10 Easy DIY College Care Packages for Students Away from Home
When a family's young adult leaves the nest and goes away for college, you may be excited for them to start the next stage of their life. But this big life transition comes with mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety, not to mention homesickness for those who have a close relationship with their parents and siblings.
Homemade care packages are a great way to let the college student in your life know that you are thinking of them. This small token can go a long way in showing support for students who aren’t used to living far away from home and family.
In this guide I’ll outline some easy to recreate DIY care package ideas, which can easily be tailored and customized for each individual student.
DIY Mason Jar Pampering Spa Kit
I’m starting with a real-life care package I received from a dear friend. This cute and compact spa kit was DIY assembled inside a mini mason jar, and the presentation was so cute and compact.
When I opened up the mason jar, I was truly impressed with how many spa-themed products she was able to fit inside an ordinary jar. It was like the magic of Mary Poppins’s bag with 10 little gifts all nestled inside. See the photos of all my pampering presents.
A couple bonuses to this gift is that it won’t take up a lot of space in a small dorm room, and the mason jar can be reused for drinking and storage purposes.
This DIY idea is very cost-effective and can most likely be put together for under $20 if you’re a frugal shopper.
Spa and Pampering Care Package Gift Ideas:
Face Masks
Chapstick or Lip Balm
Lipgloss
Chocolates
Nail Polish
Nail Art Gems
Beauty Tools Such as Tweezers
Compact Mirror
Mini Lotions or Hair Products
Birthday Care Package
The first birthday away from home can be a tough one. This is especially true if your family has heartfelt annual birthday traditions that your college student will be missing out on.
A great way to send a personalized birthday care package that really makes their day is to have all the family members and friends write personalized notes with special memories they share with your college student. A trip down memory lane may just cheer them up on a blue birthday.
When it comes down to what gifts to put inside the care package box, see my ideas below.
Building a Custom Birthday Care Package
Gift Cards to Favorite Restaurants, Retail and Grocery Stores
Easy to Make Cake Mix with Frosting and Candles for a Dorm Party
Printed Photos of Loved Ones
Favorite Candies
I Miss My Hometown Care Package
Moving out of the family home can be daunting at any age. A college-aged individual might be moving not only out of the place they grew up in, but also out of the state, or even country, as well. If a student grew up in a small hometown and now finds themselves in a big city, this transition can be especially daunting.
To make this easier for them, and to show your support for their academic endeavors, consider gifts that are specifically from their hometown. Think about locally made goods from mom and pop stores, special foods and treats, and even candles with familiar scents from back home.
A Good Night’s Sleep Care Package
One of the challenges of moving to a new place is getting comfortable enough to achieve deep REM cycle sleep. Insomnia and poor quality sleep can be unexpected symptoms of stress and anxiety. College students need to be well-rested to maximize their learning, excel in school and achieve overall wellness during this transition period.
Send your college student a care package with all the essentials for establishing a healthy wind down routine for a better night’s sleep.
Help Them Sleep Better with:
Weighted Blankets which Provide Comfort
Essential Oils Like Lavender
Sound Machines
Eye Mask
Black Out Curtains
A Good Book for Night Reading (Screen free an hour before bed is important!)
Build A Fish Tank Care Package
If your college student has expressed interest in adopting a pet fish, you can surprise them with a care package filled with all the supplies to make a welcoming home for a fishy friend. You can really get creative with the fish tank figurines, making fun whimsical themes with quirky Imagitarium aquatic decor.
DIY Terrarium Kit Care Package
If a live fish is too much of a commitment but you’d still like to bring some life to their dorm room, consider gifting a DIY terrarium kit. Terrariums are tiny little ecosystems, often built inside glass or wooden containers. They can be customized to all kinds of aesthetics and vibes, often featuring cute little succulents and air plants. They are easy to maintain for busy college students, one of the most resilient and low-maintenance houseplants.
The Big Snack Box Care Package
Your college student may be at the mercy of the school cafeteria for their main meals, which may not be the most appetizing for them. A big box of favorite snacks and treats can make for a great study session with classmates, a quick bite between classes, or even a chill movie night.
College students are notoriously broke without a lot of spending cash, so providing them with easy and ready to indulge snacks can be a big bonus.
Bonus Tip: A money-saving care package hack for big snack boxes is to order them on Walmart’s Snack Hub online, and then have it shipped directly to your college student. This can really save you money on shipping a big box.
Holiday Thanksgiving & Christmas Care Packages
Being away from home during the holiday season is especially difficult for college kids. But sadly traveling home for every Thanksgiving and Christmas may not be financially feasible. Sending a thoughtful and festive care package during this time is especially crucial for homesick students.
Thanksgiving Care Package
We all know that Thanksgiving is an American holiday that is all about eating our favorite Turkey Day foods. If your college student is studying abroad and they really want a dose of good ole American Thanksgiving, you can send them a care package with the dry ingredients and canned ingredients to make their own mini dinner. Think along the lines of boxes of stuffing mix, cornbread, cans of mushroom soup and green beans for casserole, marshmallows for sweet potatoes, etc.
Christmas Care Package
Help your college student get into the holiday spirit with a Christmas-themed box of festive decor and gifts. Send them twinkle lights, a mini Christmas tree and a holiday stocking to decorate their living space. Include a Christmas Eve comfort kit with a holiday mug, hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, cookies and candy canes. Schedule a zoom party where everyone drinks their hot chocolate together and enjoys each other’s company from far away.
Hygge Cozy Care Package
After the holidays are over, the cold winter season can really be drag. Adopting the hygge mindset includes embracing all things cozy and comforting, especially during the months of January, February and early March.
A hygge cozy care package includes warming essentials such as fuzzy socks, tea, hot drink mugs, flannel bedding, blankets, scarves, mittens and sweatshirts. For all my witchy guys and gals, beginner crystals can help you get into the hygge vibe too.
Custom Dorm Room Decor
If all of these ideas are not sparking any inspiration, you can always send your college students a sweet reminder of their loved ones with printed photos and decor.
Depending on the type of room or residency that the student has, they may be able to decorate their living space. Opting for some images of their pets, family, friends, or even hometown, could be a wonderful way of reminding them that people care for them and support them in their educational pursuits.
Using Custtom, you may be able to have these images printed onto canvas frames which could be put up on the walls, onto cork boards, or even simply stood on the desk. A canvas can also be a smarter choice if the student moves at any point, being potentially less fragile than a glass frame while remaining lightweight.
