Many of you have asked about the larger pieces of mail that you send your sponsored child. The correspondence team processes this mail and they really go above and beyond to make sure your mail makes it safely to the children.
Suzanne works on our correspondence team and has graciously offered some tips on how to make sure we can process the larger mail pieces you send to us:
- Include your sponsor number and child number (not just the name) on your letter. This lets us send the letters right away instead of setting the package aside for research that can take up to two weeks.
- Be sure to also include your sponsor number and child number on the back of pictures, stickers, etc. in case they fall out of the envelope during processing.
- You can send musical cards. It’s not only your sponsored child who enjoys musical cards — our correspondence team likes to dance to the music too!
Feeling low on creativity about what larger mail pieces to send to your child?
That’s OK — I feel that way sometimes too. Compassion collects great ideas on Pinterest AND I’ve found some really cute ideas for things you can send your child. Enjoy!
- Have a calendar made for you.
- Create a photo notepad.
- Create and print your own photo calendar:
- Make a pocket mini-book:
- Create a small table-top calendar:
- Cut out and send a paper-star garland:
Lastly, one of our Advocates, Yvonne, suggests tracing your hand and sending the cutout to your sponsored child. Include extra paper so your child can trace his or her hand and send it back to you:
You could even make something like this with the hands:
What paper items have you made to send to your sponsored child? Share your ideas with other sponsors in the comments below!
We originally published this post on January 7, 2013.
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I have sent baseball cards in a clear plastic flat page holder (holds 9 cards). I always thought they must have gone through but now that I am reading all this, I’m unsure. Should I stop sending those?
Julie, in the past, we could send these baseball cards. Regrettably, we are now only able to send paper letters, coloring pages, etc. that can be scanned. The only items that will be physically mailed as well as pop-up cards, musical cards, bookmarks, and stickers and regrettably baseball cards are not on that list.
Can you send clothing to your child?
Hi June! Regrettably, clothing cannot be sent to your kiddo. I definitely appreciate your desire to send clothes as new clothes are often not a luxury these children receive. However, there are a few reasons we don’t allow packages like this to be sent. One reason is that the cost of shipping and duty would likely exceed the value of the gift. There is also high risk of theft or loss as your package travels through customs to your child. The logistics of getting the package to the child would cost valuable staff time and also, delivery services in developing countries are rarely as operational as they are in the U.S. For this reason, other than letters, you have the option to send monetary gifts which bless your child with tangible items such as clothing. When you send a monetary gift to your child, our staff will help them make a wise decision on how to best steward your gift and use it for their greatest need at that time. So not only will your gift be helping to stimulate their local economy by purchasing a gift in country, but our staff will also help ensure it’s used appropriately for items that are relevant to your child’s needs.
We have information on sending a gift to your child that you might find helpful, and you can see a list of items you can mail to your child, on our website.
can I send puppets made with paper and craft/popsicle sticks? Seems a great way to send a Bible themed toy.
Hi Susan! Regrettably, we cannot send wood and so Popsicle sticks will not go through to your kiddo. But you can definitely make paper puppets! 🙂 What a great idea! If you laminate those puppets, that might do the same trick for you that you’re trying to accomplish with Popsicle sticks!
Patricia, I don’t know if you have any Steak N Shake Restaurants in the area where you live, but the paper model cars they give with the kids meals are super cool. I think any kid would like getting one, but probably especially boys. They change them frequently. Not sure if there are any on Ebay if you don’t have access to a Steak N Shake. Also trading cards – baseball or soccer or football, and then you could tell him about a special US player. Good luck…….it’s a lot of fun figuring it out!
Karen
Hello, I am wanting to send paper dolls to my child. I was thinking about having them laminated so they would last longer and also would like to use mini metal brads to hold the dolls arms and legs together so the dolls would have moveable arms and legs. Just wanted to make sure lamination and mini brads are okay, please advise.
Hi Linda! You are more than welcome to laminate the paper dolls, but regrettably we would not be able to send metal brads. Too much metal will set off the metal detectors as they are going through customs. As a suggestion, you could use a small amount of string to hold the arms and legs in a way that is movable.
My child’s birthday is coming up and this will be my first time sending a real gift to him I would like to know what would be the best item possible I could send him ? I have already donating a money gift I know that is important for the family and my child, But I want him to get something from me personally, He will be turning 10 please help a newbie out. Thank you
Hi Patricia! You are welcome to send a greeting card from the store or a birthday message created through your account. Also, check out our Pinterest boards! We have several ideas of what to send for birthdays and in general to your children here.
I was wondering if ‘puffy stickers’ are okay to send. I know stickers are generally okay but these are plastic or vinyl so I wasn’t sure if they would be a problem.
