College care packages - ideas wanted!

[Cemetery Support]

I want to send my college kids some seasonal care packages for November, and to include both practical and fun things.

Hi, student here.

Practical:
- medical kit, illness prevention, supplements, things of that nature, hydration supplements. You don't realize that you need to go get DayQuil until you're sick and you need to go get DayQuil., or you don't realize how crucial having LiquidIV is until you're hungover. Having it on hand is important.
- Toolkits, wrenches, screwdriver, jumper cables, etc. Eventually they will have to repair something or their car won't start and Dad won't be there to help them.
- Helpful Tech things: I use Goodnotes on a tablet, which requires a yearly subscription. If they take notes on a tablet, getting them a year (like less than 15$) is extremely helpful. Also, get them a spare phone charger, they will lose it at some point.

Fun things: stringlights for their dorm, framed photos of the family, corkboards, whatever snacks they like,

 

[Jean d'Arc]

At one point in college someone gifted me a pad of sticky notes that had a block for every day of the week and I got so much use out of those, especially at the end of the semester. Stationary in general might be a good bet, sticky tabs to put in books, highlighters, pens, etc. They may even appreciate nicer pens since you get awful hand cramps if you take notes too long with skinny, cheap pens.

 

[Stan]

If they don't already have one an electric kettle is extremely useful and practical especially with the modern college cup noodle diet.

I'd ask FDP's kids to check their student handbook before gifting an electric kettle or similar items. I recall that at Sarah Lawrence they banned electric kettles, coffee makers, extension cords, space heaters, and pretty much anything else that could start an electrical fire were prohibited in the dorms.

If they're in an area where it's cold, electric blanket.

^ my alma mater banned these too

I would want some thumbtacks and Christmas lights.

^was banned circa 2012, but might have changed since Xmas lights are now made from LEDs and pretty safe. BU students all seem to have these hanging in their windows anyway. It's worth checking before sending anyway.

 

[Chongqing]

^was banned circa 2012, but might have changed since Xmas lights are now made from LEDs and pretty safe. BU students all seem to have these hanging in their windows anyway. It's worth checking before sending anyway.

You know what else might be great? Dried dates.

They're like a little fruit berry thing.

They're total brain food. They're filling. They don't need refrigeration and they'll last beyond the school year.

They're a really healthy snack.

They won't start a fire, either.

 

[Friend of Dorothy Parker]

I'd ask FDP's kids to check their student handbook before gifting an electric kettle or similar items. I recall that at Sarah Lawrence they banned electric kettles, coffee makers, extension cords, space heaters, and pretty much anything else that could start an electrical fire were prohibited in the dorms.

^ my alma mater banned these too

^was banned circa 2012, but might have changed since Xmas lights are now made from LEDs and pretty safe. BU students all seem to have these hanging in their windows anyway. It's worth checking before sending anyway.

Kids are no longer in uni housing and have full kitchens, but thank you!

 

[Billy Hargrove]

-Stanley cup
-Pens, notebook, pencils, blue books if the kids still use those.
-lush bodywashes?