Help! I need a generic present from Santa

[Diddydog]

Every year I help organise a Christmas party for a group of children with additional needs and their siblings. Thinking of a gift from Santa is a bit of a nightmare! Previously we’ve done a big shop at the works or B&M and bought presents to suit the individuals. But that is such hard work and make the process of handing the presents out difficult too. The group will be about 50 children from 6 to 17 with a range of needs and mine is one of them so I’m always busy anyway 😁. Can anyone come up with an idea of something that will suit everyone, ideally under £5.

Can you split it into smaller age groups? 6-9, 10-13, 14-17 perhaps?

apart from a selection box, there isn't much suitable for a 6&17 yo.

Books
Fidget toys - You can get boxes of these
Chocolate selection box
Christmas soft toy
Christmas craft pack

Or if you really want just one thing... Rubiks cube?

Moon ball
Bath bomb/Christmassy soap or similar
Art pens or gel pens

The Works 10 books for £10 deal is great for younger ones.

Bath bombs - Boots have 3 for 2 on those sort of things

A comic and some sweets?

You can't really give a 6 year old boy and a 17 year old girl the same thing except sweets. Can you split ages like a pp suggested and bulk buy for age groups. Order online and get stuff delivered. Is there a local roundtable.or something they usually do toydrives for charity you might be able to get donations

A Christmas mug,
Christmassy bubble bath,
Chocolate,

Mugs with sweets in
Frisbee
water pistol
drinks bottle
christmas annual

Do like a hot chocolate pack.. Christmas mug, hot chocolate, mini marshmallows or mint candy cane type thing

We go to a similar event and the Santa present is a big sack of cadburys - something like this https://www.ocado.com/products/cadbury-dairy-milk-classics-mixed-chocolate-chunks-pouch-350g-562619011?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4OybBhCzARIsAIcfn9mZbD6Mhup00AlWCwCBLFuzJzpcKFjLp4QnFTPnhLCd7FCP4MlPUoaAj6tEALww_wcB&gclsrc=aw.DS but more freddos and buttons - huge though.

The organisers (fellow parents!) email beforehand and ask you to let them know if your child can't have chocolate and I don't know what the alternative is but like 95% are happy with the chocolate!

Costco do a set of Xmas picture books that are £15 for 15

Mine both special needs love light up bouncy balls. School always got them a selection box off Santa. Though not all children like chocolate my son doesn't. If they had allergies and couldn't eat they would buy them a suitable gift with the £3 contribution. Usually something like a book they know they would like.

You’ve gone from one extreme to the other…individualised originally but now wanting exactly the same for all!

I’d break it down into categories - probably ages. Red paper for age 6-9, green paper for next age group. Easy to give out, just get the child or parent to tell you their age.
Or choice out of 2 items, one food-related and one not. (e.g. red paper for selection boxes, blue paper for colouring books). Get the parent to choose their preference.

Sweets might not be suitable for everyone, especially with AN’s in the picture. I think craft stuff is your best bet. You definitely need to split the age groups, just wrap the different age groups in different paper so Santa knows which to give out. He normally asks their age anyway. Fidget toys are also a great idea, my 7yo and my teens will both play with them for hours.

Tricky. I would have gone for a little teddy or other cute cuddly toy.

might be hard to get enough now but my toddler through to my teen love Fuggler teddies, they are quirky and different from standard teddies.

B&M usually have them for £3.99 but might be sold out so close to xmas.

Cadbury chocolate have a extra large bar of chocolate with various things written on like
From Santa/ Happy Christmas or individual names. About 4 pounds each.

These, although they’d be a nightmare to wrap! They’re cheaper in B&M but you’d probably struggle to get 50 in one go!

The Works
get fidget toys for all of them?

or split as pp said into categories for 0-3, 4-6 etc and wrap accordingly not make it easy for Santa.

Aldi are selling gingerbread houses already assembled with icing and sweeties to decorate around £5. I've bought one each for my boys 10 & 17.

Those boxes to bake and decorate your own biscuits or cupcakes are nice and could suit all ages if not character themed. Whether having the oven on for 10 minutes is a barrier might be a consideration sadly. But could be one option to offer e.g. baking or craft.

Something craft or stationery related. Who doesn't love stickers?!

I think fidget toys is a good idea. Or all kids like bath bombs - can buy big packs on amazon. Or fake snow?! amzn.eu/d/3m61Tp2