There are some cute play sets with a heavy card stock scene (house, castle, etc.) and some reusable puffy stickers (dolls, furniture, etc) to position in the scene. I was thinking it might make a nice special gift option for those of us who aren’t so crafty.
Thanks
Hi Heather! I think I know what kind of stickers you are talking about, but I can’t be completely sure. You are welcome to try sending them through to your child. It would be a wonderful gift for your child if she is able to receive it! 🙂 Our mail department sends everything they are possibly able to through the mail.
hi! I was wondering could you put a puzzle together on a Velcro sheet and send it, so that my kid to take it apart and put it back together again?
Maddie, yes, we can send Velcro. I love your creativity with this! 🙂
Hi! I have recently begun sponsoring two girls in different parts of the world. And I’ve picked up some small coloring books for them that meet the size guidelines. When I send the coloring books, along with the letters, is it OK to put them all in one 9 X 11 envelope, as long as each item is clearly identified? Or is better to mail each girls’ items in a separate envelope? Thanks!
Carolyn, that was so thoughtful of you! Thank you so very much for blessing them in such a tangible way and I know they’re going to be so excited to get these special surprises from you! As long as you label each item that you send with your sponsor number and their child numbers so that we can ensure each coloring book and letter is sent to the correct girl; feel free to send them in one envelope to save on postage :).
A way to create cute encouragement cards is to print lunchbox notes/cards. You can easily find free templates on the web. They are perfect both for young and for older children. Who doesn’t love to hear how special, awesome, brave and loved he/she is? 😉
We have 3 sponsored children and normally write online letters, but I would like to send something small within the given guidelines. My question: Can I put all 3 kids’ items in one 81/2 X 11 envelope, or do I need to send each separately?
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks so much for writing to your children! They are blessed to have such a loving and supportive sponsor! 🙂 You are welcome to send items to all 3 of your children in the same envelope. Please simply label each item with their names and child numbers. Also, your outside envelope can be any size but the items themselves just need to be under 8 1/2″ by 11.”
Hi! This might be such a dumb question ,but I am new to all of this.
I was wondering if I could send small packets of Neosporin or any over the counter cream meds or even alcohol wipes to disinfect cuts that possibly could save their lives or bug spray? This might have been asked before. Sorry if it has. Also I haven’t heard anything from my sponsor kids at all. How do I know if they are receiving their packages. Thanks so much!!!
Kathryn, you’re so thoughtful and these are most certainly great things to know when sponsoring a child with us so please know we’re happy to answer your questions! We really appreciate you wanting to bless your child in such a practical way :). Regrettably, due to strict customs regulations, preventative and medical items like you’re mentioning cannot be sent to your child. All items that you send must be paper products that are within the size requirements of being no larger than 8 1/2″ x 11″ in size and 1/4″ thick. I would encourage you to view our complete list of items you can send to your child. Your children receive every picture, letter, and sticker that you send :). Your child will respond to questions you ask, ask you questions in return, and the relationship you can build with them is one that they treasure for years to come! If you ever send a monetary gift to your child, you will receive a letter six months later thanking you for your gift and letting you know how it was used!
I also want to encourage you that you will hear from your kiddos soon! It looks like you just recently began sponsoring Joana and Alexandra in the last couple of weeks :). You will receive an introduction letter from your children within the first four months. Thanks for writing to them right away, however! Letters take 2-3 months to be delivered both ways and so your kiddos will be looking forward to hearing from you!
Kathryn, you’re so thoughtful and these are most certainly great things to know when sponsoring a child with us so please know we’re happy to answer your questions! We really appreciate you wanting to bless your child in such a practical way :). Regrettably, due to strict customs regulations, preventative and medical items like you’re mentioning cannot be sent to your child. All items that you send must be paper products that are within the size requirements of being no larger than 8 1/2″ x 11″ in size and 1/4″ thick. I would encourage you to view our complete list of items you can send to your child. Your children receive every picture, letter, and sticker that you send :). Your child will respond to questions you ask, ask you questions in return, and the relationship you can build with them is one that they treasure for years to come! If you ever send a monetary gift to your child, you will receive a letter six months later thanking you for your gift and letting you know how it was used!
I also want to encourage you that you will hear from your kiddos soon! It looks like you just recently began sponsoring Joana and Alexandra in the last couple of weeks :). You will receive an introduction letter from your children within the first four months. Thank you for writing already! Letters take 2-3 months to be delivered both ways and so your kiddos will be looking forward to hearing from you!
Thank you for all the lovely Ideas! I do have a question. Can I send flimsy plastic Stencils? They are found in a “Fashion Angel: Flower Power Fashion Sketch Portfolio” They are almost paper thin. They come with Puffy stickers, and Paper Sketches of Girls to Design Clothing for. I took the Spiral out and am sending the 4 “stencils”, some of the paper girls, and the stickers for her Birthday. Is this okay?
