The Ultimate Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas List

The official OCC gift suggestions list is a great starting point. But great shoeboxes go beyond the basics. This post takes every category from Samaritan's Purse's official recommendations and expands them with ideas from experienced OCC packers — so you can pack a box that's not just full, but memorable.

Make it FUN, FULL, and PERSONALIZED. That's OCC's own standard. Here's how to hit all three.

Last updated: July 2026

📦 Box Dimensions (So You Know What Fits)

• Cardboard box: 12 x 7 x 4.38 inches
• Plastic box: 13 x 7.5 x 4.7 inches

Order preprinted boxes at samaritanspurse.org/occ or use any shoebox from your closet. Photo storage boxes (from Michaels or craft stores) also work great — colorful and reusable.

⭐ The WOW Gift — Start Here

The WOW gift is the anchor. It's the first thing the child pulls out and the one they'll remember. Every great shoebox needs one.

👧 WOW ideas for girls:

• Shoebox Jesus Doll
• Small backpack or purse
• Doll or stuffed animal
• Jewelry making kit
• Hobby kit
• Musical instrument (tambourine, maracas, recorder)
• Kite (foldable)
• Deflated soccer ball or volleyball with pump

👦 WOW ideas for boys:

• Shoebox Jesus Doll
• Small backpack
• Deflated soccer ball, football, basketball, or kickball with pump
• Baseball and glove
• Large toy truck or car
• Stuffed animal
• Musical instrument (harmonica, recorder)
• Kite (foldable)
• Binoculars
• Multi-tool or tool set (ages 10–14)

The best WOW gift for any box — boys or girls, any age: the Shoebox Jesus Doll.

It's a 10-inch plush Jesus designed specifically for OCC. Fits perfectly in any OCC box with room for other goodies. Perfect for boys or girls at any age. No batteries, no language barrier, no small parts. Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan's Purse, said: "These are great and the children will love them." It's Jesus — isn't that the whole point?

Put your WOW gift in first. Build the rest of the box around it.

🎮 Games & Activities

From OCC's official list:

• Puzzles
• Coloring books or pads
• Learn to draw books
• Puzzle books
• Dry watercolor set
• Binoculars and compass
• Musical instruments
• Chalkboard and chalk
• Jump rope
• Stickers
• Games

Additional ideas:

• Hacky sack
• Jacks set
• Marbles with bag and instructions
• Yo-yo
• Slinky
• Card games (Go Fish, War, Uno — universal and language-independent)
• Small domino set with instructions
• Origami paper with instruction sheet
• Seek-and-find or activity book
• Connect Four travel size
• Friendship bracelet kit
• String for cat's cradle (kids everywhere know this game)
• Frisbee (especially foldable Frisbees)
• Checkers with instructions
• Tic-tac-toe game
• Matching game
• Pick-up sticks game
• Rubik's cube
• Ping pong paddles and balls
• Foam airplane / paper airplane kit
• Balloons
• Wrist bells / bell bracelets
• Dancing ribbon / fairy wand
• Colorforms
• Glow sticks
• Spin top
• Whistle
• Music box
• Picture book (limited words, heavy on pictures — great for learning English)

🧸 Toys

👧 For girls:

• Small ball
• Building blocks or LEGO sets with carrying case
• Plastic animals
• Finger puppets
• Magnets
• Interactive toys
• Slinky or yo-yo
• Barbies or other fashion dolls
• Doll clothes, blanket, or sleeping bag
• Fairy wings, wigs, or costume items
• Fairy wand / tiara / fabric crown / tulle skirt
• Cape
• Pom poms (cheerleader style)
• Little People (ages 2–4)
• Plastic play food
• Rubber ducky

👦 For boys:

• Small ball
• Toy cars, trucks, and motorcycles
• Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars
• Play mat for cars
• Building blocks or LEGO sets with carrying case
• Plastic animals / dinosaurs
• Action figures
• Magnets
• Interactive toys
• Slinky or yo-yo
• Nerf guns (non-realistic only)
• Squirt guns (non-realistic only)
• Little People (ages 2–4)
• Rubber ducky

