The Top Ten Gifts That Sponsors Send to Their Sponsored Children

CHRISTMAS IS A time to share good will and cheer, no matter who you are or where you're from, so it's great to see sponsors taking the time to wish their sponsored children the best at this time of year. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular items that Sponsors send to their children at Christmas time.

10. Clothing

Lots of our sponsors will send socks, hats and t-shirts etc to their sponsored children. While Africa might seem like the warmest place, it can get very cold in rainy season and in the evenings during the summer. These gifts are always well received.

 

9. Tea Lights and Candles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having electricity in Ireland, we tend to forget just how difficult it can be in some of our ADPs without this luxury. Time and time again we see candles and tea-lights coming in from sponsors to their children. They are a great and cheap way to provide light in the evenings, which helps the children to study at home.

 

8. Board Games

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all remember the days before iPads and mobile phones. Sitting around with our friends playing Connect 4 and Ludo. It seems these games have not gone away just yet. We receive lots of these little games every year for the children and they absolutely love them.

 

7. School Supplies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’d never imagine but stationery items are some of our most popular gifts. Sponsors send their children lots of crayons, chalk, pencils, copybooks and stickers every year. Not only do these items help the children at school but also at play because you don’t need batteries to draw a picture.

 

6. Skipping Ropes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is mostly for the girls. We receive plenty of skipping ropes every year from sponsors who’d like to give their sponsored child a taste of what their own childhood was like in Ireland. The children love them and for such a simple gift, they provide hours of fun for the children and their friends.  

 

5. Toiletries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not always fun and games though. Things like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and washcloths make up a large amount of the gifts sponsors send to their children and their families. Hygiene and health are still hugely important to our sponsors and rightly so. The parents of the children are always grateful for these type of gifts.

 

4. Accessories for Girls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another one for the girls. We get lots of cute little hair bands, necklaces and small inexpensive jewellery items, which the children absolutely adore. These are some of the most popular gifts that sponsors send to the children.

 

3. Cards, Postcards, Photos, Drawings and Letters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And what about the Christmas and Birthday Cards themselves? We receive lots of these every year from sponsors who want to wish their child all the best on very special occasions. Lots of our sponsors send postcards, photos of sponsors with their family and/or pets (which we love) and even drawings! Have you sent your sponsored child a birthday or Christmas card yet?

 

2. Dolls and Teddybears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s no surprise to see dolls and teddybears in 2nd place. For years and even in times when electronic games are everywhere, we still see dolls and teddybears at the top of children’s Christmas wishlists. We see lots of these very thoughtful gifts coming in every year and the children love them so.

 

1. Footballs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 1 on the list just had to be footballs, didn’t it? Because all of our ADPs are in Africa, where football is the biggest sport, nearly every single one of our sponsored boys is a huge fan of football. So it stands to reason that the best gift to send to a boy is football related. From jerseys, shorts and socks to footballs and pumps you can be sure the children will love them!

 

Now that you know what the most popular gifts are, you can be confident when writing and sending gifts to your sponsored child. Have you been in touch with your sponsored child yet? Our Christmas card appeal is one of, if not, the best opportunities to get writing to your sponsored child and get to know them.

It’s all part of the amazing and utterly unique experience that is child sponsorship!

Check out our great guide to sending gifts to your sponsored child here:

https://www.worldvision.ie/christmas/christmas-card

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