Hi Jennifer! These stencils look super cute! What a great idea! You can definitely try to send these but I cannot guarantee that they will go through because they are plastic. It might be okay though because they are so thin. We will let you know via email if we are unable to send them.
Thank you!
I have a younger boy in Honduras and I sent him a small lapbook that he can hold in his hands. I made a pocket in it and found some number flashcards at dollar tree. No words, just the number on one side and that number of animals on the other side. I sent 1-5 to him in the pocket last time and the next time I will send him some more to add to it. I thought that we would work on numbers then I could introduce the Pairs of animals on the Ark, 10 commandments, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles, etc. I take into account that it is very possible that the parents or guardians are unable to read also, so I am just sticking with picture stories and numbers with him at this point. Who knows, maybe he will teach his parents something!
For more tips on writing your child, I started a Facebook page of creative things you can send/letter tips. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Encouraging-Words/571351182994967?ref=hl
Can we send bandaids? Like in the individual wrappers, maybe if lightly tape one end of the wrapper to a sheet of paper? It’d be fun (and practical) to send things like Hello Kitty or Dora bandaids to my little girls.
Hi there Trysha! Band-aids are such a great gift to send to your child and you can be assured they will get through customs :). Thank you so much for checking! You can view a complete list of items that you can and cannot send to your child, here.
If the photo calendars are okay, does that mean actual photo albums (paperback) like ones printed by Shutterfly would be acceptable, so long as they fit the thickness/size restrictions of all paper gifts?
Hi Kelly! Yes, you can send paperback photo albums if they are under 1/4″ thick. 🙂
If anyone has a photocopier that also scans, its a fun thing to scan in real leaves from trees. They look very realistic when printed out and could be sent with a variety of types of leaves printed to show our sponsored kids what grows where we live. Or for an Autumn/Fall themed letter to show the beautiful colours they turn. Or place small leaves around the edge of the scanner plate to form a frame for a letter writing page, or cut them out to decorate folders to send. It may even work with small flowers, though I haven’t tried that myself.
I’ve seen a few people who put together a “kit” of stickers, coloring pages, etc inside a cute folder for their kids, but I know the folders traditionally are a little bigger than 8 1/2 x 11 (I think I saw that they are 9 x 12). Are these folders being allowed currently? I’d love to stock up during back-to-school sales if I am able to send things in this format!
Hi Michelle! Yes, you can send folders filled with fun paper items. Some people call them “Lapbooks.” They must be within the size limits though so no more than 8 1/2″ by 11″ and no more than 1/4″ thick. If they are bigger than that, we will cut them down to get them through the mail. However, you may want to trim them yourself so they look pretty.
I can’t find the address where to send gifts. Can someone please help me? Thank you.
Hi Frances! Please send paper gifts to:
Compassion International
[No street address necessary]
Colorado Springs, CO 80997-0004
So just to be clear, is the braided thread bracelet ok to send? What if it were to have llastic beads or something?
Hi Ashley! While we can send very small amounts of thread, I would advise against sending a thread bracelet. Also, elastic beads most likely would not go through. We classify every thing that we send as documents so most of the item must be paper and no other type of material.
What about duct tape crafts? I was thinking about making a wrist band, bookmark, and maybe a little coin purse. Would these be okay to send? They’re all very flat …
Hi Laurel! I work for Compassion and flat (under 1/4″ thick) Duct tape crafts are going through right now so you are welcome to send these items for the time being. 🙂
Great! Thank you. 😀
Are the paint pages that have the small just add water paint squares allowed?
Hi Sharon! As long as the paint pages are made of paper, we can send them. Regrettably, we wouldn’t be able to send paint brushes. Each student center does have coloring supplies though so hopefully they will have some brushes that your child can use with the paint.
Would you please give me the information on sending my child gifts? I have been looking for guidelines and have been unsuccessful in my search. Also, where do I send them? I want her to know how much she is loved and prayed for. Thank you.
Hi Julie! I love your heart to love and bless your child! That’s so very sweet of you! In the mail, you can send any paper items that are smaller than an 8 1/2″ by 11″ and no more than 1/4″ thick. A complete list of items can be found here. Please make sure to include your name, your sponsor number, your child’s name, and your child’s number on whatever you are sending and send these items to: Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO 80997-0004.
Both of my sponsor kids love to draw. I recently made a little notebook with a cardstock cover and some blank paper, fold over and staple it. I decorated the cover with a couple of stickers, my child’s name, and the word “artist” in her language and a ribbon to tie it all shut. I’m kind of proud of my little creation.
