<p>The holidays are coming and my son isn’t really asking for anything and in truth, he doesn’t need much of anything. This summer before he leaves for school - wherever that is - he will need everything. I’d apperciate some gift ideas from experienced parents of things he will need for his dorm room/first year of college no matter where he goes. Since these are holiday gifts, I’d like them to be a little bit fun. I know that he’ll need sheets, towels a laptop etc but that’s for summer shopping. </p>
<p>And right or wrong, we don’t expect him to buy any of his dorm set-up stuff with his own money so gift cards aren’t what I’m looking for.</p>
<p>Many kids don’t bring a whole lot to their dorms other than their laptops, toiletries, linens, a hamper, clothes, and a few creature comforts.</p>
<p>Since you don’t know his college choice yet, you can’t buy a hoodie or two. </p>
<p>Perhaps…</p>
<p>a flat screen TV with a built in DVD player
luggage for trips home
gym bag for trips to the rec center
bike for riding around campus
iTouch
Smart phone
Kindle</p>
<p>I’m putting together a small sewing kit for my DD; nicer than those cheap little plastic kits so she can keep it as a grown up, but not like my full blown sewing basket. You never know when you have to mend something :)</p>
<p>We got our D the electronic picture frame and she has loaded some 300 photos and it changes every 3 hours
Suggestion for a TV is one that can double as a monitor for his laptop
Board games or DVD Games, ie scattergories, Our D loves this because once a week they get together on the floor and play board games
A cordless vacumm cleaner</p>
<p>I would not buy a TV because you don’t know what his roommate has to share, or if you’d rather purchase something this large near the school if he is traveling fairly far from home.</p>
<p>I do think a gym bag, alarm clock, day planner, and/ or luggage that collapses (ie: duffel bag) are good ideas for now.</p>
<p>This is just a short hello…& I too, have no idea of gifts and feel like I wish I knew where he was accepted to then buy…ya know the right “school colors” & such. Why does this application stuff seem to influence even Christmas gifts? </p>
<p>Anyway, my first post and trying to “get” how this site works.</p>
<p>I am very fortunate to know where my daughter will be attending school in the fall, makes Christmas shopping so much easier. Since we are from South Florida and she will be attending school in Boston, she will be getting lots of cold weather gear. A couple of things she specifically asked for are touch screen gloves to use with her iphone and a down throw. The electronic picture frame is a great idea also.</p>
<p>If your son is planning on using a laptop, a wireless keyboard and monitor are nice. My D loves the flexibility…laptop while on the go, big monitor/keyboard when at her desk.</p>
<p>She is an athlete with early practices, so we got her an electric egg cooker (she makes 6 at a time and keeps in her fridge) for the mornings that she doesn’t have time to make it to the dining hall. The hard boiled eggs have been a hit with many on her floor. </p>
<p>Over the door towel hooks, non-wall damaging adhesive strips for pictures or posters (stocking stuffer?), shower flip flops, a camera, a laundry bag to haul clothes to/from laundry room, a white board/cork board for To-Do’s and notes,…and CASH. Sorry, as impersonal as it seems, cash always fits and never needs to be returned. </p>
<p>Most of the dorm room stuff is out in the summer but closet organizers are great (like the hanging sweater thing and the extra rod). For a girl, the girls really like those towels that velcro for walking to and from the shower. Also lots of underwear and socks so they don’t have to do laundry as much. PB Teen also has cool Duvet covers with pockets in them for cellphones etc…</p>