Christmas Shoeboxes

[Eve]

I'm putting together some Christmas showboxes for children in Romania and Mozambique.

Pretty much ok for Romania as did some youth work there but does anyone have any suggestions as to small or easily foldable things (to pack more in) I can put in to give me some wider ideas?

I'm planning on doing quite a few different once for boys and girls and different ages.

Thanks :) xxx

[Hellion]

You can buy cheap wind up LED flashlights that need no batteries but I can't remember where I'll have a look and let you know.

[Hellion]

Damn! Can't find them on the internet they're all expensive I wish I could remember wher I saw them at about �3.99.

[sunflower71]

Thanks for your post Jenna as now I am going to do a box and try and get some people I know to do one too.

[joby1]

Aww lovely!

Tescos have torches for for 97p, and a variety of stocking fillers.

Wilkinsons have a great selection of tat, as do woolies.

[Eve]

That's great Sunflower :)

The friend who's organising it at work said that in a presentation she went to they showed a video.

The children were sat down and given their boxes. They had no idea what they were and what to do with them so starting banging their hands on them like drums!!!

Having seen how some kids live in Romania when I went there it's something very close to my heart.

Am gonna do a grand shopping expedition on my day off tomorrow :)

[Jules001]

Robert Dyas had the wind up torches can't remember how much they were though. We have put small colouring books, pencils, scarves, gloves and hats, flannels, soap, chewy sweets, socks, a mirror, toothbrush and toothpaste, small puzzles always worthwhile having a look around places like the Pound shop (quite a lot of tat, but some stuff ok), jewellery from Primark plus elastic hair bands etc, combs, hair brush, bar of soap, an exercise book or small notebook. Remember you can cover the shoe box with xmas paper, but you can't wrap either it or the individual things inside because of customs.

[chazza]

I do these and generally just put in:
pens/pencils/crayons/felt tips
sharpeners and erasers
colouring book or notebook (depending on the ages of the children)
hat, scarf and gloves
toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, flannel/sponge
sweets (not chocolate or liquid)
a couple of small toys eg bouncy balls, model cars, cuddley toys
for girls - hair bobbles and bands
also, those little puzzles where you have to navigate the balls into the holes are good!

[Eve]

Thank you all for your replies :)

Been out shopping today on my day off and got some lovely hats, gloves and scarves and some hair stuff for a girl and a lovely bar of tangerine soap, doing some more tomorrow :)

[rebajayne]

I think this is a fab thing to do, and im going to start doing mine with my little boy. Im just wondering though why none of the boxes are going to orphans in this country, im sure so many children will be waking up on christmas day in a care home with nothing.