I have fun scrapbook paper which is I think 12×12. Now I know that it’s outside the size limit, but I’m wondering if it’s possible to just fold it and call it good.
Hi Samantha! Yes, feel free to fold it and as long as it’s under a 1/4 inch thick you’re golden. 🙂
So if we send something like the “I love you this much” craft above, or say, a commercial birthday card, all those things are translated somehow? Just like the letters? I figured they would have to be but am just not sure of the process. Thanks!
Hi Kathy! Again, such a great question! I checked with our translators and all of these phrases on greeting cards are translated as well as any message you write in them. 🙂
Thank you! I am making the crafts right now!
Hi Kathy! I’m looking into this and I’ll let you know what I find out!
Can I send a 4×6 photo in a protective, see through 4×6 “sleeve” that is a “filler page” for a photo album? I hoped to send 2 or 3 of these photos in sleeves, plus a cardstock front & back, tied with small strings in the holes usually used for photo album rings. In future letters, I’ll send addl photos in sleeves to be added. My concern is that I’d consider this a “plastic sleeve”, and I keep reading “no plastic”, but it is actually a very similar material to ziplock bags. Does “no plastic” refer to sturdy / hard plastic? Thanks for clarifying!
Hi Sheryl! I love your creativity here! Yes, we can send photos in the protective sleeves, as long as there are only a couple of photos and sleeves. 🙂 Regrettably, if the total number of sleeves/photos is more than 1/4″ thick, we cannot send them.
Hi there! I found some nice book covers (9″ ×7″) that I think my kids might like. They are soft, flexible plastic (similar to contact paper). Can I send them to my kids with colourful paper inside to make up a super thin notepad?
Hi Ilaria! Regrettably, we cannot send plastic. I’m so sorry but we wouldn’t be able to send the book covers. 🙁 However, we could send a thin notepad!
My husband and I went on a cruise and I was determined to find someone who sold the braided name bracelets so I could get one for each of our children. At each port, I had no luck and finally had to go “off the grid” in Mexico to have them made. The ones I found were slightly different, but I was so thrilled to have found a “flat” souvenir I could mail! I think we were also extorted a little on the price, but I was determined! When I went on line to get the correct address, I found out that I was not able to mail anything that was plastic and these have a plastic “body” covered in yarn. So sad. However, I found a wonderful place on line in the States that will make them strictly of braided threads. Note to self: Always check “do’s” and “don’ts” of gift giving.
I have a few more questions:
How many items per 8.5×11 envelope?
Can I seal envelopes like birthday card envelopes that are within the larger 8.5×11 envelope?
When I write an e-mail to my girl, how long until she recieves it and can she print it?
When I send a gift :birthday, Easter, Christmas, if you have it before the event do you wait to deliver it?
Is there a limit to the length of a letter? The email formats are quite short so I wonder if mailed letters have to be short as well.
I think that’s it for now. Thanks for all of your help.
Chris
Hello again! Happy to help! You may send as many items as you’d like as long as they are no more than a 1/4″ thick total each time for each child. Please leave all envelopes open so that we can open them for translation and to make sure everything can go through. It takes anywhere between two weeks to three months for letters to go back and forth, depending on the area your little girl lives in. We recommend sending monetary gifts for birthday, Christmas, or Easter two to three months prior to the event. For birthday gifts and Christmas gifts, we send reminders three months in advance. There is no limit to the length of the letter, however, shorter letters sent more frequently are usually better than longer letters sent less frequently.
I am putting together my girls birthday gift and I made a small scrapbook type photo album. My plan was tying them together with a ribbon but after reading these comments I was wondering should I send it loose so that it ships thinner? each “page” is a round cardboard piece with the pictures and stickers on them. Is it each item that ships 1/4″ or the whole envelop?
Hi Chris! That is so thoughtful of you! Your little girl is going to LOVE this! We can only send very small portions of string to tie books together so be frugal with the quantity. Also, you are more than welcome to staple the book together if you would like. The items need to be flat and no more than a 1/4″ thick. This means that each item needs to be under 1/4″ and the envelope does not count towards this. So if you’re sending a scrapbook, the whole book needs to be under a 1/4″ thick.
I read that books within size limits would need the cover page torn off, correct? What about the small note books or pads of stickers? Are only individual pages pages allowed? Thanks so much for your help!
All of the items that we send cannot look like they are worth much money. Otherwise, there is a high risk of that item being stolen by corrupt postal workers in transit or they will charge us large amounts in tariffs. This is why we rip the covers off of books, in an attempt to make them look less valuable. This is important to keep in mind as you’re deciding what to send and what not to send. I’ve sent pads of stickers to my sponsored child and everything went through just fine. Be careful with the notebooks to make sure they need to meet the size limits, be completely paper (no metal spiral binding), and cannot look too valuable. However, another thing that I’ve done is to put writing and coloring paper (and other fun paper items) in a paper folder. You could also staple paper together to make a notebook. I’m not sure if this helps but hopefully it will give you some more ideas to work with. 🙂
I just make the hand craft. It was fun. I colored my nails to show my girl what I like. I even drew my rings and bracelets. O am thinking about doing the star chain for the next letter.
