Last Updated on October 2, 2022 by Diane Hoffmaster
Looking for a few new college care package ideas as your kids head back to school? With two students heading back to school in a couple of weeks, I know I will be sending a ton of care packages in the coming months. Not only do they enjoy getting packages from home, I miss them something fierce and it makes my heart happy to shop for them.
From healthy snacks to fidget spinners, send your kids a few of these favorite college care package ideas so they miss home a little bit less!
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Homemade snacks that ship well
If your students miss home while away at school, these favorite treats from home will help ease their loneliness a little bit. Some snacks ship better than others so you may need to do a bit of trial and error here. Whatever food items are their favorites, try to send it along well wrapped or tucked inside an empty Pringles container!
Dried fruit and nuts
Dehydrated college snacks such as dried fruit or apple chips are an easy college snack to send your college student that is much healthier than the college junk food they will be eating between classes. They can also ship well unlike fresh fruit and vegetables.
If your college student is a carb-avoider, nuts are always an excellent college care package idea. They are full of protein and fat, not carbs! A great way to stock up their dorm room with some healthy snacks for the week. Try buying them in bulk at Costco–it’s more cost-effective.
Essential Oil Diffuser
College dorms don’t always smell that good. An essential oil diffuser can help banish odors left behind by weeks of unwashed laundry.
This college care package idea is especially great for college students who suffer from anxiety relief. Include some lavender essential oil for a restful sleep.
Prime student membership
Amazon Prime student is a college care package idea that is definitely worth the cost and I highly recommend college students sign up for it. The college student will get free two-day shipping, access to prime video streaming, and unlimited photo storage.
With college textbooks costing hundreds of dollars, this membership can easily pay for itself. Not to mention they can get whatever they need delivered to their door faster than you can get it to them from home. This is a great way for them to stay well-stocked in school supplies!
Laptop and phone case decals
Toss in a few cute decals for their electronics. College students love to personalize their electronics with college power images or college colors.
These are artisanal cookies with a mission! For every cookie pack sold, they donate a meal to partner soup kitchens across the country.
They offer a monthly gift box or one-time purchase, depending on your needs.
You can also buy all your classic favorites, from chocolate chip cookies to oatmeal raisin, or buy an assorted pack of all their flavors for greater variety.
Check out Nunbelieveable Cookies and send your college student with the best care package ever! And did you know that you can Fight hunger while eating delicious cookies? Every cookie bought = a meal donated.
For every cookie sold, Nunbelievable donates a meal to someone in need through their network of partner soup kitchens. 1 cookie = 1 meal. Their goal is to donate 10 million meals by 2023.
Fidget spinners and college stress balls
These college care package ideas are so popular right now. A fun way for college students to relieve stress, fidget spinners can be found at just about any college bookstore around campus. Stress balls are great for college students who find themselves in high-stress college courses. I’m sure college professors won’t mind a few stress balls added to the college care package!
Gift cards to their favorite store
A little retail therapy is a great stress reliever for college students Some stores that are popular with college-aged kids include Old Navy, Forever 21, and Victoria’s Secret. You can even send college gift cards to college bookstores or college coffee shops!
Yes, cute socks are a great college care package idea. You can never have too many, especially since they are usually out of clean socks on any given day. A pair of socks in their school colors is a great way to boost school spirit!
Even college kids like small toys occasionally. Fun stress-relieving toys for college students include things like paddleball games or Rubik’s cubes.
String lights for College Dorm Room
Dorm rooms can be rather dim and dreary at times. Include some cute strings lights in your child’s care package from home to brighten up their space. If a holiday is approaching, find string lights with a holiday theme to get them in the spirit of things.
You would be amazed at how quickly a person can run out of toothpaste and deodorant. Here are a few common toiletries to add to a college care package college
- Body wash, shampoo, conditioner.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Lip balm
- Body lotion.
- Shaving cream.
- Hairbrush and comb
- Nail polish
A college care package idea that college dorm rooms always need is laundry detergent! Dryer sheets are another great college care package idea, as are things like a lint brush, wool dryer balls, and stain stick.
Cold and flu season items
College kids are stressed and rarely take good care of themselves. That means cold and flu germs have a high chance of making them sick on a regular basis. Put together a care package of cold and flu therapies like cough drops, tissues, and throat lozenges.
To help them survive the flu if it hits, add in other useful items like chicken soup, chamomile tea, and cleaning wipes. A first aid kit is always a good item to have on hand.
Letters from home
A handwritten letter to your child is a great way to brighten their day and remind them that they are loved and missed. Check out WeHaveKids.com for ideas on what to write if you need inspiration.
More College Care Package Tips
Want a few tips for putting together the perfect care package for your college student? From decorating to packing and shipping, these packing tips might help.
- Start by choosing a box that fits your college student’s lifestyle. Is she into sports? College students are known for playing every intramural and club sport imaginable, so decorate the college care package box with logos from her favorite team.
- Keep supplies on hand. Pick up priority flat rate boxes at the post office to keep at home. Stock up on packing tape and packing peanuts.
- Stock up on cute ribbon, sticker paper, and card stock paper to personalize your package.
- Put tags on some of the items with silly puns to make them smile.
Good luck with your gift basket planning and letting your college student know that the whole family is thinking of them. Of course, you can also throw in a few things that help college students stay organized. Because they ALWAYS need that! If you have any more college gift ideas, leave me a comment!