Gone are the days when your child snuggles up with you on the couch to watch (Slightly) scary movies, begging you to construct the perfect costume, or dragging you door to door to your neighbors trick-or-treating. The reality for a lot of parents is you won’t even see your child this Halloween season. They will be off at college, doing whatever college students do during Halloween. While the days of going to pumpkin patches and baking treats with your college student is over, that doesn’t mean they don’t need you this October. 

College students are busy, and let's face it, broke. They are counting on you to pull through the last minute with a surprise care package that will provide them with some of their Halloween essentials. Giving your student a Halloween care package won’t just make like easier for them, it will make them think of you! I know every parent secretly wants to be the coolest parent by sending the greatest care package. That being said, continuously coming up with unique ideas can be stressful. That is why I’ve compiled a list of amazing care package themes and decorating ideas that you can send to your college kid this Halloween. Take these ideas as inspiration, be creative, and make them your own!

Scary Movie Bundle

This is a classic option for a college care package. Every Halloween season, watching all the classic horror films is on every college student’s to-do list. So, giving them a movie night is the perfect gift! Include a couple of Halloween movie favorites, like the Scream series or the Shining. Make sure to include more than one for a proper scary movie marathon. Throw in some popcorn and boxed candy and you have yourself a completed care package! When dealing with snacks, include enough for all of your child’s friends plus a couple extra. This bundle is sure to be a hit for the entire floor! You can really go as far as you want with this. Include blankets that people can curl up in and spooky decorations for the night of the marathon. You really can;t go wrong with this care package!

Dorm Decorating Kit

This is honestly one of the most practical themes on the list. Your college student has tons to pay for and probably shouldn’t be spending all their coin on decking out their dorm room this Halloween. That is where you come in! Fill a box with tons of cool decorations so your child can spookify their room. You can pretty much include anything you want in this package. Keep in mind that dorm rooms are generally pretty small. So Including that human-sized blow-up witch is probably not the smartest idea, although it would be hilarious. Most college students judge each other’s spooky dorm decor by what’s on their door, so be sure to include some things that they can add to their door. If you don’t know what to include, you could always send this Haunting Halls Decorating package which includes a variety of embellishments to spook up their room.

Costume Basics & Makeup

Just like decorations, costumes are not a good place for students to be pending their money. However, dressing up is part of the Halloween college experience. You don’t need to send them an elaborate costume. Just include some of the basics of a classic costume. Most college students are either planning their actual costume for months or trying to find something the night of. So sending them a couple of basic options, like vampire teeth and a cape, devil ears, and a spear, or a witches hat can actually be a big help. Also, include some different Halloween makeup that will allow them to customize their looks. Even students who have an elaborate costume in mind probably only want to wear it on Halloween night, not to every other Halloween-themed event throughout the month of October. I promise you this will be a big help!

Orange Themed Fall

This care package combines Halloween and Fall, and also allows you to include pretty much anything you want, as long as it has the color orange in it! Highlighters, decorative pumpkins, socks, Gatorade, etc. Choosing a simple color theme gives you a lot of creative freedom. If you need inspiration for orange things to include in a Halloween care package check out this list.

Collection of Their Favorite Halloween Treats

This package is pretty self-explanatory, but also a necessity for college students. They no longer get to go trick-or-treating, so show them some love by sending them all their favorites! Try adding any homemade treats that they will enjoy. Always include enough for their roommate too, it lets them know you are thinking of them. For bonus points, include a dish or bucket and a supply of candy that they can leave outside their door for their floormates to take advantage of. That way when you come to visit, your child’s entire floor will love you.

Treat Yourself Kit

This theme is not as traditional as the rest on the list, but it might be just the one your college student is looking for! Instead of including strictly Halloween themed items, give a bunch of Autumn themed things that encourage them to relax. Include some pumpkin spice coffee or tea and a cute mug. Throw in some fall-scented self-care items like lotion and body wash. Send them autumn-themed wall plug-ins (since most dorms don’t allow students to burn candles or incense). Other things to consider adding are face masks or a cozy throw blanket. 

Thirteen Days of Halloween

This one is a fun way of including all of the things we talked about in one singular care package. Wrap up thirteen Halloween-themed items that you know your child will love and number them one to thirteen. Send your package in time for thirteen days before October 31st. This way, every day leading up to Halloween your college student will have a fun gift to open. One day include a scary movie, the next include their favorite candies, then some cool decorations, the possibilities are endless. 

Decorating Your Box

Now that you have gotten down the contents of your care package, here comes the exciting part-decorating the box. You have not gone through all this trouble thinking on an awesome Halloween package idea just for it to arrive in the same lame brown cardboard box as everything else. Decorating your care package box is the step in the process that sets you apart from everyone else. This is what makes you the most talked-about parent on your child’s dorm floor. And if there were ever a holiday to be over the top, it would be Halloween. So, get those creative juices flowing and decorate that box!

There are a ton of ways to go about designing a Halloween care package box. You could go with a theme like zombies. Add some caution tape, a fake hand or two, and there you go! Or, if you're feeling up to it you could go the cheesy but adorable route of puns. For every item in the box, think of a clever pun that will make your college student laugh. Another option is to just stick to classic Halloween. Go crazy with the googly eyes and fake cobwebs and call it a day! This is where you can really make it your own and I’m sure whatever you decide, your college student will love it.