Housewarming Gifts For Your New College Student

It can be nerve-wracking to watch your child leave the nest and head off to college. You've helped pack all of their things into the family van, bought new sheets for their odd-sized dorm bed and bought a few weeks’ worth of groceries to make sure they don’t starve without some home-cooked meals. 

While all the practical preparations will help make sure that your new college student will survive (at least for a little while), an extra sentimental touch will go a long way to helping them make the transition to their new home away from home. Thanks to Pinterest, they’ve likely been stockpiling their own dorm decorating ideas since the first day of senior year, but a good housewarming gift will keep your kid thinking fond thoughts of home until Thanksgiving break rolls around.

There are a few guidelines for a good college housewarming gift, but mostly it should be heartfelt. Dorm rooms are tight quarters, so the gift shouldn’t add to the clutter. It should be practical, yet thoughtful, useful, but memorable.

Practical, Yet Thoughtful

Every gift should have a purpose, but for a poor, struggling college student, some gifts will go farther than others. Here are a few gifts that will give your kid an extra boost every day of the semester.

·         Small appliances – While a mini-fridge and a microwave are requested by almost college student, they’re a generic addition to a dorm, and many apartments will include both. There are a few inexpensive, easy-to-use tools that can help your kid make some fun meals. Bed Bath and Beyond has some great items like a sandwich press or a quesadilla maker that they’ll love. They’re cheap, clean up in minutes and can make some great, cheap meals. You could also gift them with a blender. You know, for smoothies.

·         Bluetooth attachments – When you think Bluetooth, you’re probably thinking of clunky earpieces, something your kid wouldn’t be caught dead wearing. However, there are a number of Bluetooth accessories that will be big hits. Portable Bluetooth speakers will let your kid stream music from their phone without wires or a clunky speaker set.  If you want something a little more fun, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer is great for printing pictures from a smartphone.

·         Skype membership – They probably have their phones with them all the time, but a Skype Premium membership has many benefits over your basic cell phone plan. For just a few pennies, your kid can set up their own phone number with unlimited calls to the US and Canada. At a fraction of the cost of a cell phone plan and extra minutes, Skype can help you keep in touch.

Useful, But Memorable

·         TV & Movie Services – Moving away from home is a scary step to take. Help your new college student feel like he never left your family room with a Netflix or Vudu account. You’ll give them a lot of entertainment options and possibly save a bunch of money by replacing their apartment cable with Netflix and Hulu.

·         Board Games – If your family has a favorite board game, get them their own copy to take with them. Board games may not seem like the top collegiate entertainment choice, but sometimes a quiet night in with friends will be just what they are looking for.

·         Cell Phone – Chances are good that they already have a phone, but picking up the tab on a new smartphone will go a long way for your student. With task organizers, calendars and a GPS, you won’t ever have to worry about your kid getting lost on the way to class.

Heartfelt Gifts

Sometimes the best gifts are one that don’t have much practical purpose beyond reminding your student that you love them. Here are a few excellent ones.

·         Gift baskets – The best thing about gift packages is that they come in a million different forms, and you can send them at any time of the year. Serious Teddy Bear has a line of teddy bear gift baskets, including a bear just for college students. Small gifts are a great way to remind your student of home during the semester, while cookie-filled care packages from home will help ease the stress of final exams.

·         Homemade cookbook – One of the biggest things your kid will miss is the taste and comfort of a home-cooked meal. While nothing can compare to mom’s cooking, make a short cookbook of their favorite meals and desserts so they can try their hand at recreating a little taste of home. You can find some great DIY guides to make the perfect cookbook.

Rainier Fuclan is recent graduate of Western Illinois University, with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and a freelance writer for 407apartments.com,.  407apartments.com is a website that allows you to search apartments in Orlando according to various criteria, including neighborhood and school district.