Toys For Tots....

[TLSnell1981]

It is sooo hard finding appropriate gifts for older children. It took about 30 minutes to ransack the Disney store for the younger kids. We finally chose legos (boys), PINK lotion and lip gloss sets (girls) for the older ones.

Any suggestions? I really feel bad for the tweens and teens. Every kid deserves something for Christmas.

BTW...the Disney Store was great!!!! They gave us an extra 15% off!!! It sure helped strech our $$$$.

 

[golfgal]

For older teens, 14 and above, girls--hat/scarves/mitten sets are popular, purses, bath and body works sets, gift cards to put in the purse, pajama bottoms, hoodies, make-up of any kind, books.

boys--hoodies, hoodies, hoodies, wallets and gift cards, Axe sets, gift cards, pajama bottoms, gift cards.

I don't know for sure if Toys for Tots takes gift cards though so check first. I helped with a Toys for Tots like charity in our old town and we LOVED getting gift cards for teens. They were also the least remembered group for donations. We had a couple high school groups that came every year with donations and we specifically asked them to pick out things they would like--that helped a LOT.

 

[minkydog]

We adopted teens from the Angel Tree this year. We got them earrings, bracelets, teddy bears, a baseball glove, craft sets, makeup, lip gloss, jeweled pens and journals.

 

[portocall]

I always buy games for that age group too. Alongs with a few Candy Lands and Chutes and Ladders.

 

[MNFootballMommy]

Basketballs, footballs, hockey sticks/pucks--any kind of sporting equipment really. We found some skateboards at TRU for about $30 and got two of those for Toys for Tots. They also had some Razor scooters for $20 and we got two of those as well. Plug and play games would be good as well, I think.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We adopted teens from the Angel Tree this year. We got them earrings, bracelets, teddy bears, a baseball glove, craft sets, makeup, lip gloss, jeweled pens and journals.

Angel Tree is much easier. The recipient can make requests. Since, we did this through our business...we weren't allowed to do Angel Tree.

These are good ideas. We wanted to give a variety of items. I think, they are allowed so many items per person. I guess, we could make gift baskets. I remember when walkmans and portable cd players were popular. Nowadays, it's ipods, psp, etc.

It makes one stop and realize how privileged our kids are.

 

[disney1990]

I usually go with the football, baseball, baseball gloves. There might also be kids out there that have ipods and would like itunes gift cards. Just because they are need this year, doesn't mean that they always were.

 

[Becky2005]

I just wanted to say Thanks for thinking of the older kids!! We have never been on Toys for Tots but we were at a children's hospital earlier this year and found that people forget about the older kids.

You have already been given some good ideas. My only thought was possibly some movies (although not knowing if they have a DVD player makes it harder but I'm sure some do).

Also, my other thought was if you get some Twilight stuff, I'm pretty sure that would be appreciated by some of the older teens.

 

[aprilgail2]

I always buy games for that age group too. Alongs with a few Candy Lands and Chutes and Ladders.

I work for a toy drive every year and I have to tell you- we get SO many candy lands and chutes and ladders we can't get rid of the darn things!!
For the older kids those big teen make up kits are great, they love getting those, bath and body works stuff, sports stuff, cologne sets, perfume sets. We don't take clothes so any clothing, scarfs, mittens etc that get donated end up at the salvation army.