When you are missing your son or daughter, here are some great care package ideas that will help cheer them up, enable them to celebrate a holiday, and even ease the transition from home to college for all those new freshman. College care packages will be appreciated by the student and Mom will feel like she is still able to help her child even if she lives miles away. Care packages can be put together by Mom & Dad themselves or they can purchase them online and have them delivered to the college. In either case, be sure to check with the campus mailroom about how the package should be addressed. UPS and FedEx normally have to deliver packages to a central campus location so without the proper information on the package, it could get delayed in the mailroom resulting in a delivery delay to the student.

1. Holiday Care Packages With many students living miles from home, you sometimes won't get to share family holidays like Easter and Halloween together like you did when your child lived at home. To help make the holiday festive, you can send them a fresh-baked cookie gift basket, an Easter goodie basket or even a Halloween care package. They'll love the treats and won't miss home so much.

2. Final Exam or Mid-Term Care Packages Students are usually stressed out and run down during mid-term and final exam week so what better time to send them a healthy gift basket or care package full of their favorite snacks. You can put it together yourself or order it online at one of the many gift basket companies. Some snacks and drinks are sure to energize them during their studies. There are a wide range of care packages available for purchase online today with themes for the coffee lover who needs caffeine, to all-natural nutritious snack baskets that include fruit and energy bars.

3. Birthday Gift Ideas Even though your child is in college, that doesn't mean that they won't be celebrating with their friends like they used to celebrate at home with their family. You can still join in the fun by sending a birthday cake or party in a box that includes candles, party blowers and party hats for several people. Other options would be a birthday candy bouquet with balloons or a big basket of birthday design cookies. Be sure to send enough treats so that your son or daughter can share with their college friends.

4. Study Break Gifts Every once in a while, you should encourage your student to put the books down and have some good, clean fun with their friends. Perhaps send the game Cranium or Taboo or one of the other party games that we've suggested below. Both are great games for a group and outrageously fun. Put the game and a few of their favorite snacks in a gift box and ship it to them at school. They'll be thrilled that you thought of them plus you'll score brownie points with all their friends who'll get to enjoy the games too. Other ideas might be to send movies along with movie size boxes of candy and microwave popcorn so that they can have a fun movie night.

5. All Their Favorites Gift Box No one knows your son or daughters likes and dislikes better than you so why not put together a little gift box filled with all their favorites. It doesn't have to be just food either, you can throw in other things like hi-liters, notepads, pencils, etc. Just buy a fun container at Walmart or Target and fill it up. Good snack ideas are energy bars, granola bars, pretzels, cracker jack, chips, chex mix, buttered microwave popcorn, candy bars, jelly beans, rice krispie bars, cookies, crackers, coffee, cocoa, tea and fruit juice. Basically, fill it with whatever your son or daughter enjoys. The possibilities are endless and they'll love getting a little piece of home.