Additional ideas for any box:

• Rubber bouncy ball
• Small bouncy balls (age-appropriate)
• Inflatable beach ball
• Inflatable globe ball
• Mini Etch A Sketch
• Spinning top
• Soft foam ball
• Small wind-up toy
• Parachute man
• Mini puzzle cube / Rubik's cube
• Finger puppets / hand puppets
• Play-Doh with plastic cookie cutters (non-liquid)
• Fidget toys / fidget spinners
• Temporary tattoos / nail stickers
• Nail jewels
• Silly Putty
• Electronic doodle pad

Important for toys: Simple universal toys perform best — jacks, balls, cars, playing cards, marbles. Children may not know what to do with puzzles or complex LEGO kits. Avoid toy soldiers — many OCC recipients live in conflict areas. Don't send white stuffed animals — they get dirty fast.

✏️ School Supplies

Kids in OCC recipient countries take school seriously and supplies are often scarce. This category is universally appreciated — and many children cannot attend school without having their own supplies.

From OCC's official list:

• Pencils, sharpener, and erasers
• Pencil container or pencil case
• Pens (including novelty pens)
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Markers
• Highlighters
• Notebooks
• Composition books
• Notepads
• Index cards
• Loose leaf notebook paper (wide or college ruled)
• Craft paper
• Calculator (solar powered preferred)
• Scissors (age appropriate)
• Ruler (with metric measurements)
• Glue stick (NO liquid glue)
• Small adhesive tape
• Backpack or drawstring bag

Additional ideas:

• Mechanical pencil
• Sticky notes / Post-It notes
• Compass (for geometry)
• Protractor
• Sticker sheets (kids decorate notebooks with these)
• Pencil toppers
• Small dictionary (bilingual)
• Mini stapler with staples
• Correction tape
• Pencil grip (great for younger kids)
• Dry erase board and marker
• Paper clips / binder clips
• Grid paper
• Journal with lock (great for girls 10–14)

Pro tip: Pack more pencils than you think. Six to ten is not too many. Pencils break, get borrowed, and get lost. A full supply is genuinely useful. Remove items from bulky packaging to fit more in the box.

🎨 Craft Kits & Art Supplies

A full category worth dedicating space to. Keep kits self-contained — include all supplies needed. Do not assume the child can find any additional materials locally. Look for instruction sheets with images rather than English text.

• Friendship bracelet kit
• Bead jewelry kit
• Paracord bracelet kit
• Knot tying kit
• Wood craft kit
• Embroidery kit with instructions
• Sewing kit (pill bottle sewing kit works great)
• Knitting kit
• Crochet kit
• Sewing patterns with all necessary supplies
• Lacing cards (great for ages 2–4)
• Watercolor set (dry only — no liquid paint)
• Art kit (paper, brushes, dry paint sets)
• Oil pastels
• Sketch pad
• Ink stampers and ink pad
• Grid paper
• Crafting supplies (felt, ribbon, elastic, needles, embroidery floss, bright colored thread — thread is hard to find in many countries)
• Any self-contained craft kit without liquid paint or glue

🔦 Useful Items

Practical items that go beyond hygiene. These are especially appreciated in under-resourced communities and consistently called out by OCC missionaries as among the most impactful items.

• Flashlight — solar or crank-powered strongly preferred; if battery-powered, include extra batteries. Flashlights with batteries are described as "gold" by field workers
• Small camping lantern (solar powered)
• Water bottle — described as "gold" by field missionaries; collapsible bottles save space
• Tools — hammer, screwdriver, wrench, or pliers (ages 10–14)
• Multi-tool (check OCC current guidelines for age group)
• Small fishing kit with hooks, line, and corks
• Small expandable fishing pole
• Umbrella
• Hammock
• Measuring tape — confirmed as highly valued by field workers
• Eating utensils and case — plates, bowls, and cups are genuinely needed; pack items inside the cup/bowl to save space
• Plastic plate, bowl, and cup
• Plastic zip-top bags (reusable — great for organizing the rest of the box AND for the child to reuse)
• Garden kit (small shovel, trowel, gloves — NO seeds)
• Baking kit (measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula, collapsible mixing bowl, small baking pan, apron, chef's hat)
• Compass
• Paracord
• Carabiners
• Zip ties
• Bungee cords
• Duct tape (especially in fun colors and prints)
• Work gloves
• Safety pins
• Magnets
• Jewelry box or jewelry pouch

