In a few weeks I am going to visit some relatives in the USA to celebrate a family reunion. I wonder what I can

My children loved the kindereggs and gummy candy (Haribo) that my sister used to bring them. I think Kindereggs have changed since then, because the ones I brought to my grands last year did not have the intricate pieces to make fun things like the "old" ones did. Guess safety issues have changed them like Cracker Jacks prizes. They also like the stretchable bags I brought back. I think they may have been shopping bags, but my kids loved them because a soccer/football fit in them and they could carry them on the handlbars of their bicycle. Oh, and my daughter still has a rocking head doll dressed in native costume.

I enjoyed the chocolate the best, and chocolate coins were fun! She also brought me a Germany 2 zipper bag. that I used everyday, and happily reminds me of her.

Dear Ladies, thank you for all your cute suggestions! I will try to follow them: The children are aged 4 to 10 years - so it is a good idea to buy
some of our local sweets and find some "German" pencils and note books, add some of the coins (great suggestion which I wouldn't have thought of myself). Maybe I can also add some little toys made by
Playmobil which is a German company and put them in fabric bags with print ons of my home town and - if time allows - embroider some personal lettering on them. Main problem is that time flies so quickly and there is much more to prepare for the adults and my family left back home. I'll do pictures. Thank you so much - Maria

Personally, I was always fascinated with the coins. It's from Germany, it has a foreign language on it (to us), and it's shiney! :)

I vote for the ITH zippered pouches. Maybe with names or monograms..

I remember the fun my daughters had when we received small gifts from the German students who used to stay. Sweets from another country are always a big hit.

1 comment

by asterixsew 10 Jun 2015

Just remembered small notebooks pens or pencils were also enjoyed especially if there was something in German on them

Can you give us an idea of ages...It would help...Where in the USA are you coming to?

Some small trinkets that cannot be purchased in the USA would work for any child over 10 years. My favorite gifts from a grandmother that lived in another country were inexpensive items that could only be found in that country. I still have many of those gifts. They are priceless to me. I was younger than 10 when I started to receive them but children now may not have the same appreciation as my generation did. Asking the parents would be wise.

I haven't any ideas for you just wanted to wish you safe and happy journeys. Everyone will be so thrilled to see you, anything else you bring will just be frosting on the cake so to speak. :) Leaha

I remember my mother -in-law bringing me a coo coo clock from the Black Forrest from a trip to Germany and I dearly loved it. Sorry, I am of no help with the children. Kay

Pam has given you some excellent ideas I have no idea of the ages you are bringing to, but thought about tees with name from the area you live in or areas in Germany that they might like to visit one day/Lillian

Pam has some great ideas Maria. I think bringing German Candy will be a great thrill for them to enjoy. Kids all like sweets & nothing better then something new. Only trouble is if it is really yummy they will want more! Have a wonderful time!!!~hugs~

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by grossfamilie 10 Jun 2015

If they want more candy they can come over to visit us in
Germany too - some of the adults were already with us in the past years. So it will be fun seeing them again and meet the children too. It is in Milwaukee and Minnesota where I go to and our mutual ancestor left Germany in the
19th century but only 2009 the first of the US relatives found the way back.....

This idea is not along the lines of a classic gift from Germany, but I think that a small simple ITH zippered pouch with clip attachment on it would allow you to quickly make items that could be used by anyone of any age to carry anything from change to ear buds for their electronics. This would also allow you to use your fabric stash and embroidery designs that could allow customization if there are certain people you wanted to give something more personal or by adding their names to the little pouch but especially if you really do not know the children well, then a gift along this line would be something that could be used in so many ways it is sure to be appreciated for many years. I have recently seen the small rounds as a free ITH designs at several sites. You could also make the larger humbug bags that you could then fill with everything from small treats or small gifts or adding the small ITH pouch to the larger humbug and the packaging will then become another wonderful gift in itself. Hope you will enjoy your trip immensely. Pam