I want our children to be generous, appreciate what they have and not to take it for granted. It’s so easy to expect stuff as a child. Birthday parties and Christmas always mean they will get presents so it’s no wonder they come to expect it.
I love getting involved in the Operation Christmas Child project as it means we can give to those children who really don’t have much. Operation Christmas Child sends shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies and toiletries, around the world to 130 countries. All you have to do is get a shoe box and fill it up with suitable goodies, add 3 pounds to go towards transport cost and drop it off at a collection point. See their website for more info.
Now that I have children getting involved in the shoe box project is even more fantastic. It’s a very practical way for them to learn what life is like in other countries and how fortunate they are. It’s also a way for them to be generous. We spent some time watching a couple of videos that operation Christmas child have produced and talking about the project. We had lots of fun shopping dragging our baskets around the store and filling them up with lots of goodies.
We chose some plastic shoe boxes this year, much more durable and useful for whoever receives it. With the project you get to chose if a boy or girl will get the box and their and approximate age. I encouraged our little munchkins to pick toys and other bits that they thought a child of their age would enjoy.
Munashe enjoyed explaining to the lady at the checkout that we were buying toys for the children who have no toys.
We had fun attempting to cram everything into our boxes when we got home. Our little munchkins had a little play with the toys…just to test them out! While Munashe seems to have grasped the whole shoe box project very well, Zori is still asking for her truck and her torch. She isn’t even three yet so it must be rather confusing! Maybe next year all will become clear!
There is also an opportunity to find our where our shoe boxes have been delivered too, which will be interesting and certainly another learning opportunity.
On previous years we have wrapped up the shoe boxes with Christmas wrapping paper. This year we thought a few stickers would make a nice addition to the plastic boxes.
Then all that was left was to drop them off at church 🙂
Do you know of any ideas or projects that can encourage our children to be generous? I’d love to hear all about them…please comment below.
This post is linked with
The Real Lara Shoe 
This is fantastic! You’ve inspired me to find out if something similar exists here in Australia. What a wonderful learning opportunity for the kids.
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It’s definetly been great for the kids. I’ve just looked online and Operation Christmas Child work out of Australia too 🙂
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I’ve done OCC a couple of times at my old work and for N’s nursery. But there’s been a lot of backlash about it over the last couple of years, and personally I’d rather donate to local charities. I think it’s great for children to see that they can give away toys (new or used) for other people more in need.
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Yes it’s definitely good to encourage children to give things away, local or abroad, there is certainly always a need x
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Lovely idea! We don’t do Operation Christmas Child because of some of their policies that we dislike, but we make sure we drop off advent calendars for the local food banks in the run up to Christmas, and it’s something I hope my little girl continues as she gets older! #FabFridayPost
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I love your idea, it sounds like a tradition in the making!
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Hi this is great! I’m going to look at the site now and sign up! Thanks for bringing this to my attention #FabFridayPost
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That’s fab! Have fun making your box 😀
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It’s a lovely project 🙂 As you said it teaches your kids generosity and also provides toys (and joy) to children who don’t have any.
Do the toys have to be new, or is it fine to donate second hand toys in good condition?
I think your idea with the plastic box is a very good one. The box itself becomes part of the gift.
#brilliantblogposts
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Thanks for your comment. I think the toys have to be new. Though it is nice to be able to pass second hand toys to those in need 😀
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Wow! I love this idea! It is so fantastic! Ethan is already asking lots of items for Christmas. I feel like I have spoilt him. I feel like I am such a bad parent! I love that you have chosen to use a plastic box. I agree that it is far more useful and durable too. I am so giving this project to Ethan. The kids look so adorable and look like they really enjoyed the whole process too! Thank you so much for linking up with me again. #FabFridayPost xx
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This is so lovely. A really gentle way to show little ones what it means to help others.
We took M to a local collection for the Calais refugees and she was pretty blown away by everyone giving their things to help, but as you say at 2.5 it’s a bit much to grasp I think!
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