Does a Compassion representative explain to the children or their parents (if there are parents) that we have limitations on what we can send? Otherwise, it would be human nature for them to wonder why those of us living in what would be luxury to them, are sending them items that are hardly worth anything. I see everyone wants to send substantial things to their children, as I do, but we are forbidden to do so. I hope this is made clear to them.
Dawn, I honestly do not believe that the gifts that sponsors send are seen as meager gifts, whether they are paper items in the mail or monetary gifts. I’m not sure how to explain except that from my experience of visiting several centers and talking with children, the letters are absolutely treasured, let alone any other gifts that you send. These gifts are cherished and kept in safe places in their homes. They may not be seen as much in our culture and our country but they are treasured and cherished there.
I called Compassion International tonight and talked to Heather. She understood me instantly and said immediately that the children are aware that we have limitations on what we can send to them, though they may not know all about the customs details etc. This is the answer I have been looking for. She also had a brilliant suggestion – that I can mention to my child that I want to send her more things but there are limitations! I am very happy with her suggestion and satisfied that I can explain that to my little girl myself. I had not thought of that. I understand, Susan, what you shared also, that the children do cherish even just letters.
I thought items had to be “flat.” I didn’t know such thick items, like calendars, could be sent.
Yes, we can send any paper items that are under 1/4″ thick. Feel free to send fun calendars, etc. to your kiddos. 🙂
We purchased a very small, thin book about Noah’s Ark in my child’s language (Spanish). It is definitely thinner than 1/4″. Will he be able to receive this if we send it? He is only four years old and I don’t think the things that are talked about on here would work for him since he is so young. We also have a very thin (again, less than 1/4 inch thick) coloring book. Will we have to separate the pages to send this or can it be sent in tact?
Hi Kristi! Regrettably, we have to tear the covers off of books so that they don’t look valuable (they could be stolen) when we are sending them in the mail. This is the only way to get them through. 🙁 Otherwise we’re able to send it if it is under the size limits. Small coloring books are typically fine to send. I’m sure he would love coloring pages to draw and color on!
Can you use 5×7 or 8×10 envelopes as long as they are not thicker than 1/4 inch thick? That would open up a lot of possibilities! I’m still new at this, & just want to do it right! Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! c.
Hi Cora! You are welcome to use whatever size envelope you would like. Just make sure that the inside contents are under the size limits of 8 1/2″ x 11″ and 1/4″ thick. Happy letter writing! 🙂
Hello! I have printed out a paper doll and am working on laminating her so that if she gets wet, she won’t be ruined. Is it okay to send a laminated paper doll?
Also, I have made a special envelope out of scrapbook paper so that my sponsored little girl will have something to put her paper doll clothes inside. I’m going to attach a small Velcro circle to the flap so that she can open and close the envelope. Is that acceptable? I don’t want something as small as a piece of Velcro to keep my doll clothes envelope from being sent because it took a lot of time to make. The envelope will be enclosed in the envelope that we send to compassion with her name and number on it. Thanks! 🙂
Angela, I’m happy to report that the Velcro circles will go through the mail just fine. 🙂
Hi Angela! You are more than welcome to send a laminated paper doll to your sponsored child. That sounds super fun!
As far as the Velcro circle, I’m checking into whether that will go through. Hold tight and I’ll let you know very soon what I find out. 🙂
Thank you Kurt Bees for sharing all that. I really enjoy writing letters to my child, as I have no children of my own. Writing her is helpful to me as much as it is helpful to her. It is wonderful to have a child to care for.
I’ve talked with hundreds of kids about their sponsor. I’ve also helped many children write letters to their sponsors, which was especially fun when I knew the sponsor.
The children know about their sponsor when their sponsor writes them. If the sponsor doesn’t write them, then all they know is the name of the sponsor, and at times they forget those, because they would only write that name when they write their program letters twice a year and the name is conveniently written on top of the paper.
So, if the sponsor never writes to them, the children feel like they are writing a letter to some “identity” at times. They don’t know if the sponsor is a man or a woman, if the sponsor is 18 years old or 80 years old. This is especially true when the sponsor is a non writing sponsor from Korea and then they have absolutely no idea who this sponsor is.
