Unforgettable Gifts For Your New College Kid

A green gift box with a red bow and ribbon. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

While your son or daughter may only have been off to college since the fall, their ideas and experiences are already being shaped by a whole new world of people and ideas. Indulge them in their new interests with these outside-the-box holiday gifts:

Help keep their surroundings clean – You probably didn’t think your son would go from living in a 600 square foot dorm room to sharing an entire house so early in his college career. Now that he has a new abode to look after, you can break in his house-tidying experience with a sleek, high-tech Dyson vacuum. While you’re at it, grab a set of dusting shammy mits so clearing dust is a breeze.

A way to record new experiences in the moment – While mobile phone cameras have come a long way for capturing videos, you can help take your son or daughter’s memories to the next level with a camera like the GoPro. A camera they can attach to their snowboard, their back while hiking or during important lectures and demonstrations at school, this on the go video camera leaves no angle unrecorded, as GoPro.com explains.

Monthly page turner delivery – Your college student most likely has every tablet and mobile device on the market so they can stay connected. A great gift to help remind your son or daughter to “un-plug” from time to time is a monthly personalized book delivery service. With just a few details about their preferences, you could have a new read on their doorstep in no time. Find a service that will inexpensively deliver titles across a variety of hand-selected genres.

Shop with Etsy gift giving – With so much commercialism during the holiday season, it’s nice to get your son or daughter personalized gifts that have been handmade by artisans. From clothes and accessories to art, furniture, and gadgets, these are gifts you’ll never find in a mall. If you know that your college student would love to peruse the Etsy online marketplace themselves, opt for a gift card that will allow them to choose something on their own.

A DIY gift for the outdoorsy types – Nothing says downtime from hitting the books like an exhilarating hike. If your son or daughter loves to get out in the hills, consider a DIY hiking sack, packed full of the following items:

• Lightweight stretchy back pack or day pack
• Protein bars, nuts, seeds and fruit
• Reusable water bottle or hydration pack
• Tiny first aid kit
• Fleece lined gloves and hat
• Lightweight wicking clothes
• Compass
• Instant camera and film for real time photo memories

Note: For safety-approved hiking gear, choose a great resource for boys and girls.

Send your adventurer around the world – If your son or daughter hints at wanting to fulfill their explorer-spirit, gift them with a multi-city destination package designed with a college student’s lifestyle in mind. Rather than coordinating with the airlines and hotels abroad in multiple cities, consider a service that can arrange exciting full-service trips around the world for college students. The nice thing about services like this is that most of them let you create a payment plan to cover the expenses..

By Ellis Yates

Ellis is a college professor and urban gardening enthusiast.