Met Police Christmas Tree Appeal 2017

[Waterlemon]

The Metropolitan Police Christmas Tree Project is raising funds to buy Christmas gifts for children and young people that might otherwise not receive anything at all.

Once you have registered, you will be given an age and sex to buy for. You then drop off your gift into your local police station, unwrapped. No battery powered gifts or food items, gift bags very much welcomed.

Your local police officers will then distribute the gifts to local children in care over Christmas.

www.met.police.uk/applyregister/met-christmas-appeal/

If you are near leeds there is a similar appeal
planetradio.co.uk/aire/charity/events/aire-mission-christmas/

My son has that paw patrol scooter and can’t actually use it.
His little brain cannot get around it so it’s sitting sadly in the corner of my kitchen until he can figure it out

My DSes, in the early secondary school years, wanted Game vouchers. But now that so much is on Steam, I'm not sure if they are welcome.

Amazon voucher is always a safe choice, but I sometime wonder if it comes across as unimaginative. Even though it's unknown recipient, perhaps Doctor Who or Star Wars tie-in stuff?

With an amazon voucher though will the young person have internet to buy something? If you think some of the kids might literally have nothing?

I have little kids so can help for anyone buying for one or two year olds. For both, Julia Donaldson books are brilliant - you can get the board book versions for under twos which are more durable. Currently two for £7 in Tesco.

Tony Hide and Squeak Eggs are brilliant for under 2s.

Two year olds, wooden simple jigsaws where you put the pieces into the matching hole are good. Also Duplo. Wilko do lovely wooden kids toys at good value. Magic painting books (using water rather than paints) are great for two year olds. A little teddy bear would be lovely to include too. You can also often get Happyland sets in the sale at this time of year - find one with lots of different bits and pieces for maximum play value, the train one is good for boys and girls alike if you can get it at under £20.

For three year old girls, arts sets are brilliant - crayons and felt pens perhaps easier for mum and dad to manage than paints and pencils can be a pain for little hands as they need more pressure to colour in with. A pad of white A4 paper is good. Sticker books are brilliant - there's a brand called Priddy that's always on sale in TKMaxx that does really simple activity sticker books that preschoolers can do eg dot to dot but the dots only go from 1-5 etc. You can get art supplies sets from Mothercare/Wilko etc that include things like lollipop sticks, glitter, pom poms that would be loved by my 3YO DD. If you go down that route then definitely include a tube of PVA glue as prit stick is a bit useless!

Agree that a scooter may be loved equally might be completely unused. My friend's daughter loves hers but mine is still totally disinterested at 3.5.

Hope this helps someone

Yes yes to Julia Donaldson!

Stick Man, Gruffalo, Monkey Puzzle, Room on The Broom, Smartest Giant In Town, A Squash and a Squeeze all very loved here!

I've just had some more and realised I posted utter bollocks. What I used to get were Steam vouchers, that I bought from branches of Game.

Older teens are so likely to have smart phones, that I think Internet-based stuff is fine.

Thank you, I've just registered and been assigned a 4 year old girl. I was thinking of getting an art set with pens and paper etc and a cuddly toy or doll. Despite being on mumsnet I know little about children, would this be a suitable gift?

The suggested spend is up to £20 but can be less. Some great suggestions here, I'll definitely be heading to lush for my 13 year old girl.

Thanks so much for posting this watermelon! (And for the 12yo girl tips from everyone!)

Mole my 3.5 DD would absolutely love that.

Mole - cuddly toy might be better that a doll as you can never have too many cuddly toys and also it would be comforting to snuggle at night if you are a 4YO who is having a tough time?

Thanks both I will get a cuddly toy, I've seen some lovely jellycat ones!

Thanks for the reminder! I have been allocated a 15yo girl and a 17yo boy. The girl I’m fine with...... any ideas for a 17yo boy that isn’t vouchers?

OP thanks for the reminder, I checked up on this a couple of weeks ago to see if it had started.

I got a baby girl last year and it broke my heart. Registering now!

Thanks all!

I have got a Hungry Caterpillar book/soft toy set plus two (discounted) picture books, and shall be dropping them off at my local nick later this morning.

For those looking for older teens, have a browse through this thread (which started asking for recommendations in the £15-20 range). I did try asking my older teens what they'd like, but didn't get any helpful answers!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/3079770-So-Really-good-presents-for-men-that-are-NOT

I have to buy for an 11 year old boy.
Would love some help as I have no clue and scouring the internet has got me nowhere!