Adopting a family for Christmas

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Me and my sister is adopting a single mother with 3 young children this Christmas season. What are some good gifts to give the children and the mother?

TIA!!!!

 

[hannah_03]

How old are the children? What is your budget? per person?

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

The children are 5 yo(boy) 3 yo(girl) and 4 mths old (girl). We don't have a budget yet....I'm going to put at least 100.00 towards presents. Where my sister works at, they adopt 2 families for the holiday season. She going to see if that family can be one of them. If so, then it will be probably 7-9 people from her work plus me and my sister. So it could easily be 300.00 for the whole family.

 

[hannah_03]

I pm'd you

 

[hannah_03]

One thing I forgot to mention was using part of the budget toward a gift card to a local grocery store or Walmart. That would help them out so much

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

ome thing that might be fun and fairly easy is to get each a stocking. It doesn't have to be an expensive stocking -- I saw some at the dollar store. Then stock each with small gifts -- a new toothbrush, toothpaste,socks, crayons, color book, stickers for the kids.
small toiletries for the mom : lotions, nail polish, a brush, gum, fancy soap or shower gel, etc.

I know it's so hard to know what they 'd like or need.

Did they provide any kind of a wish list? Do they live in a hot or cold area? if cold, how about new mittens? hats? warm pj's.

Oh I read about Target possibly having appliances for $3 on Black Friday. How about a crockpot? You can do so much with a crock pot.

Please consider providing Christmas wrap and tape and letting the mom wrap the gifts for the kids.

Walmart is having a lot of $10 gifts. How about a backpack for each child?

 

[disneycruising]

Did they give you a list of what they want?

We have done this for the past couple of years. They give a list: the person's first name, age, size, what they want and what they truly need. Plus they ask for a gift card for the family ($50) to Safeway... so they can by a Christmas Dinner.

 

[RSADP]

God Bless you for taking care of a family in need!

 

[RobinFabulous]

The children are 5 yo(boy) 3 yo(girl) and 4 mths old (girl). We don't have a budget yet....I'm going to put at least 100.00 towards presents. Where my sister works at, they adopt 2 families for the holiday season. She going to see if that family can be one of them. If so, then it will be probably 7-9 people from her work plus me and my sister. So it could easily be 300.00 for the whole family.

Those ages are good & cheap! Find out the sizes, I haven't looked at the Black Friday stuff, but I know last year they had pjs for like $4, so I would do each kid a pair of jammies, maybe two. For the two older kids fill their stockings with toothbrushes, the girl can get little hair stuff, the boy can do matchbox cars, little stuff. There should be some good toys sales on Black Friday. The little girl is a great age for a simple nice baby doll, the 4 moth old will probably love ANY baby toys, and I'm sure there are hot wheels playsets on sale for the boy.

The mom I would do a few new kitchen appliances, Walmart is rumored to have them for $3 the day after, then maybe throw in a pack of diapers/wipes for the baby. I'd get the mom a robe, they had some last year for around $5, or maybe a nice throw, and a bath set (make your own or buy one premade)

If you find out the ages & sizes and the budget pot it here, there are lots of creative people. I would try to do a giftcard for groceries, because the kids are so little that any few toys will make them happy, and then the mom has some towards groceries or diapers or whatever she needs

 

[Belle1962]

Hard to do but try to avoid toys that require batteries--unless you also give them a large supply of batteries. Nothing worse than getting a child a gift then they can no longer use it when the batteries run out because they are too expensive for mom/dad to replace.

We adopt families at work and here are some of the guidelines we have to go by: (although we are supplied with the ages, wish list and clothing sizes for the family members)

no gift cards (apparently they are a tradeable commodity)

no food items (including candy)

appropriate safety gear must be purchased if buying certain items (i.e for bikes, scooters, etc.)

no clothing with inappropriate messages or themes. (I guess we each determine "appropriateness")



Board games are always given in our packages--especially ones the children can play by themselves if no one is around ---- any version of the Memory games, don't break the ice, don't spill the beans and ants in the pants are two person games but a child can also pass time by playing by themselves, dominos (they make child versions), etc. And a child can do wonders with crayons and a pad of blank/artist paper.

 

[hereforthesun]

Walmart Black Friday ad has kids track suits for only $3.00 each great deal pants and jacket. Also if you look on coupons.com you can print the Mr Potato head coupon for $5 off and get the Christmas Spud for only .99 each. Believe me there are many ways to get a lot of gifts if you shop smart and use plenty of coupons.

