My son is going far, far away to college this fall. (Ok, so “far, far” is only five hours, but it feels like a long distance!) When I began gathering his supplies, he told me, “Am I going to get a surprise packet like you left Brittany when she went to college?” “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I said you were getting one,” I informed him. Of course he will be getting one, but it never hurts to keep him on his toes! He’s been giving me hints for follow-up care packages too. “If you want to send me stuff while I am away at college, Mom, the best thing to put in care packages is food.” Little does he know I have all sorts of care packages planned. And, if I should happen to drive them down to the school, won’t he be surprised? While I contemplate all the surprise visits, I also thought it would be nice to send him an “Out of the Blue” care package to let him know we are thinking of him.
I saw his dorm room during orientation and he has almost no room. I thought this selection of items would be perfect because they are easily consumed or shared with friends. I headed to the local dollar store and picked up a small blue basket he can use for storage on his desk. Then came the fun part! I tried to find as many blue items as I could to fill the basket.
I added some items I knew he would need like deodorant, dish washing liquid and hand sanitizer. I also added lots of snacks including bags of microwave popcorn, single servings of macaroni and cheese, packages of gum, individually wrapped Rice Krispie treats, mini candy bars, and bags of Jolly Ranchers. You could also include bubble gum (which I may or may not have chewed and planned to replace), gummy worms, blue Swedish fish, or any blue toiletries, like shampoo, razors or whatever they need.
Do you have ideas for making the transition to college easier?
For more back to school ideas, check out a few of my favorite blogs:
- Free Behavior Charts Printable from A Mom’s Take
- DIY Schultute for back to school from Two Girls One Boy and a Crazy Mom
- No Mess Glitter Composition Book from How Was Your Day
- Personalized Pencil And Art Supplies Cup from Our Family World
- Mango Overnight Oatmeal by Upstate Ramblings
- 7 School Lunches to Pack Beyond the Sandwich from MommaDJane
- Fabulous Back To School DIY Notebook Covers from My Kid’s Guide
- Monogrammed Trinket Dish from Style on Main
- American Girl Accessories Notebooks from This Mama Loves
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I absolutely LOVE this idea! What a wonderful surprise! Luckily my son still has another year before he goes to college but I think I might just do something like this for his Senior year.
Surprise gifts are the best! What a way to help rid your child or friend of being homesick! 🙂 Great idea!
I love gift baskets! I wish I would have received something like this when I was going to college!
A very lucky student would receive that and be so happy! What an awesome idea for a
Aww that’s sweet he was looking forward to his “surprise” care package! Great idea! Good luck to him!
Wow, that’s really loaded up! What a great surprise for the college student
My kids are too small, but I know some day I need to do such surprise packaging as well for them. Love this wonderful basket idea, which will be a great gift for any student.
What an awesome basket idea! I love giving those as gifts for people. Thanks for the ideas.
What a sweet idea for your son! I will have to do this for my daughter when she goes to school!
Oh yeah, it is the season! I forgot about the college crew going back!! A basket is always a good idea. 🙂
Congrats too, to your son! 🙂
I love this idea! There are so many changes when headed off to college and this would be such a welcome gift.
What a great idea for a new college student. I am sure this would make the transition much less painful!
I love that you have a little theme for the gift basket, that is so cute. I know for sure as a college student I would love to get little packages like these! (especially the candy bars haha!)
What a perfect gift for a kid headed off to college! Such a personal and useful gift!
That’s a very thoughtful gift. I remember moving away from home. It was so exciting to be in the dorms, but I loved all the reminders from home.
This is a great idea. College isn’t easy and having a care package like this would help any kid adjust.
What a fantastic idea. I love these type of baskets, I don’t know anyone heading off to college otherwise I would love to make one of these. Maybe even as a birthday gift!
What a great care package! College is tough, care packages seem to make things that much better. When I went to college since I lived in town, I didn’t have to live in residence halls. I think that was easier for me, but I know not everyone has that option.
A complete college basket! Wow. It is a stress filled time when parents send their kids off to college and putting together a basket with stuff they would really need is pure love!
What a great idea for a college gift basket. My nephew is going to college. He’ll love a gift like this.
My oldest son would love that for a gift basket. Luckily he decided to stay home to go to college this year so I still have time to prepare.
I have to say some of my favorite memories in college were receiving surprise care packages. This is the perfect way to remind your college student that they are loved
This is a great gift basket. I have one child in their second year of College this year but he lives at home. My Daughter is starting her first year of College and will be staying in residence. I will have to make her a basket.
I love the blue theme here. I am such a nerd when it comes to stuff like this and I love making baskets up.
Some great ideas! My nephew went off to college this past year so I sent him a few random boxes of goodies. Was fun to see the artwork my girls made, up on his wall when I went to visit.
What a sweet idea! I know that college kids have to appreciate these!
I loved sending care packages to my kids when they were in college. And I loved receiving them from my parents when I was in college!
I love this basket!! Out of the blue, that’s so cute! Great idea for kids going away for college.
What a sweet surprise present! I’d love to receive that myself.
Love the ‘out of the blue’ gift basket ideas and i’m sure he will too! This will definitely bring a smile to his face!
Aww…what a sweet thing to do. I’m sure the package was well-received.
What a great basket. All are must have’s for college kids!
I love getting gifts just because! If I were in college and got this it would make me pretty darn happy 🙂
Going away to college can be intimidating and exciting at the same time. These treats can certainly help to ease those nerves.
I have this to anticipate in a few years. You are giving me some great ideas.
I remember my friend gettng care packages from her family in college. Such a sweet gesture!
Ha I saw the spiderman snacks and giggled and said he must be 21 going on five lol what is it about those kind of snacks that we never truly out grow? My step son is obsessed with Twinkies and hot chetto’s still.
I hope you give his basket away from his friends so they don’t take off with his snacks and tease him lol
My mom made a cute basket like this for me when I was leaving home for college too. It was huge though, mine was like a huge, huge plastic container filled with goodies like these and then weird stuff like paper towels and shampoo. LOL
College days are over for me and don’t know anyone going to college but I love the idea.
I used to love receiving care packages when I was a student. This looks like the best package to get!
When my boys went to school I would always stock up food for them. I’d either mail it or they’d pick it up during a visit. Now they are in the Navy as officers and far away from home and I STILL send them their favorites, especially the foods they can no longer get.
What a great basket! I’m sure any college student would love to receive this.
That college care package is such a sweet idea! I’m going to make one for my sister. Thanks for the great post! 😀
That is a fun idea. It’s so hard to go out on your own for the first time & this would definitely help.
Great info on what to send with college kids!!
What a great basket! Thankfully, my kids are far from being old enough to go off to college. I’m not nearly ready to let go!
I’m not going off to college but I still want this gift basket! You’ve included some of my favorite treats here. This is a great gift to make for your student.
That is a super cute basket idea! I love the mac & cheese. College students live off of that stuff!
My step son is actually going to college in September and I have been picking up things to make him a basket like this all summer long 🙂
I feel your pain! None of my children have gone off to college yet, but I keep praying they stay close to home! I’m not looking forward to anyone moving too far away! I love the idea of surprise packages for them while they are gone! 🙂
My stepson is going about 2 hours away. He will still be in MA, but far enough that he will be on his own.
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