helps those long hours of study seem a bit more fancy.
- Slinky: A little Slinky time helps the brain think. At least that’s what I think.
- Note Cards: A stash of note cards help with those thank you notes and other messages for loved ones.
- Fun Writing Pens: Colorful pens encourage creativity and writing those notes home.
- U.S. Postage Stamps: Postage paid means more cards sent.
- Bananagrams: A fun, yet scholarly game. Sorta. All students need time to play.
Again, I’d love to hear about any other ideas you have for college student care packages too! Please share them in the comments below.
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Quarters for the washer and dryer. Do they still take quarters? Maybe a prepaid Visa card?
White Christmas lights! I used Command hooks (another good item) and hung these on my wall freshman year for a little decoration. My friends and I laid on my floor one night and just watched them twinkle. College student stargazing 😛
Apples to Apples was THE hot game to play when I was in college…although I suppose now it’s the R-rated Cards Against Humanity…oh how things can change in just three years!
I second the quarters, although my alma mater used our campus swipe card for laundry. It doubled as our meal/bookstore card, so if you bought an iPad at the campus bookstore, you might not be doing laundry for your last few weeks…
You have a great list here already – best of luck to your family! 🙂
Great list! Gift cards to the nearest grocery store or any restaurant was a huge hit whenever I got a package from my mother. Fresh food and a trip outside of the campus cafeteria was such a blessing!
This is brilliant! My son just left yesterday for his second year of college. I didn’t cry this time! I will definitely be putting together a care package like this.
My son is just starting his sophomore year and he always asks for gift cards to local restaurants, it gives him a break from cafeteria food! He also loves homemade brownies and cookies that he can put in his freezer and just thaw in the microwave for a snack while studying. They also come in handy to make friends in the dorm. Last year I surprised him and made a fleece blanket with his college logos on it. He loved it and so did his friends. A little of their favorite Halloween candy in a little pumpkin in October and girl scout cookies at the end of January.
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing them, Alicia.
My daughter just left for her second year of college and I agree with the cards to restaurants and grocery store but I also have sent gas cards too. I have sent small note cards and stamps for a quick note home. One of her friends got together all of my daughters friends and had each one write an encouraging note on a colored piece of paper and put them all into a decorated mason jar and gave her the instruction to open and read a note whenever she was feeling alone or missing her friends back home.
Great ideas, Mona! Thank you for sharing them.