Oxfam UK has launched their first ever children’s range of gifts, perfect timing for the festive season that will soon be upon us. This also ties in with recent research by a leading child expert, Jean Gross, that suggests the early learning of giving and thinking of others can help build character and general well being in children.
Jean Gross is a former teacher, principal educational psychologist and was Senior Director within the government’s Primary National Strategy. She has also written numerous best-selling texts, including ‘Psychology and Parenthood’, and has helped to develop the national programme to develop social and emotional skills in schools.
Jean said –
Encouraging empathy and compassion in children from a young age builds their core social and emotional awareness skills, which can not only reduce aggression, depression and anti-social behaviour but develop resilience, optimism and self-worth. These social and emotional skills – ‘Character’ – fall outside numeracy, literacy and academic abilities but are increasingly recognised to boost educational achievement throughout a child’s life. And looking ahead to their futures, more and more employers are actively looking for these skill sets.
The new Oxfam Unwrapped children’s’ range are a great way to understand the plight of other young people across the globe who are less fortunate than themselves. These charity gifts can help show the difficult circumstances millions of poverty stricken children are dealing with every day, and in turn help empower the recipient in the role they are playing in helping.
With up to 81% of parents thinking that Christmas has become more materialistic, a charity gift from Oxfam Unwrapped is an interesting and innovative present to give to a friend or loved one. Launched 6 years ago, this fantastic initiative has helped raise over £60m and helped transform the lives of people across the globe living in poverty.
Oxfam Unwrapped manager, Rick Lay, said –
We saw that parents were starting to buy gifts from our Oxfam Unwrapped charity range for their children as well so went about creating a range designed just for them. There are children living in poverty all over the world who benefit hugely from these gifts, something as simple as playtime can help teach them about health through games and songs, while desk and chair sets give them access to an education which can change their lives forever. Opening presents and stockings is a big part of Christmas day for kids so toys definitely have their place, but hopefully charity gifts can be part of the mix.
