Charity Birthday Present for a Child

rainbow12

I have 2 nephews who have more than everything they need. So I would like to give them birthday presents that help charity eg adopt a tiger but Im not sure how age appropriate these are. One nephew is going to be 2 and one is going to be 7. I guess the adopt an animal where you get the cuddly toy is ok for the 2 year old but I have no idea for the older boy.

Any suggestions for either?

londonsurrey

How about your local animal charity? The children can then get to see the fuzzy critters that are being helped.

It depends on where your nephews live, but this is one that is local to me:
http://www.londonwildcaretrust.co.uk/kids_zone_foxes.html

They're still building the junior membership page, but if you call them, they'll be able to tell you what freebie they'll send for a junior member.

jackomdj

At 2 and 7 IMO I think you would be better doing something for them, if you are local to them how about taking them out for the day with any extra money you would spend going to charity. Another option could be getting them junior membership to woodland trust which sends out monthly "activities".

Just my opinion. :-)

onlyroz

I personally wouldn't give a charity gift to a child. If they have enough toys then why not take them out for the day instead?

fluffnutter

Don't worry about it being too young for the 7 year old. I bought my 40 year old husband an adopt an orangutan kit and he loved it. And he cried

However, that's all they are - a kit with a cuddly toy, a picture and not much else. You don't get to meet the animal, the charity aspect will be lost on such young boys and once they've looked at the cuddly toy a few times, they'll forget they've even 'adopted' anything.

Take them to a decent breeding zoological park for a day out, buy them something from the shop and make a small donation to WWF on their behalf. I think it would be more fun for them, tbh.

PasturesNew

It's not a present if you don't get it ......

stiltwalker

Many wildlife parks offer adopt an animal things to help pay for their upkeep with the added bonus of being able to visit the place and see the animal. We have annual passes to the South Lakes Wild Animal Park and I know they do this - they also do zookeeper for a day/half day things which would be no good for 2 yr old but the 7yr old may just be old enough (they have minimum ages for these things).

However to echo some other posters for such young children I think they really need to get something other than a certificate of adoption etc as they are too young to 'get' this. If you feel they have too much 'stuff' (generally primary coloured plastic and requiring batteries!) maybe a day out or an 'experience' type present would be better. What about clothes? - my DD (3) loves opening parcels containing clothes! but that could be just that shopping is the only thing she's a girly girl about.

rainbow12

Thanks for the suggestions. I think the experience ideas might work well.

pinkclouds

Whatever you do, make sure there is some "token" gift to unwrap even if it's just a bar of chocolate. The kids won't understand they've been given something if they can't see something tangible. However, I have no quarrel with a sponsorship or membership type gift - in the background. Just don't expect the kids to fully understand it.

tyllwyd

My 8 year old girl loves her subscription to the RSPCA Animal Action Club magazine.