If you’ve been following this blog for a while you probably know that I’m not big on receiving or giving gifts. This is a personal preference as I feel I own far too much stuff already and I don’t like to buy gifts for the sake of it. I much prefer spending money on experiences or items I feel will be useful. However, when it comes to giving gifts to children, especially for birthdays and at Christmas, I do feel slightly differently. It’s easy enough these days to buy eco-friendly toys and gifts for children and that’s what I’ll be looking at today.
Check out How To Have An Eco-Friendly Christmas, or 10 Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas which are more appropriate for adults or older children.
Please note that some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase something I might receive a small amount of commission, at no extra cost to you, which helps toward the running costs of this website. I’m also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which enables me to earn money by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read more in my disclaimer.
Ideas For Eco-Friendly Toys & Gifts For Children
Small Gifts / Stocking Fillers
Small gifts and chocolates are perfect as stocking fillers. Make sure you also have eco-friendly stocking fillers and try to buy ones that can be reused year after year.
Plastic Free & Wooden Toys
I’m a big fan of wooden toys, they look and feel nicer than plastic ones and will probably last a lot longer too. For babies and younger children they make excellent eco-friendly toys and can often be educational at the same time. You can also get toys made from other sustainable materials such as paper or sugar cane waste. Try to avoid plastic toys as much as possible so your children can be environmentally aware from a young age.
Cuddly Toys
I still have some of the teddy toys I was given as a child and I know lots of other adults who still have an emotional attachment to their own teddy bears. With that in mind, you can never go wrong with a cuddly toy if you buy ones that are well made. But what makes a cuddly toy eco-friendly? It pretty much depends on the materials used and the filling.
Recycled Toys
Overall I’m not a fan of plastic at all, not even recycled plastic, however at least toys made from recycled plastic are preventing it from ending up in landfill. Recycled plastic toys also mean you do have more choice about what you can buy.
Clothes
Lots of children’s clothes seem to come with lots of glittery designs on them, but anything that has sequins or is made with any kind of plastic can release those plastics when they’re washed. There are loads of clothes available for all ages these days that are far more sustainable because they’re made from natural materials. The below are beautiful items that can be given to babies or young children.
Books
I loved reading as a child and these days there are so many great books for children which also have an eco-friendly or animal friendly message.
Check out this series of books by Ellie Jackson which are not only beautifully illustrated but are based on true events as well. Perfect for bedtime reading and teaching your kids, or grandkids, more about being aware of the world around them.
The following books are perfect for slightly older children who may be inspired to make a difference after reading them.
More fantastic books for the eco-conscious in your family.
Other Eco-Friendly Toys & Gifts
There are so many eco-friendly toys and gifts available for children that you’re pretty much spoiled for choice. You can buy plastic free bath sets, eco-friendly colouring pencils, wooden board games, inspirational books… Honestly I could go on and on. I hope this article has given you a little bit of inspiration for some eco-friendly toys and gifts that you could buy for the children in your life.
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Another way to approach Christmas is through EcoSanta. ‘Once his sack is empty, EcoSanta is asking children, worldwide, to help him fill it with rubbish the rest of the year as a Gift to the Earth.’ Ecologisers, the Young People’s International Anti-litter and Environmental Charity, has a ten year project to promote, publicise and popularise the concept of EcoSanta. (There’s no copyright on ideas!!)’
The young children’s book – a beautifully illustrated story ‘How Santa became EcoSanta’ is available on Amazon and also through the EcoSanta website. https://www.ecosanta.co.uk
The youngest generation is the one that needs that attitude-change towards caring for the Earth most of all.
In love and blessings for the Earth, Ann aka Gaia Dance