 

[tinkarooni]

Good for you OP. We always adopt some children too. I always try to get things to keep them warm, pajamas, hat, mittens, heavy coat (if it is in the budget) Than I try to get toys, younger kids are easy, mine this year is 2, the possibilities are endless. Than I try to do a box of snacks, canned soups, peanut butter, crackers, cereal. I use coupons and shop sales.

I have heard how so many of these families sign up for multiple trees and take advantage so I try to get things that are useful, as PP pointed out, that can not be traded for things and I avoid gift cards because even grocery stores have cigarettes and some have alcohol, that's not a way I want the money spent.

Happy Holidays, you're doing a nice thing.

 

[Mathfailure]

Love the ideas so far.

Something just for the single Mom, inexpensive but for her. Like bath stuff or special shampoo etc. It is so hard to do it all yourself.

Warm mittens, hats if weather appropriate, if you have the sizes and can afford it boots.

The 5 year old may be in school, a rugged backpack that could withstand a few years wear, school supplies inside.

I guess I am a bit pratical, but of course special toys etc.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Something like this play kitchen and/or shopping cart and some accessories (you can find things at the Dollar Store or Walmart or Big Lots very inexpensively...or start saving your OWN empty boxes of food and tape the top shut)...this the kids can do together. And then get each their own $4 or $5 board game (for sure there will be deals coming up, I just got some at TRU for $2 each after rebate).

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5913442

ETA: We have this exact play kitchen and ds loves it. BUT it takes a while to put together so if you decide to get it I'd do it in advance for the mom and have it delivered fully assembled after the kids are in bed if possible.

http://www.walmart.com/Pretend-Shopping-Cart-With-Play-Food/ip/10746853

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Thank you sooo much for all of the replies. To answer some of the questions....I know the boy is into animals, dinosaurs, etc. The 3 year old girl is getting her mother's barbie doll house that she had when she was a small child. So I figured she would need some barbies to go with her new house.

And as for the gift card to the grocery store, it's a good idea but she did tell us that she's on food stamps and truthfully can't use the full amount each month.

As for diapers, I saw where Toys R Us will have theirs on sale for 5.00 a pack. Has anyone used their diapers before? Are they any good?

Keep the ideas coming. My list at WM on Black Friday is getting longer. LOL.

 

[Trish Bessette]

This will be my 22nd year adopting families My wonderful co-workers help out each year. I collect the money and then I shop for the families. Usually we adopt 2 families. I also do a complete turkey dinner for the families.

I average about $400 per family. I get so excited buying for these kids that I don't even know. I think of them every Christmas morning

This year I have some teenage kids so I spoiled them with clothes from American Eagle. I try to get them 3 outfits, boots, hats/mittens, and toys.

 

[tinkarooni]

And as for the gift card to the grocery store, it's a good idea but she did tell us that she's on food stamps and truthfully can't use the full amount each month.

Boy that's a mom who is coupon shopping! Good for her!

 

[mom2d&b]

Thank you for doing this. As some one currently out of work, people such as yourself are so appreciated.
Some ideas would be a haircut gift card, this is something so many people are not able to do if on a limited budget. Things like playground balls for the kids are good because they are ageless and can be used inside and out. Also maybe Uno. Mom can play with the 5 yr old. It is also educational in regards to numbers and colors. Crayons, art or colored paper which could be used for just coloring or for school projects.
The Mom sounds pretty responsible considering the comment about foodstamps. Maybe a gas card?

 

[Kat77]

Try to stick with barbies who look like they can be redressed easily in their clothing 3 is young for barbie, so keep it simple.

Another nice idea, if others join up (toys come first at christmas!), is to buy the kids new comforter sets. A $40 walmart twin set is something families lacking extra funds can really appriciate.

 

[Kitzka]

wanted to thank the OP for posting this. My family is also adopting a family for the holidays. We have a family of 4 a single mom with 3 kids ages 15, 11 and 1.

I am going to give them a gift card to our local grocery store to help with food shopping. The gift cards to our local stores do not allow you to buy cigarettes or alcohol. A PP mentioned not getting them a grocery card because it may be used to purchase alcohol or cigarettes but you may want to look into your local stores policies.

I know the best thing a family can get is food on the table.

The family asked for coats for the kids as well as a gift card for the older boy to get sneakers and something 'fun' for the younger ones. Not sure what i am going to get yet but defintely will be mindful of my budget.

thanks to all who posted such great ideas.

Lara