Holiday Gifts for soon to be College Students!

I just got asked about what gifts parents can get that will be useful for their seniors next year. Here is a list of some of the things that my own children and their friends have found useful:

• A bag for lugging around books and a laptop. 
• All my kids preferred messenger bags with laptop padding to backpacks.
• A laptop lock... they may never use it, but it doesn't hurt to have.
• A standing coat rack (helps for cleaning their room in a jiffy)
• A rolling duffle for travel
• A standing lamp with adjustable arms
• A headlamp or neck lamp so that they can read at night when a roommate may be asleep
• Comfortable soundblocking headphones
• A ipod charger/clock radio for next to the bed
• Believe it or not, a lightweight vacuum (one that is a handvac with a long handle works well)

Storage is important, and usually there is room for storage boxes under their beds. There is a huge Container Store sale just for college students over the summer in July if you will be here.