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Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game—and never let the fear of donating the wrong thing keep you from giving generously whenever you can. Truly, when you’re giving from the heart, there is no “wrong” donation, but there are certainly some that are more useful than others, so if you’re going to give to a toy drive or similar initiative this holiday season, it’s worth figuring out what to send. Here’s what Reddit has to say this year about the matter.
Donate toys without batteries
One Redditor pointed out that if you’re donating to a toy drive, you should select toys that don’t require batteries. It’s not a given that a family will be able to afford batteries, but even if they can, it’s better to opt for something rechargeable or something that isn’t techy at all. If you do donate something that needs batteries, include extras in your donation. Hell, throw in some battery packs with your donation either way to cover any other battery-operated toys that are sent in.
In general, stay away from gifts that require any additional pieces or elements, too. One person suggested a basketball, since that only requires a hoop to play with—but can still be dribbled and toyed with in the absence of that.
Don’t forget older kids
“If you can, please think about boys between 8 and 18,” responded another user. “They’re often left out. A basketball or some earbuds could make a huge difference to these kids. It’s not the item, it’s the all of a sudden feeling they might matter.” Numerous other commenters echoed this sentiment, recalling what it was like to be a teen who got lackluster donated presents back in the day.
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Consider something a pre-teen or teen might want, like a ring light or stand for their phone. Opt for something specific to the older age group rather than a generic all-ages gift to make your donation really special to someone.
Enlist your own kids
One Redditor said they bring their kids shopping and let them help pick gifts for other similarly-aged children. Choose a day to go shopping just for donations, if you can, so you can bring your kids without spoiling their own gifts. Not only will this ensure you are getting a cool and kid-approved present, but it’s a great way to show them the value of donating, too, which is a parenting win.
LEGO
Over and over again, Reddit users recommended LEGO sets. Even basic sets are fun for all ages and require nothing else to play with, but if you can spring for a specialized set, that makes the gift even more exciting. LEGO bricks can be added onto with other sets, but they stand fine on their own, which makes them superior to, say, a train set that needs specialized supplemental packs to keep it interesting.
