Joy 101: A Crash Course in College Care Packages
College (or for our friends across the pond, university), is one of the most transformative experiences any modern young person can go through. In fact, for must of us, it's our first real foray into the world of adult goals and grown-up responsibilities. After all, if everything goes according to plan, today's college freshmen will be tomorrow's newest crop of gainfully employed contributors to society. With this transition comes many emotions, many of them new, most of them contradictory. For instance, the seemingly limitless freedom of being a "real adult" - no curfews, parties that last until dawn, even jury duty! - can often be found in direct juxtaposition with a vast sense of loneliness, disconnection, or even fear. The same adulthood that means the newly-minted college student is free to do as they please means that there's no one to fall back on should things take a difficult turn. Sending a care package is a great way to remind the student that you care and that they are not alone. In this article you can find some great college care package ideas.
If this college / university experience sounds both heady and frightening, that's because it is! Luckily, new beginnings need not erase the past entirely. In fact, maintaining the connection between college students and their families is one of the most important facets of this new era in the family dynamic. Nothing personifies this more clearly than the much-lauded care package. One's age scarcely matters; few things are as exhilarating for a college student as opening their mailbox and finding a care package waiting for them amongst the bills and the clutter. Large or small, humble or extravagant, the message is clear: Family ties aren't predicated on a midterm exam.
Now that you know why care packages for college students are so important and popular, keep reading to learn exactly what to put inside one! By the end of this article, you shouldn't have any trouble planning, assembling, and sending a first-rate care package to your own special college student. Let's get started!
FOOD
| Image | Name | Description | Price |
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Where's Mom Now That I Need Her? |
A fun book with frugal recipes and life tips. Just what is needed. |
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Single-Serve Coffee |
Easy to make and take up little space, these will be a hit. |
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Almonds |
These are great because they are filling, plus the spicy kick the wasabi provides means they won't last too long. |
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Granola Bars |
Perfect for a quick snack between classes, or on the go. |
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Let's face it, college kids L-O-V-E love food! Whether it's an all-night gaming session in the dorms or a grab-and-go snack scarfed down between final exams, the need for fuel can't be overestimated. How better than to send good vibes, then, than to stuff your special someone full of their favorite homemade (or at least home-packed) treats? Need a hand from the grub gods? Ok! Here are a few ideas and suggestions to get you started.
- Homemade stuff is the crown jewel of care package food. Cookies, brownies, Rice Krispie Treats™, chocolate turtles... the list is endless. The point here is to fill your college student's next care package with his or her favorite sweet treats.
- Tea, hot chocolate, coffee, or other easy to make beverages that are high in caffeine are another sure-fire winner. Water gets boring, and soda pop loads on the Freshman Fifteen, so why not try some alternative beverages instead?
- Salty and/or savory snacks are great choices, too! Nuts, whether flavored or plain, trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit, and similar items are easy to pack and ship, and they taste great! If you go the popcorn route, consider sending an air-popper along with the care package itself, since most dorms don't allow oil poppers for safety reasons.
- For the traditionalists out there, mac and cheese, ramen, and other college staples also have their place in a college-bound care package. Most cash-strapped students get more than their fair share of this kind of stuff anyway, though, so unless they really enjoy it, less is more.
- Finally, if your college student loves to cook and has the necessary facilities close at hand, consider sending along a recipe book! It'll help them expand their horizons and fill their bellies at the same time!
HEALTH + PERSONAL CARE
| Image | Name | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Electric Toothbrush |
These are super handy, and provide a great clean mouth. This is the same toothbrush I use. |
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Daily Vitamins |
You are never too old for these gummy multivitamins. |
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Laundry Detergent |
These single-load packets are great for college dorms, and work great. |
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College can be a hectic time, not to mention expensive. Tossing a few personal care and health-related essentials into your next college care package can really help the intended recipient stay sane (and minty fresh). Try sending some of the following in your next package:
- Your college guy or girl's favorite toiletries are a no-brainer first entry. Whether it's a particular cologne or perfume, a snazzy new electric toothbrush, or something else entirely, sticking a couple of this sort of item into your next college care package is sure to please.
- Vitamin C powder or drops, sore throat lozenges, and related items will make sure that your care package not only keeps the recipient happy, but healthy, too. Multivitamins are another good option for the health-conscious. Centrum or similar brands are usually easy to find. Oh, and don't forget your student's preferred brand of cold and flu medicine!
- Consider sending workout powders like creatine or whey if your student is a gym-rat or involved in collegiate athletics.
- An ample supply of laundry quarters is a nice way to round out this section. Don't expect this to stop your package's intended recipient from bringing their laundry home on break, though!
FUN STUFF + MEMENTOS
| Image | Name | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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The Walking Dead: Compendium One |
One of the most popular graphic novels. |
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Cards Against Humanity |
An extremely popular board game, great for college get-togethers. |
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Multi-use Tablet |
These tablets are great for both entertainment and productivity as they include an office suite and a fantastic screen. |
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Care packages are all about the warm and fuzzy feelings, so make sure that you leave room for a few items that have no other purpose than to be fun or nostalgic.
- Family photos or videos, including some of the pet(s), can really give a student that extra boost of morale, so if you can send them, do.
- A Netflix subscription voucher is a great way to give your student a low-cost way to spend his or her downtime. Netflix night also makes for a great group activity!
- An issue or three of your student's favorite magazine is always a nice touch; consider a subscription if they like to keep up with a certain subject or niche.
- Comic books are a fun (and increasingly mainstream) leisure activity, so if they're into them, send a couple of your college kid's favorites in his or her next care package.
- Video games are a universal college pastime. Just make sure you do your research - consoles update, PCs need upgrades, and some titles are better than others.
- Writing supplies (pens, paper, stamps, envelopes, and so forth) are a must for all students. Everyone gets homesick, after all!
- Books might seem an odd addition to a list like this, but there's a huge difference between Stephen King and Stephen Hawking! Check Amazon wish lists or Goodreads profiles for clues.
- Card or board games, especially ones that can be played in groups, are good bets for any care package. They're a cheap, fun way to blow off some steam, so don't forget to include them.
- Last but not least, don't forget to send birthday cards, holiday greetings, and so on when they come around! They make for great excuses to send even more care packages, and there isn't a single person who doesn't like a little holiday cheer! Go the commercial route if you must, but as always, homemade is best.
CONCLUSION
The construction of a top-flight college care package is both very simple and very high-stakes. The simplicity becomes evident when you consider that college students are easily pleased - give them an outlet or a distraction from the stresses of academia and watch them blossom! - while the complexity lies in getting the actual care package just right. While it's true that college students are easily pleased, the magic of a care package is the thought that goes into it, so make sure that some does! Don't just toss your next care package together. Instead, give it some real thought, and remember that the point of sending it at all is to remind the recipient of how much they're loved and missed.
Happily, thanks to this handy guide you have plenty of college care package ideas, and building your next college care package (and all the college care packages to follow) should be a snap. Just remember: It's the care that really makes the care package. Have fun!