Being away from home, at university or college, is one of the most exciting times in a young person's life, and there's nothing students appreciate more than a well-thought out care package from home. Putting together a care package for the mail needn't be a big expense, and it's easy to find items that students will both appreciate and find useful.
Letters From Home
Email, instant messaging, Skype, face time, texting and phone calls are a wonderful way to stay in touch with your college age kids, but everyone loves to receive an old school letter in a stamped envelope sent via the post. A letter doesn't have to be long and it doesn't have to be serious, in fact a handwritten note with some news of home is enough to intrigue even the most difficult to please university student. If you're feeling generous, tuck in a ten dollar bill or a print out a photo of something to remind them of home – a picture of their pet, for example.
Stuff for the Student Kitchen
For some students, learning to cook, especially cooking for one person, can be a big challenge. College students love cuisine-themed care packages, and although home-baked cookies are always a treat, here are some other inexpensive and easy to mail items that students will both enjoy and use:
- Cookbooks with simple, easy to cook recipes
- A package of basic dried spices used in everyday cooking; thyme, cinnamon, onion powder
- A Starbucks card
- Copies of recipes for favourite family foods – stews, chilies, casseroles
- Chocolate bars, fruit bars
- Chocolate milk powder
- DVDs – they'll love a night curled up with a good movie
- Pocket flashlight or mini-reading light
Toiletries and Pampering Products
Students have to be very budget conscious and don't usually have money for little the little extras in life, so why not send them a care package filled with goodies for the bath, beauty products or skin-care products? This does not have to be expensive; most stores carry small airline size toiletries that are easy to wrap up and send in the mail. Some suggested products:
- Face cream
- Lip balm
- Skin cleanser
- Bath powder
- Facial masks
- Emery boards
- Sunscreen
- Essential oils for the bath
- Body/facial scrubs
- Hair brush
- Make-up
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Face clothes
If you are unsure of what to buy, just wander down the aisles of your local drugstore or pharmacy, where you will be sure to find plenty of products to pamper the college student in your family.
Clothes for College Students
Sending clothes might sound like a costly care package, but like everything else, it's all about choosing the right items that are easy to mail. Bathrobes and other large bulky items are not the best option – instead think small and useful:
- Socks – there is no such thing as too many pairs of socks
- Gloves – for students studying in the more northern climes
- Hats – for all seasons and climates
- Scarves
- Leggings
- Slippers
- Underwear
- T-shirts
- Wraps
- Belts
Think small, light, useful and easy to pack.
Use Your Imagination When Creating Care Packages
Not every item you send has to be useful. If you find a pair of funky earrings in the junk store that your daughter would love, send them, or if you come across the perfect wallet for your son, send it. They'll love the surprise and appreciate the thought.
Care Packages: It's the Thought That Counts
Students studying away from home like nothing more than returning to their dorm or room to find news from home. Whether it's a letter, a tiny package or a big box of goodies, it's the thought that counts – and a parcel from home says, "We're thinking about you."
Julie Burtinshaw - Julie is the Reading and Literature and Writing and Publishing Editor for Suite101.com. She is also the author of five books and is ...