Many times the teenagers look up their sponsor on Facebook, even though they are not supposed to be doing that; they still look at what is posted on their pages and then they might have an idea who their sponsor is. So, be careful what you post on Facebook, they might be influenced by it. All the teenagers almost have Facebook, because they have internet access free at their schools. Pray for this for them that they won’t fall into temptation on the internet. Oh, and it is best not to accept their friendship requests if they send them to you….
I was glad to hear that our child now knows about us! I have written to her twice, & usually just send stickers & a couple of pictures, but this gave me some wonderful ideas!!! Thanks to
all the Compassion workers who make it possible for all this to happen for our children we sponsor! So glad to connect with others who do this! I know I am just so blessed to be able to do this!!!!
Do the children have access to crayons to color pages sent to them?
Hi Tina! Each of the student centers have writing and coloring materials for each of the children to use. You are more than welcome to send coloring pages and they will have markers or crayons to color them with.
What type of envelope can we use to ship larger items?
Hi Amanda! You can actually use whatever envelope you would like to send paper items to your child. The size limits apply to the items themselves and not necessarily the envelope.
That is good to know. Thanks!
I laminated some of the beautiful leaves we had from fall and sent them since they don’t have seasons in Togo.
I love these ideas. The hands are really precious. Once I used a really large round paper punch to make little pages out of scrapbook paper. Then I stamped verses on each page, punched holes in the top, and fastened them together with a ribbon (or maybe it was one of those round binder clips–can’t remember.)
I was reading about sending ribbons in the mail so I was wondering if you can send those simple ribbon hair bands that have a knot in them?
We can send very small amounts of string (like the amount you might use to tie together a booklet for your child). Regrettably, we would not be able to send a ribbon hair band.
I’m not sure if this would work, but I’ll ask–would a small (say, 2″x5″ or less) cloth bookmark cross-stitched with a child’s name on it work with customs, or would it create a problem?
Hi Paula! Regrettably, we can’t send any cloth items.
I have a wonderful friend and fellow Compassion sponsor who does a blog with wonderful things to print or make for our kids. If you subscribe to her blog, every now and then she will e-mail you a link for a free printable download of something wonderful to send to your sponsored child! This blog is awesome! Check it out!! http://papergiftsforestefany.wordpress.com/author/etbc33/
Thanks Kathy! 🙂 This is the better link:
http://papergiftsforestefany.wordpress.com/
Thanks for all the great ideas. I have a new sponsor child who is 6 and I was looking for things other than just letters.
We recently learned of a famous soccer player from Togo that our young lady wished to meet–so we went to Ebay, purchased some trading cards of him, and are sending those in our next letter to our beautiful girl!
What a great idea! I’m loving your creativity and thoughtfulness with this one!
I recently sponsored an 18 year old boy from Eithiopia. What do you send a n older child?
Patrice, I like to send greeting cards, photos, scripture cards, calendars, etc. to my 18 year old girl from Tanzania. I think the important thing with teens is lots of encouragement. They’re going through a particularly challenging time. Thanks so much for blessing an older child!
I recently sent a couple of books that we got at Chick-fil-A in a kids meal. I did take the staples out, since I wasn’t sure about them, and put thread through the holes and tied it together. I’ve also sent some hidden picture pages and mazes before. Thanks for all the great ideas!
For larger items that still meet the size requirements, what type of envelope is recommended to use in mailing such items?
What about sending a puzzle piece (or a couple at a time), each one being able to connect to a previously sent piece? Then they could “do” the puzzle themselves, and would look forward to receiving the next piece in your next letter!
I sent a deck of cards that way. They were matching/animal cards, sent them ten each in four different letters. I guess they were ok, I never heard anything otherwise
I tried that and they sent it back saying it wasn’t acceptable. That was a couple of months ago, maybe the policy has changed?
I’m sorry that we weren’t able send what you had sent. What did you try to send?
I too need to know about sparkles & gems (as on cards or stickers), & should you take the sticker sheets out of its plastic covering? Are magnetic bookmarks ok? I figured not, but if you can send singing cards, I’m thinking maybe?
Does anyone know where I might purchase children’s books written in Oromiffa?
umm…i’ve heard a couple different things. is it okay to send puzzles? i have one that i would be sending in two different envelopes cause its big but it is made of cardboard and under the 1/4 inch thick requirement. it does have sparkles on it if that makes a diference. so can i send it?
yes, you can send puzzles as long as you tape or glue together & put in a baggie so they don’t come apart in the mail. I used tac tape & it works because the puzzle is laminated on the front. It doesn’t mention glitter so I’m asking that too, for future reference.
& of course 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller
Ok new thought … Is there a way to email music to someone who is there and have them burn a cd to give to my kids?
