What gifts should I take for chidren?

Feb 2nd, 2002, 08:11

What would you recommend taking as small gifts for kids? I've read elsewhere that pens & pencils aren't that useful.

KathSF · Feb 2nd, 2002, 11:44

I have yet to meet a kid who doesn't love stickers. Plus they'd be incredibly light and packable (and cheap). That said, the gift I give kids while travelling is attention.

Rockers · Nov 3rd, 2002, 08:31

I have been told it is usually best to give gifts directly to either the school principal/teacher or village/family leader. Depending on your circumstances....

A friend of mine started a 'minor riot' when she gave a child her empty water bottle. Also, giving out gifts in this way can prevent children learning to beg for items.

We are taking a lot of gifts with us. We have contacted the local school to find out what they need and will give them to their principal.

Some items that I can remember:
Pencils
Pencil Sharpeners
Pens/textas
World Maps
Chalk
Atlas
Mulitple copies of the certain books

The kids love:
stickers
poloroid photos (or izone sticker photos) of themselves
photos of you, your home and children
pens,coloured chalks and textas
cricket bat and balls
games they can share are always best

I would always take lots of small stickers, an easy one to distribute fairly, if you hand them directly to the kids.

Have a great trip!

Rockers · Dec 6th, 2002, 13:13

If you are keen to take gifts for orphaned children, please check out this website:

www.carryforkids.org

paan wallah · Dec 6th, 2002, 19:02

once in tamil nadu I gave a warm pullover to a small kid..
he was wearing it all day long at about 36 degrees...but he was so lucky with it...
mostly I let them listen to my music...
play with them..
you ever played cricket with young indians? ggod fun!
or I try to teach them how to play football(soccer),
It s also good fun to teach them swimming at the sea.
always smile at them..
and rigth: give them a lot of attention..
but mostly all indians are a bit like children..something we lost in our western civilization...

Tomi · Dec 7th, 2002, 00:21

Right on, Rockers. Giving random children gifts teaches them to beg, upsets the cultural/economic balance of the place you visit, and ruins it for future travelers.
I always like to carry gifts when I travel, to give to people who have been particularly nice, and that could include children, but even then you have to be careful.
The image of the tuk-tuk driver choosing to take a tourist over a local pregnant woman still torments me.

picklepak · Jan 17th, 2003, 14:54

BALLOONS!! Kids in India go *wild* over that kind of stuff. I met a guy from Israel who was employed as a professional clown back home. He made animal figurines out of balloons to give to the kids and got back peels of laughter and excitement in return.

And sometimes you can buy balloons in the weirdest places.

IainC · Jan 18th, 2003, 17:10

Teddy bears.

Jan 18th, 2003, 21:12

I like to carry a polaroid camera and hand out whatever pictures I take of people. They seem to get a kick out of that!

edwardseco · Mar 17th, 2008, 22:41

Not for random gifts which I don't do but for known connections, chocolate..

Ignite · Mar 23rd, 2008, 12:11

Ed, I think the OP is long gone

anar · Mar 23rd, 2008, 13:36

"school pens"! it's what all the children in kerala seem to want - don't know what happens to these school pens...

Feb 2nd, 2002, 08:11	#1
shaz Posts: n/a	What gifts should I take for chidren? What would you recommend taking as small gifts for kids? I've read elsewhere that pens & pencils aren't that useful.

Feb 2nd, 2002, 11:44	#2
KathSF Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: San Francisco Posts: 37	hymmmm .... I have yet to meet a kid who doesn't love stickers. Plus they'd be incredibly light and packable (and cheap). That said, the gift I give kids while travelling is attention. __________________ Happy trails!

Nov 3rd, 2002, 08:31	#3
Rockers 'Itchy Footed One' Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 71	I have been told it is usually best to give gifts directly to either the school principal/teacher or village/family leader. Depending on your circumstances.... A friend of mine started a 'minor riot' when she gave a child her empty water bottle. Also, giving out gifts in this way can prevent children learning to beg for items. We are taking a lot of gifts with us. We have contacted the local school to find out what they need and will give them to their principal. Some items that I can remember: Pencils Pencil Sharpeners Pens/textas World Maps Chalk Atlas Mulitple copies of the certain books The kids love: stickers poloroid photos (or izone sticker photos) of themselves photos of you, your home and children pens,coloured chalks and textas cricket bat and balls games they can share are always best I would always take lots of small stickers, an easy one to distribute fairly, if you hand them directly to the kids. Have a great trip! __________________ "Freedom is not doing what one pleases for the sake of it, but the ability to make good, moral choices to fulfil our social duties to our fellow human beings". Gandhi

Mar 23rd, 2008, 12:11	#11
Ignite American Desi Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The City of Angels, California Posts: 375	Ed, I think the OP is long gone __________________ I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

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Dec 6th, 2002, 13:13	#4
Rockers 'Itchy Footed One' Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 71	If you are keen to take gifts for orphaned children, please check out this website: www.carryforkids.org

Dec 6th, 2002, 19:02	#5
paan wallah kitchen guru Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: universe Posts: 347	once in tamil nadu I gave a warm pullover to a small kid.. he was wearing it all day long at about 36 degrees...but he was so lucky with it... mostly I let them listen to my music... play with them.. you ever played cricket with young indians? ggod fun! or I try to teach them how to play football(soccer), It s also good fun to teach them swimming at the sea. always smile at them.. and rigth: give them a lot of attention.. but mostly all indians are a bit like children..something we lost in our western civilization...

Dec 7th, 2002, 00:21	#6
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 449	Right on, Rockers. Giving random children gifts teaches them to beg, upsets the cultural/economic balance of the place you visit, and ruins it for future travelers. I always like to carry gifts when I travel, to give to people who have been particularly nice, and that could include children, but even then you have to be careful. The image of the tuk-tuk driver choosing to take a tourist over a local pregnant woman still torments me.

Jan 17th, 2003, 14:54	#7
picklepak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 274	BALLOONS!! Kids in India go wild over that kind of stuff. I met a guy from Israel who was employed as a professional clown back home. He made animal figurines out of balloons to give to the kids and got back peels of laughter and excitement in return. And sometimes you can buy balloons in the weirdest places.

Jan 18th, 2003, 17:10	#8
IainC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London Posts: 194	Teddy bears.

Jan 18th, 2003, 21:12	#9
Benjy Posts: n/a	I like to carry a polaroid camera and hand out whatever pictures I take of people. They seem to get a kick out of that!

Mar 17th, 2008, 22:41	#10
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 2,974	Not for random gifts which I don't do but for known connections, chocolate..

Mar 23rd, 2008, 13:36	#12
anar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 372	"school pens"! it's what all the children in kerala seem to want - don't know what happens to these school pens...

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