Like many other parents, we bought our son a printer and re-stocked his toiletries, etc during Parent's Weekend. My son did not want to go shopping, or enter a store for any reason on PW.
Write2them and Web Guy are wonderful...worth every penny.
We sent encouraging, light, happy mail every day. For some reason, this did not translate to him receiving mail every day...but he was very happy when letters arrived. He wrote back a few times. He said the saying, 'the days are like weeks, and the weeks are like days" was true for him.
My son entered BCT in good shape and was used to running a lot. He said he was very glad he had prepared. His attitude was positive throughout primarily because he reminded himself that thousands had survived BCT before him, and that the Cadre were there to train him and help him succeed regardless of how much they yelled. He mentioned several times that the Cadre were supportive.
In the first care package I sent his favorite snacks, including junk food. Included were new socks, underwear, and the white t-shirts they wear. Their clothing gets ragged during BCT. I sent stamps, cash, chap stick, toiletries, and something funny or goofy in each box. They can get all of this on base, but they don't always have time. If you can, ship everything USPS, as they can pick up boxes easier at the post office than the Pack Mail place that delivers UPS and FedEx.
The summer will fly by! Very few dropped out of BCT last year. The hugs and smiles at PW are priceless. Good luck to your appointee!