🧴 Personal Care Items

From OCC's official list:

• Toothbrush (put in a plastic bag or use a cap; send extras for the family)
• Washcloth (note: many recipients don't use washcloths — include a note showing how to use it)
• Comb (wide-toothed comb is best) and brush
• Nail clipper and file / full nail kit
• Water bottle
• Flashlight

Additional ideas:

• Dental floss
• Bandana (versatile — worn, used as washcloth, used to carry things)
• Small mirror (non-breakable, no glass)
• Cotton swabs (in a sealed bag)
• Deodorant stick (ages 10–14; stick only, not spray)
• Hair ties and clips (girls)
• Headband
• Soap dish
• Small hand towel
• Towel tablets (expand with water — compact and practical)
• Lip balm (non-medicated only — medicated is now prohibited)
• Band-aids (non-medicated only)
• First aid kit (non-medicated items only)
• Feminine hygiene kit with reusable pads and carrying case (girls 10–14 — field workers call this one of the most impactful items you can pack)
• Bath sponge
• Wet wipes (small pack)
• Travel pack of tissues
• Makeup (non-liquid only — powder blush, face powder, or eye shadow for girls 10–14)

Important: Bar soap is now on the prohibited list for 2026 due to customs regulations. No liquid soap, lotion, or toothpaste either. Medicated lip balm and medicated Band-Aids are also now prohibited. Always check OCC's current guidelines at samaritanspurse.org before packing.

👗 Clothing & Accessories

When purchasing clothing, buy for the oldest age in the range. For ages 2–4, buy 4T or 5T. Kids grow into items and can keep them longer.

👧 For girls:

• Flip-flops or sandals
• Black shoes (especially important for school)
• Crocs or adjustable-size shoes
• Sunglasses + sunglasses case
• Baseball hat / bucket hat / fleece hat
• Wristwatch (especially solar powered)
• Costume jewelry
• Clip-on or pierced earrings
• Necklace (especially cross necklace)
• Hair accessories (clips, ties, headbands, scrunchies, barrettes, hair bows)
• T-shirt / long sleeve shirt / sweatshirt / hoodie / jacket
• Dress / T-shirt dress / pillowcase dress
• Skirt with adjustable or elastic waist
• Sports bra
• Shorts / pants / jogging pants
• Underwear / socks / knee socks
• Reusable poncho
• Scarf / mittens or gloves / winter cap

👦 For boys:

• Flip-flops or sandals
• Black shoes (especially important for school)
• Crocs or adjustable-size shoes
• Sunglasses + sunglasses case
• Baseball cap / bucket hat / fleece hat / beanie
• Wristwatch (especially solar powered)
• Cross necklace (suede or leather cord)
• Stretch rubber bracelets / slap bracelets / pop fidget bracelets
• T-shirt / long sleeve shirt / sweatshirt / hoodie / jacket
• Shorts / pants / jogging pants
• Underwear / socks
• Reusable poncho
• Scarf / mittens or gloves
• Handkerchief

Additional accessories for any box:

• Colorful shoelaces
• Bandana
• Wallet (boys) / change purse or small tote bag (girls)
• Drawstring backpack
• Mardi Gras style bead necklaces
• Pins
• Jewelry pouch
• Leis / flower crowns
• Fun plastic straw

Sizing guide:

• Ages 2–4: Clothes 3T–5T / Shoes 8–12
• Ages 5–9: Clothes 6–10/12 / Shoes 1–5
• Ages 10–14: Clothes 10/12–18 / Shoes 4–10

✉️ Your Personal Note — Don't Skip This

A handwritten note may be the most powerful item in the box. Field workers report that children treasure letters and family photos more than almost anything else — hanging them on walls, carrying them in pockets, keeping them for years.

