Glasgow nursery children to deliver Christmas gifts to sick kids' hospital

Children at Little Stars Nursery came up with the heartwarming idea all by themselves, much to the surprise of nursery staff, and plan to hand gifts in themselves at The Royal Hospital for Children in QEUH later in December.

Melissa, who works at the nursery, said: “We were amazed! You would think that kids around that age would be coming up with their own lists for Santa but when one said that they’d like to give presents to little girls and boys in the hospital, they all got really excited!

“It’s so heartwarming and a credit to the kids that they came up with this themselves.”

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The nursery will be hosting a ‘curry karaoke’ this week for parents, family and friends and money raised from the night will go towards a shopping trip that the children will take themselves to buy presents for kids in the hospital.

Satpal, cook at the nursery and caterer for the event, said: “We’re doing the curry karaoke to raise money and with that money we’ll be taking the kids out shopping so that they can choose the presents they’ll give to the children in hospital.

“They are so excited, they are wanting to buy them book, trains, aeroplanes, and one child even wants to get them a doctor’s set to help them get better.”

Melissa has said that since it was the children’s idea for buy presents for the hospital, they wanted the kids to be involved in every part of the event.

“We’ll be taking them shopping in wee groups so that everyone can get out and pick a present for someone in the hospital. 

“We wanted to make sure that everyone in the nursery was involved, regardless of religion. We do have some children that don’t celebrate Christmas so giving presents instead of receiving means everyone gets to be part of it.”

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Anaya and Anna, both aged 4, are looking forward to visiting the children at the hospital to hand over the presents they buy for them.

Anaya, who wants to buy the boys and girls some toys and makeup, said: “My mummy works at the hospital and she gives me sweeties so I can give some sweeties to the boys and girls too.”

Anna said she wanted to give the children some unicorn plasters “to make them get better” and was looking forward to dressing up to go to the hospital.

She added: “I have three Christmas jumpers. One has a poodle on it and I have another one that has a reindeer on it and the lights flash, I want to show them my jumper!”

Melissa said that the trip to the hospital is the only thing the children have been talking about for weeks, as well as the parents commenting on how excited the kids are too.

“It really is a credit to not only the staff in the nursery, but their parents and guardians too. To have kids as young as 4 come up with this idea, it’s amazing!

“All you hear about is doom and gloom so to hear something like this and at this time of year, it’s really touching. I couldn’t imagine doing that at four-years-old”

The nursery staff have had such a good reception from staff, parents, and the kids themselves that they’re already planning next year.

Satpal said: “I think we’ll definitely be doing it again next year, I think it’s important to teach kids to be compassionate so we’ll hopefully keep this going each year.”