This Christmas, young patients at Queensland Children’s Hospital have been hard at work with an important job – testing out some of the year’s best toys to help the Children’s Hospital Foundation fill our annual Christmas Toy Drive..
Thanks to a generous donation from BIG W, our four young toy testers – Mason (10), Sienna (4.5), Isabella (13) and Austen (7) – rolled up their sleeves and set off, sharing their thoughts on which toys will bring the biggest smiles to sick kids across Queensland this festive season.
Meet the toy testers and their picks
Sienna’s Pick: Bluey Ice Cream Shop & Farmers Market Playset
“It’s an ice cream shop, and Bingo is in charge! The colours are pink, chocolate, blue and yellow, and I LOVE Bluey. The stickers are amazing and I can’t wait to decorate it and play. It’s SO FUN, other kids would love it too.”
Her rating? “10 hundred stars out of 5!”
Austen’s Pick: Pop-up Super Mario Game
“This game is like my pop-up pirate game, but with Mario! You take turns putting pieces into the pipe until Mario pops out. I won all three times when I played. It was super easy and fun. I give this game 10,000 points!”
Mason’s Pick: LEGO Creator 3-in-1 White Rabbit
“I built the bird instead of the rabbit because I love birds. It took me about an hour and the instructions were easy to follow. It’s perfect for passing the time in hospital.”
“I think other kids would really enjoy this set because it’s easy to build on my own and didn’t hurt my hands. I give this set 4 out of 5 stars.”
Isabella’s Pick: Moochy Rainbow Message Bracelets Kit
“This bracelet-making kit is definitely for young kids. “I think it would be fun for kids who like crafts, but as a 13-year-old, it’s not really for me.”
Isabella rated it 2 out of 5 stars for her age, but gave it points for being colourful and creative.
Bring Christmas cheer to kids in hospital
Want to make the holidays brighter for kids spending the festive season in hospital? Here’s how you can support the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Toy Drive:
- Donate a toy: Choose a toy from BIG W – like the ones tested by Sienna, Austen, Mason and Isabella – and drop it off at the Queensland Children’s Hospital between Monday 16 December and Monday 23 December (excluding weekends)
- Shop our Amazon Wishlist: Pick a gift online through our Amazon Wishlist to have it delivered straight to the hospital.
- Make a donation: Visit childrens.org.au/christmas to donate and support programs that bring comfort and joy to sick kids during the festive season.
Toy drop-off details:
- When: 16 – 23 December, Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 3.30pm
- Where: Queensland Children’s Hospital Patient Drop-off Zone, Raymond Terrace
- What: Brand new, unwrapped toys. Please note, for safety, we can’t accept second-hand toys, toys with button batteries, sharp edges or latex materials.
This holiday season, help us sprinkle a little magic and joy for Queensland’s sickest and most critically injured kids. With your support, we can make Christmas unforgettable.
The difference that shapes their world
Through supporting the Children’s Hospital Foundation, you can improve childhoods and ensure all children and young people have access to treatment - sooner.
