Non Christmassy Christmas Gifts

[Lunaloud]

Im looking for ideas for a couple of new children in my DDs school. They are Muslim refugees who don’t speak English, in fact the school is struggling to identify what the children can speak.

My DD has befriended them and spending all her free time at school helping these children. We’ve always let our DDs buy one or 2 friends Christmas gifts and this year she wants to buy her new friends gifts but I’m unsure what to buy.

I grew up in a very Muslim area, but 99% of these families were westernised and many joined in Christmas celebrations, my friends embraced Christmas themed gifts. These children have been living in camps for the last few years and I’m conscious that what I buy may not be received the same way.

My thoughts so far:

Non Christmas themed fluffy socks
colouring books & pencils
generic note books
non Christmas themed chocolates

Any other suggestions?

I wasn’t sure whether to add this but I will. We live in a very white area, lots of shouting about others being racist until it falls on their doorstep. There has been a lot of negativity at the school gate that shock horror we have children and parents in full Muslim religious clothing. When my dd said she wanted to buy her new friends gifts I was really happy and because I also want to make it a kind of welcome, we aren’t all bad gifts too. With the mother not speaking English and wearing a Burka I can’t easily make eye contact, smile and try to talk to her so I thought a gift from our family to theirs might work.

Any other suggestions on being welcoming in a very unwelcoming area would be appreciated.

I think your ideas sound lovely but the feelings behind them are even better. I'm sure you'll get loads of ideas but just one thing to avoid if you are buying sweets, avoid anything with gelatine unless it is marked vegetarian. Althought to be honest I don't think animal gelatine is used much these days.

I think their ages would be useful. Have you asked your daughter for ideas?

Thank you both. All primary, one in the year 1/2 class, one in 3/4 & one in 5/6 class but unsure of specific ages.

My DD likes all my ideas, she had already reminded me about the gelatine too.

Your DD sounds lovely and thoughtful.

What about some traditional Christmas-time sweets like gingerbread men or hot chocolate-in-a-mug kits? Or some little stationary items for their pencil cases.

Oh, I’ve just seen that Christmas sweets are a no.

You don't know what their living situation is like so don't buy anything that needs any further input either by adding ingredients or having to use electricity such as baking kits.

Try for things that are self explanatory and no reading of instructions needed. Such as:
Colouring books
Jigsaws
Soft Toys
Biscuits/chocolate
Hat/glove sets
Craft supplies but make sure everything needed is included so don't buy things that need glue without buying glue etc.

What about a small squishmallow type thing? The works do them and loads of other shops (not necessarily Squishmallow branded).

You are so lovely

fluffy socks sound perfect as does a colouring book

craft bits and pieces

a football

I think a small squishmallow/non branded is nice - something with a smile that we can all recognise means welcome.

Then colouring book/notebook and pencils/pens

In would buy a game they can share and all play, snakes and ladders or ludo?

What a lovely idea! Your DD sounds so kind - you can be very proud of her.

Fluffy socks sounds brilliant. Especially given that a difficult living situation can include heating-related poverty. It'll help them stay warm every day.

If they've been through the camps, they've likely had a lot of trauma (the whole family). Sensory resources can be great for helping traumatised children feel safe, so small soft toys could be lovely too. Sometimes, there can be different views about the depiction of people/animals in soft toys. Something like a squishmallow-type thing or those palm pals that are types of food or plants could be a safe option.

@Lunaloud
Language barriers can make it hard to make friends in a new country, and especially if the children's mum is aware of the negativity within the community. A smile and a wave can make a difference, and saying hello too. You could link "Hello" with a universally recognised greeting across Islamic cultures - "Salam alaikum" (which translates as "peace be with you"). That could help her feel welcome - like even if she can't speak English well enough to converse, someone cares enough to greet her and respects her culture enough to learn how to greet her in a familiar way.

Translation apps like Google Translate can be useful. My DC had a playgroup friend whose family were from China - the little boy came to the group with his gran, and she and I didn't have a language in common, so we used translation apps to chat a bit, arrange playdates, etc.

Thank you everyone some great advice.

weve decided on generic colouring and note books with pencils and crayons, sharpener included. Wipe down writing and maths books with spare white board markers. Fluffy socks and a soft toy. I will be careful in making sure I get something generic. If I struggle here I may go fluffy blanket each. All 3 of mine love their fluffy blankets.

Im very conscious of what their home life will be like ( I mean in the way of what the family have).

This sounds lovely and I'm sure they will appreciate it. You must be very proud of your DD, I can see where she gets it from 😊

This is a good list. And what a lovely thing to do,good for you.

That sound absolutely lovely OP! Those gifts sound great and I'd say can't go wrong with some biscuits or chocolates for them all to share :)

So kind. Remember to check for alcohol in chocs too!

Update

Hi all, I thought I’d give you a little update.

The children do celebrate Christmas, their parents don’t but apparently the children love it. They have all been really involved with the school nativity and class Advent services. All 3 children just seem to constantly smile. I also found out they all love chocolate 😋

Im currently laid up with covid so haven’t been able to get them the final thing on my list, a soft toy each. I have however managed to get them each a sketch pad and pencil sets ( thank you Amazon prime!), fluffy socks, a puzzle toy and I stole my DDs chocolate coins for them.

My DDs have taken the gifts into school today. The school counsellor will take the children and my DDs to one side today to give them their gifts, she’s also very kindly offered to put a pencil sharpener in the bag as I couldn’t find one in the house and couldnt get out to buy one 😝

That looks lovely, @Lunaloud - you and your DDs are so kind and that will mean so much. I hope you feel better soon - COVID and the other bugs going around are a real pain.