The Ultimate College Care Package
Ah, the hallowed halls of higher education seem like a distant memory for parents facing empty nest syndrome. But while you’re already mapping out plans to convert your college-bound kid’s room into a painting studio or a man-cave, your kid is dealing with his own fears of living away from home for the first time. Suzann Connell, a Southern California-based author, teacher (https://design-instruction.com/) and mom of two college-age young adults, opines, “Two popular items for college students are noise-canceling headphones and cell phone printers. My students tell me that these two items have enhanced their college experiences.” Here are more goodies for your kids to tuck into.
1. An emergency alert device. Young women-and men-are at risk for altercations on campus. Even if your child is one of the lucky ones to never have a run-in, a safety device is a must-have in case of emergency or injury. The Revolar Smart Button device enables you to “click” danger levels and relay your location to contacts. It can also relay message that you’re safe in a certain location.
2. Save the Earth and keep your young one hydrated with eco-friendly refillable water bottles. There are even versions that keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.
3. For young ladies, there’s never a thing such as too many hair elastics. For the guys, sign them up for shaving razor delivery clubs. For both, lip balm. They might not thank you at first, but they will later.
4. Extra long charging cords. Send a dozen of them, that way, your kids can have a few in their dorm rooms, cars and backpacks.
5. Socks. If you think losing socks at home is bad, imagine having to do your laundry with hundreds or thousands of other students using the same facilities.
6. A cold/flu first aid kit. Pack it full of lozenges, OTC cold and flu meds, herbal tea, powdered Gatorade and Airborne. Add some Vicks Vaporub, hand sanitizer and tissues and Junior will be all set when that first sniffle hits.
7. A hot air popcorn popper. No muss, no fuss, budget-friendly instant snacks. What more could a kid want? Pass the powdered cheese salt!
8. Hot sauce, vinegar and spices. Cafeteria food is far from being gourmet. In fact, most of it can be pretty bland. Not anymore.
9. Twine and tiny clothespins. Tack up the twine in a zig-zag pattern on the wall, stick clothespins along it and clip photos to them. Instant photo wall of memories.
So, even though “cash and cookies” are predictable, ultimately no care package is complete without them. Even if you’re not a baker, you can still pack granola, cereal bars, microwaveable popcorn in a care package, along with rolls of quarters for the laundry room.
Connell adds, “No matter how big or small your care packages become, your kid will be a roommate who needs to have a sense of organization and management about his or her personal living space. Encourage creativity when it comes to organizing the cell phone printer, and the hot air popcorn popper alongside the lip balm and laptop.”
Shelley Moench-Kelly, MBA, is a New England-based writer and editor whose freelance clients include Google, L’Oreal Paris and TheWeek.com.
