Operation Christmas Child: Pack a Boy's Box With a Trip to Dollar Tree

Recently I wrote about how this part of November was my favorite time of year -- packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! (Visit my earlier post for more information on this wonderful project!) 

In addition to the color-themed Operation Christmas Child boxes I finished for little girls, (ages 5-9), I wanted to use some of my remaining items to do two boy boxes. In years past, our family always filled shoeboxes for boys to represent our two boys' ages at the time. 

This year, packing for the girl and boy boxes can be much easier by the many items that are available at Dollar Tree. 

Here are my final boxes for ideas of what to put in a boy’s shoebox. While some of my items have been collected throughout the year from other retailers, I highlighted those items that can be found at Dollar Tree. 

Ideas for an Operation Christmas Child Boy Box, Ages 5-9

Boy Box for ages 5-9:

• T-shirt &
• Matching socks
• Backpack
• School supply box
• Spiral Notebook (there are many notepads available at Dollar Tree)
• Crayons
• Lego-type toy
• Small car toy
• Play-doh
• Light-up Ball
• Pencils
• Extra eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Bar of soap and washcloth
• Toothbrush
• Jingle bell necklace 
  
  

TIP:  So those little items wouldn’t get lost in the box, they were added to a snack-sized bag, and the washcloth and soap were packed in a sandwich-sized bag.

Ideas for an Operation Christmas Child boy box, ages 10-14

Boy’s Box for 10-14:

• T-shirt &
• Matching socks
• Backpack
• School supply box
• Small note pad (not shown)
• Markers
• Puzzle
• Small car toy
• Play-doh
• Football toy
• Pencils
• Extra eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Bar of soap and washcloth
• Toothbrush
• Jingle bell necklace
  
  

TIP: Add a toy on the top of all the other items so it is the first thing they see when they open their box! 

There are many choices of toys, school supplies, & hygiene items at the Dollar Tree to fill up a box. Take a shoebox with you to Dollar Tree to fill it full with some of these items! 

National Collection Week is November 15-22, so there is still time to make up a box and take it to one of the many drop-off locations!

If it has been some time since you have purchased items for kids, check out the many ideas on my Pinterest Board, or can refer to this list on the Operation Christmas Child website.

Unable to pack a shoebox yet still want to help? Build a shoebox online.   

If you have packed a shoebox in the past, what was a favorite item you included? What ideas can you think of to add to a little boy’s box?