Xmas gifts for the HS senior & Ipod Docking station

[linnylu]

I have 2 questions that I am going to combine. 1. What are the "for sure" items that a college student living in the dorms will need? I'd like to give my ds and dn some of these things for Christmas. Would a suitcase be a good gift? What is the best laundry bag or shower organizer? We don't know where they are going to school yet so I don't know if a mic/frig/desk lamp will be provided or not.
2. What is a good docking system/speaker system for the ipod touch? I was thinking of getting this as a gift for my younger dd. I saw them mentioned in the numerous posts here on the touch but I'm wondering what brand is a good one to go with .

 

[Marionnette]

I have 2 questions that I am going to combine. 1. What are the "for sure" items that a college student living in the dorms will need? I'd like to give my ds and dn some of these things for Christmas. Would a suitcase be a good gift? What is the best laundry bag or shower organizer? We don't know where they are going to school yet so I don't know if a mic/frig/desk lamp will be provided or not.
2. What is a good docking system/speaker system for the ipod touch? I was thinking of getting this as a gift for my younger dd. I saw them mentioned in the numerous posts here on the touch but I'm wondering what brand is a good one to go with .

Suitcases arent a good idea unless the student is going to be vacationing over the summer. They take up too much precious storage space. A rolling duffel that can be smashed down and stuffed in the closet is better. A collapsible hamper is better than a laundry bag. Add some of those purex three in one laundry sheets. Most dorms use the kids student id as a debit card now. They can use them to do their laundry so no need for a roll of quarters anymore. They need a wastepaper basket. Stapler. Tape. Ruler. Scissors. And a bunch of other office supply things that they just borrow from mom and dad right now. Those bed raisers are nice to have. That way they can easily fit a couple of those under the bed storage boxes in. Hangers. A flashlight. Extra batteries. A good desk lamp. A small fan. A multi outlet surge protector. An extension cord. The promise of a monthly care package. A small tool kit. A manicure kit if they dont have one. Command strip hooks. Sticky tack for posters. A whiteboard message board. Dry erase markers. A set of towels and extra wash cloths.

 

[mom2travel]

Suitcases arent a good idea unless the student is going to be vacationing over the summer. They take up too much precious storage space. A rolling duffel that can be smashed down and stuffed in the closet is better. A collapsible hamper is better than a laundry bag. Add some of those purex three in one laundry sheets. Most dorms use the kids student id as a debit card now. They can use them to do their laundry so no need for a roll of quarters anymore. They need a wastepaper basket. Stapler. Tape. Ruler. Scissors. And a bunch of other office supply things that they just borrow from mom and dad right now. Those bed raisers are nice to have. That way they can easily fit a couple of those under the bed storage boxes in. Hangers. A flashlight. Extra batteries. A good desk lamp. A small fan. A multi outlet surge protector. An extension cord. The promise of a monthly care package. A small tool kit. A manicure kit if they dont have one. Command strip hooks. Sticky tack for posters. A whiteboard message board. Dry erase markers. A set of towels and extra wash cloths.

I was going to suggest a duffel bag and a pop-up hamper also.
DS has a collapsible/pop-up hamper in his room and we always take it w/ us when we go on vacation - would work great in a dorm also.

The other ideas above are good too. I would think about what the soon-to-be college freshmen do/use at home in their daily lives and go from there. DS has done camps recently and stayed in dorms and the rooms don't seem to have anything more than I had 20+ years ago - bed, desk, dresser, closet, overhead lighting, A/C, phone jack. So everything from bedding and towels to desk/office products and in between.

About the ipod dock, we have several and they came with different attachments to use depending on which ipod is being played. Speakers like Bose will sound better and last longer (or should), but we have some ihomes also that had good sound (although DD's ihome clock/dock barely lasted a year - that could just be a fluke though).

 

[SoonerSarah]

For our graduates (they aren't our children), we buy them a large, heavy duty laundry sack, some have had pockets, some have not. If I were to buy them a basket, I would think about buying the verticle ones as they take up less floor space. We also buy a bottle of detergent and a box of dryer sheets and give them a roll of quarters. You could consider giving them several rolls of quarters. I haven't heard of any kids being able to do laundry without having quarters though.

I bought DH and iHome docking station for our Anniversary. I think it was $100 on sale, I honestly don't remember the features, but it was a nicer one. I tried to find it, but I can't. I have heard that iHome is a good brand though, and we haven't had any problems thus far.

 

[Arkansan]

I second the tools. Everyone needs a screwdriver, hammer, pliars, etc. You can get good pre-made sets in cases at Home Depot, Lowes, Target, etc. I always give these for graduation gifts.

Also--how about a first aid kit? Get a small plastic shoebox storage container and fill with OTC meds--ibuprophen, neosporin, band-aids in various sizes, tummy meds, allergy meds, cold meds, a digital thermometer-- the type of stuff we all have in our medicine cabinets. Depending where they go to college, they may not have access to a car and my college was a couple miles from town. We were limited to the book store and that is like buying meds from a hotel gift shop as far as prices go! Plus, what do you do at midnight on a weekend? Sometimes you just need some Tums or a benadryl or a band-aid quickly!

You could also give some basic dishes. My college dorms had kitchens we could use. Sometimes you just can't stand the caf one more night! Plus, it is impressive to cook for a date! You could give a couple of plates/cups/bowls, a small frying pan, a sauce pan, silverware. These would be nice in a dorm or, later, a first apartment.

I think it is smart of you to do this now! My aunts started getting me practical gifts my last couple years in High School and I really used them all.

