One of our annual traditions is to pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. My kids absolutely love to walk around the store trying to find little trinkets to fit inside their box. It also leads to really great discussions about poverty and how people live in other countries. It also helps the kids understand why we are so blessed to have running water, working bathrooms, electricity, food, toys, etc.
This year we made a box for a boy ages 5-9 and we filled it with:
- toothpaste
- Star Wars toothbrushes
- bar soap
- comb
- paper
- crayons
- Ninja Turtle fuzzy socks
- teddy bear
- Nerf football
- harmonica
- small watercolor paint book
If you have never heard of Operation Christmas Child (also known as Christmas Shoeboxes), you can check out their website. National Shoebox Collection week starts Monday. There are thousands of locations to drop of your box, just click on the drop off location finder to locate a place near you.
This year you can pay for your box online and receive a tracking notice which will allow your family to see where in the world your box lands.
What other great ways to do you teach your children about giving instead of getting during the holidays?
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Samaritan’s Purse. I just love what they do to help the needy and wanted to share the love.
What a great thing to teach your kids and at a young age. I love this idea of filling up a box of goodies to help a child in need some where in another part of the world. This box is going to make a boy very happy this year!
That little boy is going to be so excited! We did one last year. I’ll probably do it again next year.
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Love Operation Christmas Child!!
What a great thing to do! I’d like to encourage my children to give all year round…..donating toys to charity, etc.