Write your name. Write your city. Tell the child you prayed for them specifically. Tell them Jesus loves them and so do you. Include a family photo.

A simple line that works for any age: "I packed this box for you because Jesus loves you — and I do too."

Extra ideas for personalizing your box:

• Include drawings by your own children of play and family activities
• Decorate the inside lid with stickers, artwork, postcards, calendar pages, or a Bible verse print — OCC allows this and kids love it
• Include Valentine's Day classroom cards (kids don't know the holiday but love the images and can practice English)
• You may include your email address in case the child is able to write back

Don't wrap the outside in gift wrap — every box is opened at the processing center.

❌ What NOT to Pack

These items will be removed at the processing center:

• Food, candy, or gum
• Toothpaste
• Bar soap (now prohibited as of 2025 due to customs)
• Liquid soap, lotion, or any liquids
• Medicated lip balm or medicated Band-Aids
• Nail polish or lip gloss / lip oil
• Used or damaged items
• Scary or war-related items
• Toy guns (even non-realistic), toy soldiers, or military figures
• Wearable traditional camouflage
• Seeds or organic matter (including anything that melts)
• Medication or vitamins
• Money
• Breakable items (snow globes, glass, balls with water inside)
• Matches, fire starters, or aerosols
• Knives, saws, or razor blades
• Liquid glue or liquid paint
• Standalone batteries (batteries packaged with an item may be reviewed)
• Play-Doh is not recommended — doesn't last long in hot climates
• Drink mixes (powdered or liquid)
• Anything with directions in English only — many recipients don't read English

When in doubt: Use OCC's item search tool at samaritanspurse.org/occ — type in any item and get an immediate GO or STOP response.

💡 Packing Tips From Experienced OCC Volunteers

• Remove packaging to fit more in the box. Remove puzzle pieces from the box, put them in a zip-top bag with a picture of the completed puzzle. Remove fashion dolls from plastic clamshells. Less packaging = more gifts.
• Pack items inside cups and bowls to save space.
• Buy after-holiday clearance. Easter and Valentine's Day items can be sent any time — kids in recipient countries don't know those holidays, but they love the toys, stickers, and colors. Stock up at 75% off.
• Shop back-to-school sales in August and September for the best prices on school supplies.
• Consider theme boxes. Sports theme, animal theme, color theme — many experienced packers choose a unifying theme and search for items all year.
• Use plastic zip-top bags to organize and protect items inside the box. The child gets to reuse the bags afterward.
• Put the label on top, offset from center — not on the end. The processing center needs to tape around the middle of the box.
• Where to shop cheap: Dollar Tree, Target Dollar Spot, Hobby Lobby, Amazon, Oriental Trading, WOW Supplies, Lion Wholesale, Western Star Wholesale. Thrift stores for new or like-new items only.

🏷️ Label and Ship

Attach the $10 shipping label to your box before drop-off. Order your label online — it comes with a tracking code so you can follow your box through OCC's Follow Your Box program.

Drop off during National Collection Week — the third week of November each year — at any of nearly 5,000 locations across the U.S. Find your nearest drop-off location here.

📋 Pack for a Specific Child — Age & Gender Guides

The lists above cover every box. For detailed guides by age and gender — what works for toddlers vs. teenagers, what makes each group unique, and specific WOW recommendations by age:

• How to Pack a Shoebox for Girls Age 2–4
• How to Pack a Shoebox for Boys Age 2–4
• How to Pack a Shoebox for Girls Age 5–9
• How to Pack a Shoebox for Boys Age 5–9
• How to Pack a Shoebox for Girls Age 10–14
• How to Pack a Shoebox for Boys Age 10–14

One Last Thing

A full box is a good gift. A box with Jesus in it is a mission.

The Shoebox Jesus Doll is $15 and ships fast. It's the one item in your box that points directly to the reason the whole program exists. Put Him in first.

Get the Shoebox Jesus Doll →

Download the official OCC Gift Suggestions PDF from Samaritan's Purse here.