Children grow up and in no time are ready to go to college to achieve a higher education. As a parent, you may find this to be a heartbreaking situation but it is unavoidable. College might be your child’s first solo interaction with the outside world; they will have to fend for themselves, live away from the comforts of home and carve out a place for themselves.
It goes without saying that you will want the best for your children in such a situation. Generally, relatives and other acquaintances will load up your child with clothes and toiletries.
However, as a parent, you can give certain gifts to your kid to make college life simpler and better.
Here is a list of a few things you can give a new college student:
No.1. Mobile phone
One of the best gifts you can give your child is the mobile phone that they have been asking for. Going to college with a new phone not only feels good but offers several practical benefits.
A new, high-quality phone will work for a long time and will allow you to easily stay connected to your child through either standard or video calls.
No.2. Laptop
College means a lot of seminars, workshops, presentations and assignments, all of which require a basic gadget: a laptop. Therefore, a laptop is definitely one of the best gifts you can give your college-going children.
A few things to keep in mind while choosing a laptop are the weight and portability, an operating system with maximum compatibility, good RAM, sufficient memory, a graphics card, a battery backup, etc.
If your kid is into editing, Photoshop or gaming, a high-end laptop is probably a better option.
No.3. Camera
You can encourage your child’s artsy side by gifting them a camera, like an SLR or a DSLR.
They can use this camera to take pictures and hone their skills in photography. This way, you will be encouraging them to form a productive habit.
No.4. Headphones
Most college goers discover various types of music for the first time as they come into contact with people from diverse backgrounds. A good set of headphones will definitely make that music experience more enjoyable.
Moreover, listening to music is a perfect way to relax during times of stress – and good headphones make it better.
No.5. Watch with fitness tracker
A wristwatch has a classy feel to it. Other than serving the purpose of providing the time, it can never fail as a gift.
And modern wristwatches come with multiple features, including fitness trackers that can count steps, heart rate, calories burnt and various other aspects of health, which will encourage your child to stay in shape.
No.6. Multipurpose wallet
Money is important when you’re living away from home.
So are various cards like identification cards, a driver’s license, and debit and credit cards.
A wallet that can easily store them all will be a very useful gift.
No.7. Gift cards
Gift cards are perfect gifts for college students due simply to the fact that you may not know what your child actually wants. A card gives them the liberty to visit a shop and purchase anything they want. Gift cards can be purchased to cover expenses related to groceries, clothing, gadgets and more.
No.8. Coffee maker
Students need coffee to keep up with the pressures of college.
Instead of spending a considerable amount of money buying coffee every day, having a coffee maker will make the process simpler and easier on the pocketbook.
No.9. Portable charger
It is common for college students to forget to charge their mobile phones before they head out. During these times, a portable charger will come in handy, as students will be able to keep their phone in a usable state for a long time.
No.10. Water bottle
Drinking water is important; it should be clean and hygienic to prevent the spread of infections.
A water bottle that can store clean water for a long time will be very useful.
No.11. Portable speaker
Give high-quality portable speakers to your child and they can turn any location into a gathering.
No.12. Sturdy suitcase
This is especially important if your child is going to study abroad.
A piece of sturdy luggage like a suitcase or a duffle bag that is lightweight and that also has a lot of storage space is an ideal gift for college goers who are frequent travelers.
All the items mentioned in this list are useful, which makes them ideal gifts.