Free Family Activities for Summer: Homemade Care Package for College Students Abroad

If your college student will be studying abroad this summer and the rest of the family can't afford to visit, don't fret. He or she doesn't have to miss out on your family fun. Everyone at home can work together to create this easy and fun care package that will show how close you are, despite the many miles in between.

All care packages are thoughtful by nature, but this one in particular will give your college student a healthy taste of some homemade family fun -- not to mention the fun you and your at-home children will have making it. It will show how much your son or daughter is missed, but not in an embarrassing "Oh, Mom!" kind of way. It might even help if he or she is experiencing some homesickness. And let's face it: Any time a college student gets free food, it's a welcome arrival.

On a practical note, this project will also help you recycle some of those old greeting cards you have stashed away in your China cabinet. (Wouldn't it be nice to get rid of those and put the pie plates back where they belong?)

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials:

Medium-sized mixing bowl
Large spoon
1/4 cup of your college student's favorite cereal (non-flake cereals like Cheerios work best)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup dried apples
1/4 cup raisins
1 individual-sized package (1.69 oz) of M&M chocolate candies (optional)
1 zip-top plastic sandwich bag
The decorated cover of old greeting cards (funny cards add a unique touch of humor)
Stickers
Child-safe scissors
Ruler
Hole punch
Ribbon
Pen

Instructions:

1. Prepare a clean space in your kitchen, such as a countertop or kitchen table, where you can work.
2. Add walnuts, dried apples, raisins and cereal into the mixing bowl.
3. Gently stir the mixture, being careful not to break or crush the cereal.
4. Carefully spoon the mixture into the plastic bag until the bag is nearly full.
5. Add M&Ms to the top of the mixture in the bag (this is optional).
6. Close the bag.
7. Use the scissors to cut one or more of the greeting cards into fun shapes like hearts or circles. A finished shape should be approximately 2 in. high and 2 in. wide.
8. Use a pen to have everyone in the family write a personal message on the back of each card.
9. Punch a hole in each card.
10. String a single ribbon through the hole in each card.
11. Tie the ribbon with the cards on it around the top of the plastic bag.
12. Decorate the plastic bag with stickers.

Now you're ready to send the care package off to your son or daughter. Depending on where they are studying abroad, it could take several weeks to reach its destination.

This care package offers a win-win-win situation: Your student will know the folks at home are thinking about them (and your goodies may even make them the most popular person in their dorm) and everyone at home enjoyed some affordable family fun creating this special present.