<p>These are great ideas. Thanks for the info on the snarling brain, haven’t found it yet, but it is a great quest.</p>
<p>I’m bumping up this thread, first to say thanks for the great advice, and second to ask this question: I recall reading a similar thread a while ago, where people listed their incredibly creative gifts they shipped to their college kids. I did a search and came up empty. Can anyone dredge up that link, or remember other creative and well-appreciated gifts they’ve sent – other than baked goods.</p>
<p>I sent 4-5 packages to my son last year when he was a freshman. He didn’t seem overly appreciative even though the packages included his favorite home baked cookies and other goodies like clothes from American Eagle. One time he didn’t even bother to pick the package up for several days and didn’t call or e-mail me to even let me know he’d received it. When I asked him about it a week or two later, he said, “Oh yeah, I got it”. This year my plan is to not send him anything and see if he even notices. My guess is that once his suitemates start receiving packages, it will occur to him that he hasn’t received anything and he’ll call me wondering what’s up. Depending upon his attitude I may or may resume the packages.</p>
<p>I just reread this and though I sounded a bit harsh. It will absolutely kill me not to pick out things that I think are special to send to him and I probably won’t even make it until Halloween.</p>
<p>Please let us all know when someone finds the Snarling Brain!</p>
<p>I have learned so much here. Used a flat rate box, which cost 8.95. Sent choc choc chip cookies, with bread on top. Did not mention bread to S, so he can be surprised.
Targets had some inexpensive toys, like lazer nightlite and computer lite, small tool kit.</p>
<p>sly-I think this might be what you are looking for.<br>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=240831&highlight=army[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=240831&highlight=army</a></p>
<p>LOL. I can’t imagine a kid being embarrassed by too many cookies. I don’t think I’d send them more than once a week though! My son will be lucky to get something once a month, more likely I’ll do the holidays like my mother did.</p>
<p>This isn’t identical to the one mentioned above (the brains are smaller and no mouths) but if you really, really need a crawling brain, there’s no place better than Science Surplus. Lots of other cool and not terribly expensive things as well. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm?terms=13638&cartLogFrom=Search[/url]”>http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm?terms=13638&cartLogFrom=Search</a></p>
<p>my-3-sons: yes! I think that’s the one. Thanks for finding it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the Science Surplus link. They have a ton of stuff, I didn’t know I needed!</p>
<p>I sent my first care package on the Tuesday after Labor Day by FedEx. He didn’t get it until the following Monday, but said everyone loved the cookies and he thanked me very much. I’m going to mail off more tomorrow by USPS flat rate. I figure it can’t take MORE time than the last batch.</p>
<p>Mailed the first batch of cookies this week to my two college kiddos, both cross country. Eldest got his today, so for him, the flat rate USPS priority was a 2 day trip. Considering his box weighed in at close to 5 lbs - quite a good deal. D hasn’t gotten hers yet, but her school is a tad bit further off the beaten path, so an extra day would not surprise me.</p>
<p>Oldest has learned to let mom know when a box arrives, and to be very thankful. As a junior living on campus again this year, he’s come to thoroughly appreciate mom’s cooking and goodies. I’m currently on the lookout for fun Halloween stuff to put in the next shipment.</p>
<p>Look for those glow-in-the-dark sticks that you can link together to make longer. I’ve seen 10 for a dollar at Michaels. Even quite ‘old’ kids like them – I know I do!</p>
<p>I’d like to recommend flat rate boxes from the USPS! Everyone may not know about them. As my friend at the P.O. says,“It doesn’t matter if you send feathers or bricks, the rate is the same.” AND the boxes are FREE!! If the package isn’t going very far, flat-rate may not save money, but for a long distance, they are awesome!</p>
<p>I sent my S a laser pen which was the hit of his dorm (along with all his dress shirts which he forgot in the washer.). I also put a plastic container with cookies for his roomie in the box. Roomie appreciated cookies more than S! (Ha! See if he gets anything before Thanksgiving~!). </p>
<p>Last year, we had a “Finals Care Package” delivered from the school cafe which sold same for about $12.95. Included in it: Rice Krispie treats, tea, cookies, fruit (I think your standard apple, banana, orange), small “fun size” candy and microwave popcorn, pencils and a package of hot choco mix. S ate all the food but didn’t bother to tell us he got it until he got home for break. This year, he’d better like that pumpkin pie at T-giving 'cause I’m not sending the Finals Pack!</p>
<p>With Halloween and mid-terms coming up…I thought I would bump up this thread. I am a freshman parent looking for ideas fo DD…</p>
<p>At my D’s school they will deliver your kid a basket full of candy, you pay $25 and the money goes to the woman’s basketball team. Seemed too easy to pass up.</p>
<p>We just came back from D’s Parents’ Weekend and I did make a batch of toll house cookies to bring with me. We also made a major shopping excursion while we were there so she’s set.</p>
<p>However, I do have to send a package this weekend; thinking of going to the dollar store and buying some cheap Halloween decorations for her door, may those orange Christmas lights if they have any for the outside window. She told me absolutely no candy so there goes that idea…</p>
<p>Sent one when S was a freshman. That was it. He moved off campus soph. year, has very little free time to go stand in line at the Post Office across town to pick up a package. So now I only send things that will fit in his apartment’s tiny mail box (cd’s, gift card, etc)</p>
<p>I just read this thread. if you’re looking for the snarling brain try CostPlus. I was there last week buying stuff for my S’s first care package of the year (yes, I just dropped him off but when I saw they had the little bear cookies filled with chocolate that he loves, I had to get them) & I saw the snarling brain. I also found at CostPlus lots of food items that are just heat & eat (Indian food & Thai food) so I included those in the package. I always include some kind of toy - this time it was a Pez dispenser & some origami paper. I also really like ThinkGeek.com for little fun things. My son loves the little “lava lamp” I found at ThinkGeek last year. I’m thinking of some of the zelda toys for this year.<br>
It might be fun to make a list of fun “holidays” - last year I sent my S fun things for “Pi day”, (3/14) and “E day”. I would have sent something for “talk like a pirate day” but that’s in late September. Anyone know any other fun holidays outside those on everyone’s calendar?</p>