What Goes in My Shoebox?
Special Item
Include a toy that a child will immediately love as soon as they open the box.
Ideas include: a cuddly toy, a deflated football and pump, a toy truck, doll or a musical instrument.
Why not include a personal note or photo of you or your family?
Gift Suggestions
Toys
A football and pump, cuddly toys, dolls, toy cars, small musical instruments, yo-yos, skipping ropes, balls, small puzzles etc.
School Supplies
Pens, pencils & sharpeners, crayons or felt pens, stamps & ink pad sets, writing pads or notebooks, solar calculators, colouring & picture books etc.
Hygiene Items
Toothbrush, bars of wrapped soap, comb or hairbrush, flannel.
Other Items
Hat, gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, socks, T-shirt, flip-flops, hair accessories, jewellery set, watch, wind-up torch etc.
DO NOT INCLUDE
Toothpaste, sweets, lotions and liquids; used or damaged items; war-related items; seeds, gum, chocolate or food items; religious or political literature; medicines, aerosol cans, sharp or fragile items.
Items packed from this list will be removed from shoeboxes. Read more about this process.
Not sure about an item? Check our FAQs.
Download Gift SuggestionsGift Suggestions for Age and Gender
Girls
Boys
Toys
- Doll
- Stuffed animal or toy
- Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or recorder)
- Small foam football or tennis ball
- Finger puppets
- Slinky
- Interactive toys that include push buttons, lights, noise (include extra batteries)
- Skipping rope
- Play-doh (you could add plastic cookie cutters as non-sharp utensils to use with it)
Toys
- Doll
- Stuffed animal or toy
- Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or recorder)
- Small foam football or tennis ball
- Finger puppets
- Slinky
- Etch A Sketch
- Skipping rope
- Play-doh (you could add plastic cookie cutters as non-sharp utensils to use with it)
- Small puzzles
- Costume items to play dress-up, such as crowns and costume jewellery
- Plastic toys and toy figures
- Yo-yo
- Small Frisbee
- Small kite
Toys
- Doll
- Stuffed animal or toy
- Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or recorder)
- Small foam football or tennis ball
- Finger puppets
- Slinky
- Etch A Sketch
- Skipping rope
- Play-doh (you could add plastic cookie cutters as non-sharp utensils to use with it)
- Small puzzles
- Costume items to play dress-up, such as crowns and costume jewellery
- Plastic toys and toy figures
- Yo-yo
- Small Frisbee
- Small kite
Toys
- Stuffed animal or toy
- Toy Truck/Boat
- Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or recorder)
- Small foam football or tennis ball
- Finger puppets
- Slinky
- Interactive toys that include push buttons, lights, noise (include extra batteries)
- Play-doh (you could add plastic cookie cutters as non-sharp utensils to use with it)
- Plastic tools
- Plastic Dinosaurs
- Building Blocks
Toys
- Stuffed animal or toy
- Toy Truck/Boat
- Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or recorder)
- Small foam football or tennis ball
- Deflated football with small pump
- Finger puppets
- Slinky
- Etch A Sketch
- Interactive toys that include push buttons, lights, noise (include extra batteries)
- Play-doh (you could add plastic cookie cutters as non-sharp utensils to use with it)
- Plastic tools
- Plastic Dinosaurs
- Building Blocks
Toys
- Stuffed animal or toy
- Small cars
- Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or recorder)
- Small foam football or tennis ball
- Deflated football with small pump
- Dominoes
- Yoyo
- Slinky
- Etch A Sketch
- Puzzles
- Kaleidoscope
- Skipping rope
- Picture Snap cards
- Small Frisbee
Hygiene Items
- Comb
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Flannel
- Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)
- Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Consider filling an empty container with non-liquid items such as hair bows, bracelets, sunglasses, or flannel to make use of the space)
Hygiene Items
- Comb
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Flannel
- Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)
- Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Consider filling an empty container with non-liquid items such as hair bows, bracelets, sunglasses, or flannel to make use of the space)
- Non-liquid lip balm
- Solar powered torch
- Compact mirror
Hygiene Items
- Comb
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Flannel
- Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)
- Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Consider filling an empty container with non-liquid items such as hair bows, bracelets, sunglasses, or flannel to make use of the space)
- Non-liquid lip balm
