ST Piran’s Playschool in Delabole has been teaching its children about the joy of giving at Christmastime with ‘Santa’s Secret Shop’.
The team at St Piran’s ran their annual tradition of Santa’s Secret Shop, which enables the children to ‘shop’ and choose special gifts for their family members, to teach the youngsters that Christmas is not all about receiving.
St Piran’s children have been ‘buying’ gifts that they think their family members would love this Christmas.
Parents and carers were sent a letter previously, outlining the initiative, which has become an annual tradition at the playschool.
It reads: “This is a lovely activity for the children where we teach that Christmas is about giving as well as receiving. We set up a gift shop with presents of all kinds and your child can choose presents for you and your family. You will need to send a list with names and ages, e.g. Max age five or Nanny 54 with the money (£2 for each present) on your chosen day.
“Your child will choose and wrap your gifts to take home and place under the tree as a wonderful surprise for you and your family. We will try to guide your child in the right direction for suitable gifts but some children know their own minds and are determined to buy you the gift they think you will love — so please be happy on Christmas Day, you know you always wanted that Barbie doll with sparkly shoes!”
Playschool manager, Kasey Smeeth, said: “It’s a yearly tradition at St Piran’s Playschool. The children, with the help of our dedicated committee members, enter our Santa’s Secret Shop where they can choose presents for loved ones.
“The main reason for this is to support the idea that Christmas is a time for giving, as well as receiving.
“Many mums and dads don’t have the time to be able to take children shopping individually. They love to choose the gift, the wrapping paper and help to write the labels. The children very often have a good idea of what their parents or siblings may like.
“My two-year-old got it spot on last year, getting nanny a bright red lipstick which she loved. One dad received a superhero cape one year, very fitting for a firefighter.”