Even if they could (not sure they can or can’t) I don’t think the kids would be able to listen to the cd. not so sure how common cd players are. by the way if you want to help out your child you can send extra money and that goes directly to the family and gets them extra school supplies and food and other stuff they may need. it’s good to see your caring heart. im only 17, so not everything i say may be right, but it may be helpful. the important thing is you keep sending letters and encourage their faith in God. that’s the best gift you can give them
You’re right Samantha. 🙂 You can send extra money as a “Family Gift” and the local staff will work with the family to purchase whatever they need most. You will then get a letter from your child (in about six months) telling what what was purchased with your gift. Anything from food to tools to a goat and beyond!
This just completely burst my bubble… 🙁 I was hoping to send my kids things like soccer balls and CDs and books for them and their siblings and care pkgs. for the whole families… Is there any way to get stuff like that sent to them?
Dear Sir, I have sent funds to have Bismark receive a soccer ball. Has he been able to receive the soccer ball as he plays soccer? If this is not possible how can I send Bismark a soccer ball? William Y Lee 3310157-4 Bismark Dadzie GH-938-0186
William, That is so incredibly thoughtful of you that you’re wanting to get Bismark a soccer ball! Thank you for your generosity! If you would like to send funds specifically for a soccer ball please write this in the “Special Instructions” box during checkout on our website. You will receive a thank you letter letting you know what Bismark was able to purchase within six months of when the gift was sent. Regrettably, due to customs limitations we are not able to send anything other than paper items in the mail to the children. You are welcome to deliver a soccer ball if you ever visit Bismark’s country though!
I sent my kid a woven paper heart. I’m not very crafty but it was easy. Here is the link – http://gingerbreadsnowflakes.com/node/28
I glued a picture of me and one of her onto the heart so that she can always see how God holds both of us in His heart.
cool, I will use some of these ideas, I just got started about 2 days ago, and I am soooo excited to sponsor a child!
Thank you Suzanne and Compassion for the endless ideas and support so that we may continue to minister and support our sponsor children through small gifts and letters with words of encouragement and love.
Those are great ideas. I think the best thing that you can send is photos of you and your family…. That’s what they want to see….. They love you!!!
I get together with a group of ladies to write letters each month to our kids. Everyone is so creative and here are some ideas from our group:
1. Puzzles: We buy 24/50/100-piece cardboard puzzles, put them together, use Press and Seal on the front and back so they won’t come apart in the mail, and put them in a manila envelope. If they are too big for the envelope, we’ll split them in two and put them in two envelopes.
2. Magic Color Scratch Shapes: You can buy these at Oriental Trading Company or Hobby Lobby in all kinds of shapes. We tell our kids to get a stick or rock to make their designs.
3. Origami kits: most of these come with picture instructions so our kids can follow along and make them. Or we send origami that we have made.
4. Fun Notepads (1/4″ thick)
5. Blank Notecards: so they can give them to their friends
6. Paper folders with animals or sports on them (like you’d take to school)
7. Paper dolls (each month we’ll send them different clothes)
8. Postcards of where we have been or where we live
9. Snowflakes (we live in Colorado, so these are fun to send when we talk about getting snow).
10. Stickers that we print with their names on them (so they can use them for notebooks, etc.).
11. Baseball cards
12. Blank scrapbook paper so they can make their own crafts
Hope these ideas help!
Will most of these work for a 13-14 year old as well?
Hi Stephanie! Absolutely, teens love post cards, baseball cards, scrapbook paper, etc. You might be interested in checking out our Pinterest board that we created specifically for letter ideas for teenagers! I’m hoping you’ll find some great ideas to use :).
thank you so much for the link! I am definitely going to be doing these
Hi Tracy, Just curious as to where you have found origami kits? We have 2 girls I would love to send them to but have not been able to find them at the craft stores. Thanks! Debbie
Are paper dolls now accepted for Rwanda? I sent several paper doll books about 1 1/2 yrs ago and they told me they could not ship. I was so disappointed, they said the books were given to a local needy child. So what type of paper dolls did you send? Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth! We can send paper dolls. If the paper dolls are in a book, the book must be under a 1/4″ thick and no more than 8 1/2″ by 11.” The guidelines and what can and can’t be sent sometimes changes so feel free to check this list if you are ever in doubt: https://www.compassion.com/letter-writing/tips-for-mailing-small-gifts.htm -Susan
I used the picture that Compassion provides and had a caricature drawn of my sponsored child playing soccer (his favorite sport) with his country’s flag in the background.
My 3 kids like to think of creative things to send. Often we have sent their drawings, but they also thought of sending paper snowflakes and paper airplanes.
Are there further restrictions to Haiti or would all of these ideas work for paper products, staples and the like to that country?
Hi Donna! All of these guidelines are the same in Haiti.Thanks for asking! -Susan
Thanks so much for these great ideas.