- Compact mirror
- Nail Clipper & file
- Stick deodorant
Hygiene Items
- Comb
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Flannel
- Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)
- Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Consider filling an empty container with non-liquid items such as hair bows, bracelets, sunglasses, or flannel to make use of the space)
Hygiene Items
- Comb
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Flannel
- Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)
- Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Fill an empty container with non-liquid items such as sunglasses or flannel to make use of the space)
Hygiene Items
- Comb
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Flannel
- Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container)
- Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensils (Fill an empty container with non-liquid items such as sunglasses or flannel to make use of the space)
- Non-liquid lip balm
- Solar powered or wind up torch
- Nail clippers
- Stick deodorant
School Supplies
- Pencils
- Child friendly pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil Case
- Crayons
- Felt Pens
- Colouring pads
- Colouring books
- Picture book
- Notebooks
- Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue)
- Small adhesive tape
- Watercolour paint set (Finger paint palette, paint brushes, paper)
- Pre-inked Stampers
School Supplies
- Pencils
- Small manual pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil Case
- Crayons
- Felt Pens
- Colouring pads
- Colouring books
- Picture book
- Notebooks
- Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue)
- Small adhesive tape
- Watercolour paint set (Finger paint palette, paint brushes, paper)
- Chalkboard and chalk
- Geometry set
- Pre-inked Stampers
School Supplies
- Pencils
- Small manual pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil Case
- Crayons
- Felt Pens
- Colouring pads
- Colouring books
- Picture book
- Notebooks
- Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue)
- Small adhesive tape
- Watercolour paint set (Finger paint palette, paint brushes, paper)
- Chalkboard and chalk
- Geometry set
- Pre-inked Stampers
School Supplies
- Pencils
- Child friendly pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil Case
- Crayons
- Felt Pens
- Colouring pads
- Colouring books
- Picture book
- Notebooks
- Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue)
- Small adhesive tape
- Watercolour paint set (Finger paint palette, paint brushes, paper)
- Pre-inked Stampers
School Supplies
- Pencils
- Small manual pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil Case
- Crayons
- Felt Pens
- Colouring pads
- Colouring books
- Picture book
- Notebooks
- Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue)
- Small adhesive tape
- Watercolour paint set (Finger paint palette, paint brushes, paper)
- Pre-inked Stampers
School Supplies
- Pencils
- Small manual pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil Case
- Crayons
- Felt Pens
- Colouring pads
- Colouring books
- Picture book
- Notebooks
- Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue)
- Small adhesive tape
- Watercolour paint set (Finger paint palette, paint brushes, paper)
- Blank index cards
- Solar-powered calculator
- Safety (blunt tip) scissors
- Geometry set
- Pre-inked Stampers
Other
- Hat/scarf/mittens
- Sunglasses
- Small bag/purse
- Hair bows or clips
- Friendship bracelets (woven with yarn or embroidery thread)
- A personal note and photo
Other
- Hat/scarf/mittens
- Sunglasses
- Small bag/purse
- Hair bows or clips
- Friendship bracelets (woven with yarn or embroidery thread)
- Make-it-yourself craft items or kit
- Binoculars
- A personal note and photo
Other
- Hat/scarf/mittens
- Sunglasses
- Small bag/purse
- Hair bows or clips
- Friendship bracelets (woven with yarn or embroidery thread)
- Make-it-yourself craft items or kit
- Binoculars
- Solar powered torch
- Small backpack, handbag or drawstring bag
- Small Sewing kit & ribbon
- Laminated decorative pictures with looped ribbon attached as a picture hanger
- Colourful balls of string
- A personal note and photo
Other
- Hat/scarf/mittens
- Sunglasses
- Small backpack, handbag or drawstring bag
- Baseball cap
- A personal note and photo
Other
- Hat/scarf/mittens
- Sunglasses
- Small backpack, handbag or drawstring bag
- Baseball cap
- A personal note and photo
Other
- Hat/scarf/mittens
- Sunglasses
- Small backpack, handbag or drawstring bag
- Baseball cap
- Fishing kit
- Magnets
- Compass
- Binoculars
- Chalkboard & chalk
- Brightly coloured rope or twine
- A personal note and photo
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