<p>I know I have seen threads on this before, but I am now thinking about all the gifts I need to buy for my S’s friends. My S has a lot of close high school friends and I want to keep the gift giving at a reasonable $25 or less per friend.</p>
<p>Someone had mentioned frisbee’s once for boys…like that idea…I can certainly get the ultimate frisbee one, probably @$15 or so…what are other ideas for boys and ideas for girls?</p>
<p>I’m leaning toward an actual gift instead of a giftcard…also with that many friends I don’t want to get something frome each individual college…that would take forever!
Thank you! :)</p>
<p>If you’re looking for “gifts”, not gift cards or checks, here are somethings my kids have received:</p>
<p>Photo album
Wastebasket filled with dorm snacks
Homemade First Aid kit
Collection of desk supplies - pens, pencils, post-it notes, etc.
Journal (basically blank notebook - nice ones at Barnes and Noble) and Book Light</p>
<p>Our winning idea at that price point is a beach towel with each student’s future college name on it. You can order them from most college bookstores online. You do have to plan in advance, because some bookstores are more efficient about shipping than others. It’s fun for them to use all summer before they head off to college.</p>
<p>youdon’tsay: cute idea…I may go with that but I’d rather find an actual gift…</p>
<p>abasket: which items did your kids find most useful/unique?</p>
<p>siliconvalleymom: I love the idea, but realistically…do you pay for shipping for each towel from each bookstore? Do you know of websites that handle all colleges? May look into that…the other issue is what if he gets a gift from a friend and needs to reciprocate quickly…ordering a towel may take too long…</p>
<p>thank you all for your ideas! Please keep them coming!</p>
<p>I gave personalized stationary cards. You could order note cards with envelopes with either their name or initials. You would be surprised how often kids need thank you cards at school.</p>
<p>A small basic tool kit. (a great way to get to know the other kids in the dorm) </p>
<p>A folding picture holder that extends about 4 feet that holds about 8 4x6 prints - found in catalogs.</p>
<p>I like the towel idea and the wastebasket filled with snacks.</p>
<p>My sister in law gave my son a folding camp chair - the really popular ones with a matching bag that they fold up into. It is a huge hit. it can fold up and get out of the way, and can easily be pulled out when you need a comfy chair to sit in or friends stop by your room. I visited a couple weeks ago and his friends were raving about it. One said he’s getting one for next year, and another said she doesn’t know how many hours she’s sat in S’s chair working on lab reports.</p>
<p>When my son was invited to grad parties, I made him take a little gift (even though most others did not.) I found some colorful chip clips and put those, plus a bag of Hershey’s Miniatures in a bag in the school colors.</p>
<p>This is a little different than our kids’ friends; however, I was a Girl Scout and problem-solving team leader for years and needed to send about 15 gifts. I sent a card with a Starbucks card in it and told the kids to take their parents out for a coffee and say thank you for helping to get them this far. They seemed to like it and the parents loved it.</p>
<p>My son loved the booklight - there were many times this year when his roommate went to bed early (yeah) and S wanted to still read in bed or on the futon. </p>
<p>The journal can be used for lots of things - note taking, lists, letters to mom…(haha)</p>
<p>I second the wastebasket with snacks although S had to fight the urge to eat them through the summer. His favorite gifts were the many gift cards he got for In N Out burger - his favorite.<br>
I received a beach towel and beach mat for grad and it was my favorite gift.</p>
<p>You can buy a beach towel in one of the school’s colors and get the school’s name sewn on at a local embroidery shop.
Or a white towel and the thread in the school’s colors.</p>
<p>Just showed my S the list and he seems to like the beach towel and folding chairs ideas the best…I’ll have to do a little research on the towels…pinotnoir: did you have the chairs personalized? Actually I’m kinda liking the beach towel idea…or maybe I can also go to BB&Beyond and/or Homegoods for some ideas too…</p>
<p>Since D1 did EA, we’ve known since November where she’s going, so Christmas was all about college stuff. One thing she loved the most was a fleece throw I made. This is a no-sew project! I just trimmed the edges and made 2" cuts all around every 1-2" for a shag effect. (I do sew, so I also made 2 throw pillows). I looked around and found this place had the best prices, including shipping, but I’m sure there are other sellers out there:</p>
<p>On the sewing topic. Most colleges have their own fleece. Google it to buy it on line. If you sew, fleece pajama pants are an absolute smash hit. I think that I made about 15 pairs at Christmas time. I bought a pajama pattern and taped the side seams together to get a one-piece pant pattern (cut two pieces). You sew the front and back seams and then the inseam. Fold over the top for elastic and hem them. I made them for friends and kids’ friends.</p>
<p>I also made fleece Santa hats. Make the band and tassle out of a neutral color and the pointy part out of the college fleece.</p>
<p>If I got a fleece throw or even the pajama pants as a gift, I would be thrilled…but it’s way tooooo much work to even contemplate! I don’t sew and don’t have enough time to do something that creative…</p>
<p>We may end up doing several gifts…depending on the friend…maybe I don’t need to “panic” yet. We’re talking like 40 gifts, but maybe we can sort them into “groups”.</p>
<p>Missypie: I cannot believe anyone would show up to your party empty handed! That’s certainly not how I’ve taught my kids. Many times they go to friends houses to “hang out” with a bunch of kids and I’ll still send them with a plate of cookies or brownies or even a bag of chips! For a grad. party, a gift is a must.</p>