Anonymous wrote:Previous poster saying its not for a specific child and that they have electronics does not know what she is talking about. OP, if the child requested clothes, of all things, assume that child does not have much. Very nice of you to give a toy also (non electronic, please).

I DO know what I am talking about. I have worked for 2 different organizations in 2 different states (different parts of the country--I'm not talking Maryland and VA or something) providing toys to children. *MOST* (though maybe not all) organizations do not list specific kids on the cards. They are generic kids of a certain age/gender to ensure that they get a variety of toys--otherwise the groups would get mostly toys for the "under 5" set, and almost nothing for the older children.

It *IS* nice of the OP to include a toy with the clothes---but believe me, it is very unlikely that this group already knows exactly which "10 year old boy" this is going to. They gave "his" size--probably the size that is typical for a 10 year old boy. The clothing might actually end up going to a very large 7 year old or a very small 14 year old...the toy might go to a different boy than the clothes do. And that is fine.

Previous poster saying its not for a specific child and that they have electronics does not know what she is talking about. OP, if the child requested clothes, of all things, assume that child does not have much. Very nice of you to give a toy also (non electronic, please).

OP, is there a numeric code written on the tag? If so, it probably is for a specific kid.

My DD has been a recipient of that and we have only had a computer for the last two years. It is used - someone else's cast-off and does not work very well, but it is much better than having to go to the library and only get 15 minutes.

We do not have any gaming systems or iAnythings. When she got holiday gifts through organizations like Giving Tree, I asked for clothing and books.

We also picked a 10 yr old boy who requested a football. You could also get anything Nerf, Legos, a skateboard, Beyblades.

I hope they do have access to technology. As much as that makes a lot of people mad. They will need it for jobs later on. You wouldn't believe how many people I see at a prison volunteer program where men have been trained to work on cars, for example, but don't know the first thing about very simple data entry on the computer. So they can't get hired at places like Jiffy Lube.

What feels intuitive to us can be an unfathomable task to another.

Anonymous wrote:Legos
Minecraft game card (plastic like a gift card,sold in places like Target, Toys R US, etc--I think it's $26.95)
games for video game systems like wii, ps3, etc.

*I know that people will say things like "what if this boy doesn't have a computer, gaming system, etc.?"

1. Most of the giving trees--it is not a specific boy that they are asking for. The volunteers/directors just put random sex/age/sizes, etc. up so that they get a variety of items. So the tag likely wasn't created specifically for "Charlie Smith, age 10, at 12345 Main St. "--they just knew they were likely to get a lot of 10 year old boys needing gifts, so they created generic "10 year old boy" cards.

2. Yes, many low income people do have computers and gaming systems. Actually, most have better/more high tech gadgets than the middle class families who buy for the "giving trees."

I hope that's not true about not having specific kids. Why'd they put a name on tag then? I'll ask when I get to work on Monday..

2 Bey Blades.

A book.

This is for a specific child. His wish list item was clothes. I was going to get clothes (they gave me his size) and add a toy.

I am assuming since a 10 year old boy asked for the generic "clothes" (not branded) - that he does not have an ipod, iphone or computer.

Minecraft is a fabulous idea in that every boy that age is crazy about it. Howver, you need an ipod, iphone or computer to play it. Also, they would need internet to access the card.

Is the giving tree from a church? Our church tree is for specific families from a sister parish in one of the more poverty striken areas of DC. If OPs kid is from a church tree, then it might very well be a specific kid and not some general pool of children.

Anonymous wrote:I would not do a video game. Most of the people on the giving tree aren't the "average," low income family. Do not assume that every low income family blows their money on the newest electronic.

No, not every one does. But like I said, usually those cards aren't meant for a specific child, it is a generic "10 year old boy". Enough families who receive gifts from these programs DO have all the "latest and greatest" electronics, that the program will be able to find a child who would love the game (and already has the console to play it on).

An Air Hog pocket helicopter.

They can be used inside and are very cool.

Target has them for around $30.

I would not do a video game. Most of the people on the giving tree aren't the "average," low income family. Do not assume that every low income family blows their money on the newest electronic.

Legos
Minecraft game card (plastic like a gift card,sold in places like Target, Toys R US, etc--I think it's $26.95)
games for video game systems like wii, ps3, etc.

*I know that people will say things like "what if this boy doesn't have a computer, gaming system, etc.?"

1. Most of the giving trees--it is not a specific boy that they are asking for. The volunteers/directors just put random sex/age/sizes, etc. up so that they get a variety of items. So the tag likely wasn't created specifically for "Charlie Smith, age 10, at 12345 Main St. "--they just knew they were likely to get a lot of 10 year old boys needing gifts, so they created generic "10 year old boy" cards.

2. Yes, many low income people do have computers and gaming systems. Actually, most have better/more high tech gadgets than the middle class families who buy for the "giving trees."

I picked a 10 YO Boy this year.

Any recommendations? I want to stay under $30. Thanks