College freshman care package ?

[tjmw2727]

I want to send my nephew some love - I have done many care packages but I have two dd's 5 nieces and only one nephew so I am out of ideas!

I have a box started with his fav snacks and candy along with a few other traditional essentials and a couple gift cards but I am coming up empty for fun but small dorm (strict dorm) appropriate items. His mom just sent laundry items and toiletry type things so that's taken care of for a while.

Anyone care to share ideas for young men, what did your kids really appreciate - something fun but not to silly maybe?

 

[Kae]

nerf guns, A local food, Over the door nerf basketball hoop

 

[monsterkitty]

We had fun in college with Nerf guns. As these are different times, maybe a Nerf basketball hoop or other nerf toys.

https://nerf.hasbro.com/en-us/produ...hot-hoop:9E7F1D7B-B5DA-4E1B-8C4C-14A112CD655F

 

[tjmw2727]

Love the nerf hoop - done !!

 

[SamFaniam]

Condoms.

 

[Tinks]

My boys liked getting halloween lights or christmas lights (depending on when you send the package) and decor to go along with the season. Also, cash in a funny card. (always appreciated)

 

[1GoldenSun]

Get him some thinking putty. They make all kinds of cool kinds now. Some students--especially antsy, hyper people--like to work it with their hands while they study.

Also, headache relievers always come in handy.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Yep, boys are harder (DS just graduated this year). Food was always welcome but I tried to include other stuff too.

Agree with pp about holiday decorations. He liked crazy printed socks too. Or really warm socks, gloves and beanie if in a cold climate (they are often lost and can always use another- same with inexpensive ear buds or phone charging cables.) Games to play with friends- Cards Against Humanity, Exploding Kittens, etc. Scratch off lottery tickets.

 

[Kitty 34]

definitely Nerf hoops and seasonal lights for their dorm rooms and ANY type of food items

 

[Imzadi]

Find a Domino's Pizza is near him, (or find a local pizza shop,) and get him gift cards for pizza.

 

[Hikergirl]

Magnetic dart board

 

[Floridaman999]

Any chance you could call or email him to find out if he is in need of something specific that would really help him out if you were to gift it?

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks everyone - great ideas I am so glad I asked.

My dd's loved the battery operated lights but I really wasn't thinking of that for a male! I will do that with command hooks, also love the putty. I usually do socks along with a holiday gift so I may pass on that, was gonna do cash forgot to mention it as they have a "rec room" with snacks for purchase. Didn't think of games or scratch offs - will definitely include those, maybe just a deck of cards.

Hard no on the condoms and sadly no pizza either although he would Love it (he's in the middle of nowhere).

 

[tjmw2727]

Any chance you could call or email him to find out if he is in need of something specific that would really help him out if you were to gift it?

This is more of a surprise "things you don't need" package. I am sure his mom will take care of any real needs.

 

[Floridaman999]

This is more of a surprise "things you don't need" package. I am sure his mom will take care of any real needs.

Have fun surprising him with all these fun things. It's wonderful that you are doing this.

 

[AppleDumpling]

My dd's loved the battery operated lights but I really wasn't thinking of that for a male!

DS lived in an apartment with three other guys, junior and senior years. They had Christmas lights, plus a string of chili pepper lights, and kept them up all year.

 

[emer95]

Last year I sent my kids care packages a few weeks before final exams. They had 14 days left, so I sent 14 small items wrapped up for them to open, one each day.

It was such a hit! Their roommates would excitedly watch them open each little gift, and I included a $5 Tim Hortons (local coffee shop) gift card for the roommate too. You would have thought I sent them $100, they were so grateful.

I just did tiny things: candy, lip balm, pens, post it notes, little boxes of cereal, $5 gift cards to local restaurants, gum, etc. I think it was the act of unwrapping it that made it so extra special.

 

[tjmw2727]

emer - single serve cereal boxes - genius! Kid loves ceral lol and its packable .....

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My DS is a junior this year at a college on the other side of the country. I send him a lot of packages. Most are things he asks for (a phone charger, a knee brace, an exercise band, etc.). I order almost everything from Amazon and frequently toss in little surprises (a bag of candy, cookies, etc.) with whatever else he needs. I've found that if I send too much random stuff, it doesn't get used or eaten because he simply doesn't have the time. The two things I know he can always use are Starbuck's card and money!

At the beginning of his freshman year, I got together with a bunch of moms and made care packages. All of our kids graduated high school together and had gone off to different schools. We each brought enough of one item (snacks, gum, popcorn, etc.) for all of the kids and laid it all out on a table. After drinking margaritas and talking about sending our kids away to school, we each got a box and made a care package for our own child. Then we passed around cards for each kid and we all signed them. My DS said he loved reading the messages from his friends' moms and getting a nice assortment of stuff in the mail.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Tide pods.
Ramen noodles.
A gift card for whatever game console they have.