Comments on: How to Assemble a Care Package for Someone in School

on 11/22/2005 Dont forget that your child has gone off to college, and is most likely dealing with extended seperation between him/her self and you as the parent. The more contact you have with your child, the harder and harder it will become for your child to adjust to being away from home and at college. As a college freshman watching my friends go through this, I would recommend that after the first 2 weeks of college, limit the number of phone calls and emails from you to once a week. Care packages are wonderful, but even a handwritten card in the mail will make your child joyful for the day. Just not very often to help your child adjust to college life.

on 11/22/2005 When my Mom sends me packages, to make sure that it's a fun thing for me she puts all of my bills, bank statements, etc. in a manila envelope inside so I don't have to deal with my bill right away and I can just enjoy the fun stuff. :-D

on 11/22/2005 Dorms do not allow candles.

on 11/22/2005 When I mail a package I let my son decorate, color and draw on the brown paper wrapper. We then dig through old pictures, cut out the people or places, and tape them securely with clear packaging tape. It's a collage of our family life we like to share.

on 11/22/2005 Tuck in prepaid phone cards, stamps, gift certificates to local restaurants/grocery stores, coupons for McDonalds, Burger King, etc. Also, remember the roommates with cards and inexpensive little gifts like candy.

on 11/22/2005 To expand upon another tip, I'm saving quarters in a mini M&M's container. It's the perfect size, and if necessary, my daughter can carry it in her hand when she walks downtown to add more "umph" to her fist if she needs to protect herself.

on 11/22/2005 Send $10 or $20 in quarters for laundry. It keeps your student from having to scrape for change or wear dirty clothes.

on 11/22/2005 Include postcards with addresses already written on and stamped so the student may simply jot a note down and mail it. Avoid the hassle of looking up addresses and buying stamps.

on 11/22/2005 Bags of marshmallows make great packing material, and are easily shared with roommates and friends!

on 11/22/2005 Pack care package items in empty coffee cans. They are less likely to get "squashed".

on 11/22/2005 Remember to note that local news and helpful tips are REALLY fun to get! As a college sophmore, I LOVE to get fun magazine clippings and local newspaper clippings from my mom. Stuff like "How to limit stress" or "Online resources."