I have sent my sponsored child a bookmark with a Bible verse in her language, I was able to get the verse online and bought the bookmark with her name and the verse on it. I also like to send stickers and colour in pages.
Thanks again for the inspiration
I love this idea- I am totally going to be looking for a bookmark for my child in her language now with her name on it!
I didn’t realize we could send thick items like calendars! Are there any size limitations?
Hi Tammy! Yes, there are size limitations. All items need to be no more than 1/4 inch thick and no more an 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches but many small calendars fit these limitations. -Susan
I just found what I was looking for – this has come from the/a U.S. office of Compassion. I think rules & suggestions from the Australian Office may differ!
I was very surprised to read this article. Has it come from the Australian office? We’ve been told that extra items have to be flat & not thick; book marks shouldn’t have tassels; stickers shouldn’t be embossed etc; items need to pass through customs as “stationary” so only flat stickers, flat greeting cards, flat pictures, post cards & photos are suitable. Some of these suggestions don’t fit into those categories! Please advise & clarify. Thanks 🙂
These are awesome ideas! I’ve been hesitant to send other stuff, worried that it wouldn’t be approved or would make extra work, so it’s great to know these are all fine. We will definitely be making the pocket book. We once made small boxes from greeting cards at an orphanage in Mexico. The kids were so thrilled to have a place to keep little treasures they’d been storing in a crack or corner. These pocket books would be a great place to keep pictures and letters.
I think the hand is a great idea, especially if you have a big hand. A friend of mine played JAWS in the Bond films and he gives his autograph that way. He traces his big hand on a sheet of paper.
Whenever I go to the centers, the kids always want to put their hand against mine and enjoy how much bigger it is. I’m 6.5
One of my kids especially loves pictures of my pets! I always send pictures of my dog and guinea pigs to him and love making collages with the pictures and including anecdotes about them!
Is the thread/string in that star garland allowed? I LOVE IT but want to make sure it’s OK?
A paper garland that fits the size guidelines (8 1/2″ x 11″ x 1/4″) but is tied together with string or ribbon is fine. We will also send small pieces of ribbon. It’s just large quantities of ribbon that we can’t send. Our goal in these guidelines is that the country office in each country won’t have to pay customs taxes on an item. If an item could be considered saleable, they could charge customs on it, usually more than what the item is worth. We want to be as economical with the sending of these items as possible so that more of the money we are stewards of can go to helping children in poverty. -Susan
I sponser a 7 year old and would like to send her a book. It fits the measurement guidelines. In your comment above you mention being saleable. Would this fall in that catigory? Nancy
So if I cut two pieces of a simple ribbon that my sponsored girl can use to tie back her hair in pigtails, is that okay? They would only be about 9 inches long.
Hi Steph! As long as the ribbon is in small quantities, it is fine. If we are unable to send an item, we will email you to notify you. -Susan
Hi Susan, my question was going to be, if we send items and they are not able to be shipped to our child, how do we know? Do you always email if an item or items are not able to be sent? Thanks
Hi Kelly! Yes, we will always email you if we are not able to forward items that you had sent to your sponsored child.
I have inserted pictures onto the letter which I have saved online in format to match the letter forms that come with childrens letters. I also send post cards, photos, pages from coloring and activity books, bookmarks, scripture cards, etc.
I designed a Bible verses “cootie-catcher” that anyone can download, print, fold, and send: http://familiar-little-frog.blogspot.com/2012/12/things-to-send-sponsored-children-bible.html
I loved these things as a child and I think they are still enjoyed by all children! Thank you so much for an incredible idea!
I have traced my hand, colored it in all kinds of colors, put my picture on the page too and said, “I think of you as I pray each day!”
I thought we couldn’t use staples or any kind of metal fasteners in letters…?
Just to review we are still not able to metal items such as a metal book mark or metal ornament. However, staples on paper items are fine. -Susan
According to our Child Correspondence team, you may use staples to fasten your letters together. Thanks for checking! -Susan
How fun seeing my daughter’s picture on the blog! We have received two of the traced hands back from our sponsored kids so far. We were so excited when we found them in our letters!
I also did the traced hand (only 3 months ago). I’ve already received one back (9 more to go hopefully!). It was a fun idea.
I love the paper garland and “I love You” hands! Super cute. What material can we use to connect those paper stars together? I recently made and sent paper dolls and really cute drawing tutorial booklets covered with nice scrapbook paper: http://www.printabletreats.com/child-sponsorship-gift-ideas/ – The drawing tutorial booklets are really easy to put together and you can make them into small journals too.
THANKS for that link!!! I can’t wait to make these for my little girls in Ethiopia, Ecuador and Indonesia!
I’ve done the “I love you this much” hand craft before. It was so fun!