 

[Kitzka]

2. What is a good docking system/speaker system for the ipod touch? I was thinking of getting this as a gift for my younger dd. I saw them mentioned in the numerous posts here on the touch but I'm wondering what brand is a good one to go with .

I personally love ihomes. We have 4 in the house (one in the kitchen under the cabinets, one ineach bedroom and one in the basement). The one thing to keep in mind with the ihome is to make sure the one you get charges the itouch. some of the older models will play any itouch/ipod/iphone, but will not charge all the devices. the one in my bedroom is older and won't charge DD's iphone or her friend's itouch.

I was able to get a great deal at toysrus a week or two back. they carry ihomes in the fun colors. they had the one DD wanted (with a remote) for $89 on sale and then an extra 30% off. SO it was about $60 which i was very happy with.

Lara

 

[maslex]

How about a new comforter set including matching pillowcases/sheets?

 

[elgerber]

About the ipod dock, we have several and they came with different attachments to use depending on which ipod is being played. Speakers like Bose will sound better and last longer (or should), but we have some ihomes also that had good sound (although DD's ihome clock/dock barely lasted a year - that could just be a fluke though).

My dd's Ihome didn't last a year either. She has had a Sony clock radio/dock for 2 years now and the sound is much better than her Ihome ever was.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I could have written this thread! I also have a senior at home and was wondering about practical dorm gifts too. I like the laundry and bedding ideas. My son is going to be close enough that I think he will be driving home sometimes on weekends. Maybe a safty kit for the car, jumper cables and such.

I am also planning to get my dd a docking station for her ipod. She has a touch, so I am not sure what is compatible with that.

 

[dthogue]

How about a new comforter set including matching pillowcases/sheets?

You would need to know whether the school has extra-long twin mattresses or regular mattresses - and some schools have both so you can't buy sheets til you know their dorm.

Paying for laundry will cary from school to school as well - some take quarters, some use their id cards and others are free. A pop up hamper is a great idea and they will all need laundry soap and dryer sheets. I also sent stain removal spray and downy wrinkle releaser with my DD's.

Tammy

 

[linnylu]

Thanks for the good ideas so far. I just ordered both a shower caddy, pop-up hamper, and a laundry bag from Amazon. I love Amazon Prime and the customer reviews. I will wait on sheets and comforters until I know the schools/dorms. I well definitely give someone the idea of basic tools and a first aid/medicine kit. Great ideas so far!

 

[MrsPete]

I have 2 questions that I am going to combine. 1. What are the "for sure" items that a college student living in the dorms will need? I'd like to give my ds and dn some of these things for Christmas. Would a suitcase be a good gift? What is the best laundry bag or shower organizer? We don't know where they are going to school yet so I don't know if a mic/frig/desk lamp will be provided or not.
2. What is a good docking system/speaker system for the ipod touch? I was thinking of getting this as a gift for my younger dd. I saw them mentioned in the numerous posts here on the touch but I'm wondering what brand is a good one to go with .

I second (or perhaps third?) the idea of an iHome docking system/alarm clock. I'd choose a smaller version because space is precious in a dorm.

Something that hasn't been suggested at all: A locking cable for a laptop. I took my daughter to her first college Open House, and at the Information Fair I asked a campus police officer about crime on campus. He said that BY FAR the most common crime is laptop theft, and he recommended one of these cables. In the dorm, the student can attach his laptop to his desk or his bedframe, and then if he walks down the hall to the bathroom, no one can take his laptop. He can take the same cable to the library or a lounge area in his dorm and attach it to a table. Yeah, someone could rip the cable off the laptop, but it'd destroy the resale value. It really just takes away the "crime of opportunity" and makes the thief keep looking for an easier target. Good ones can be had in the $25 range, and I'm definitely going to give some of these as graduation gifts.

Along the same lines, a dorm student could use some type of small lock box for small valuables (wallet, passport, ipod). People in dorms are in and out of their rooms constantly. It's good to be able to secure things. Personally, I had a footlocker. Sure, someone could've toted it out of my room, but they'd have been noticed.

I wouldn't choose the laundry-themed stuff just yet. With college 8 months away, it seems a bit . . . mundane? Sure, it'd be needed, but I'd wait on that.

I like the idea of a small tool kit, and the first-aid kit sounds good too. I don't know about medicines though. When I was in college, we could get over-the-counter medicines for free just by walking into the Health Center.

If you want to go with linens but aren't sure about XL twins vs. regular twins, you could always go with a nice blanket. These don't come in XL, and it's sure to be appreciated. Or a prop-up pillow for reading in bed -- though I don't think I'd suggest that for the nephew; it sounds a little girly.

 

[Ephany]

My dd's Ihome didn't last a year either. She has had a Sony clock radio/dock for 2 years now and the sound is much better than her Ihome ever was.

I third (fourth?) this. We bought one from our Mac store last February. It still plays my Touch and DH's nano, but it stopped charging a month or two ago. For the $60 or so we paid for it, I'm not impressed. Definitely read reviews online before picking one up.

 

[hambirg]

I just wanted to pop in and say to check out Marshall's. I bought my DD15 an iHome from there for her birthday. It was only $40 on clearance. They had quite a few different kinds. . .some clearance, some not.

I found quite a few things for her. . .Sony earbuds, a clear hard case for her Nano, and some cute "Paris" items. All total less than $60.

They had quite a few things that would be dorm friendly. Check it out if you have one nearby.

ETA-Also they make some kind of Lo Jack for laptops. I know I will be getting that for my DD when she goes off to college. I think a big external hard drive would be nice too, in case something does happen, that way at least they could have all there work backed up on there.