It’s that time of the year again. Christmas! A magical season to enjoy with family and an opportunity to reflect on the year past. For some families, this may also be a stressful time of the year, especially when it comes to presents and their impact on the environment or home clutter. Did you know, according to estimates 15% of toys kids receive for Christmas are forgotten within days. Sometimes even the packaging is more interesting. One month later, this increases to 23% and 50% within 6 months. As children progress through each birthday, holiday, and other life events and milestones, they often accumulate a growing collection of toys. With the environment becoming an increasing pressing problem, parents can play an important role in being part of the solution. It just takes time to re assess our values and kickstart new habits. Here are 8 gift ideas to avoid contributing further to landfills and incinerators:
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Observe your child: Take some time to observe your child during the day and watch what they enjoy playing with. This reflection will help you select gifts they will truly be interested in, encouraging play and less waste. At least then you can reduce toys filling closets & bookshelves consistently.
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Select eco friendly materials: The material toys are made out of can play an important role in how these are disposed of. Toys made out of cardboard, wood or textile can be easily recycled or preserved as an heirloom for future generations. They can also be more easily maintained and re-sold as they are timeless. Some toy materials that are especially eco friendly include:
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Cardboard toys: Have you ever considered cardboard toys? A great material, it is versatile, open ended and readily available. It comes in many shapes and sizes, from flat pieces to tubes and boxes. You can draw on it, or personalize with other materials. And on the plus side, it promotes creativity and imagination.
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Wooden toys: Did you know some of the earliest toys where made of wood? This natural, calming and safe material has been inspiring generations imagination. They are perfect for creating new worlds, and following through children’s development. They are also perfect for different ages, being a perfect bridge toy for siblings. Also, being made from a good quality material means they can be passed on to other children.
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Textile toys: Textile toys are so versatile! Thrown over a chair or a table they can become a play house. Or over a baby doll a blanket. Or worn on the head they can be a hat. Also, by providing different textures it can foster further imagination and language development. And when your child is done with these, you can recycle or make into a new toy, like a teddy or pillow.
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Select gender neutral toys:
Did you know one of the most common reasons for unwanted gifts is gender stereotyping? Gone are the days when girls play in kitchens and boys with cars. And especially when it comes to sharing there is no need to feel confined to pink and blue. Some great gender neutral toys include: Lego, bikes, puzzles, puppets, art supplies, blocks, etc.. you get the idea.
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Battery free toys: Also referred to as a ‘Classic Toy’, these usually do not light up and makes lots of siren or music sounds, which experts usually call passive play. With these old fashioned toys, kids can create their own game and imagination providing infinite versatility and fun.
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Playsuit: You might be wondering, but wait, what is this item doing on the list? A playsuit might be less interesting for the child, but great for the parent. It encourages children to play outside (even in colder weather) and get messy in the sand and earth. It encourages clothes to stay clean and less washing.
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Gift second hand toys: When shopping for children’s gifts, one of the first places many parents turn to is Amazon or another online shop. However, have you every thought about giving a second hand toy? There are many apps and websites where you can find lovely second hand toys that look practically new. And when you are done with them, you can pass them on to another family. A gift for you and the earth.
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Experiences as gifts: A gift for both parent and child. Giving an experience as part of the gift definitely reduces clutter at home and can be a fun outing for the whole family. Perhaps this could be a membership card to a fun outing, like the zoo, play center, cinema… this is a flexible present to match your child’s interest. And best of all, they get to enjoy it with you.
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Art supplies: Last but not least, another classic in many family homes are art supplies. Perfect to encourage their creativity and endless hours of fun. These can range from drawing and painting materials such as paints, watercolors, crayons to different types of scissors (zig zag anyone?), glue, glitter (oh dear!), pompoms or fabric swatches. The list is endless. Just make sure to set yourself up with some good storage for these items and some clothe coverings.
These are just some fun ideas of special gifts that can be both meaningful and environmentally friendly – contributing to raising eco-conscious children. Which one is your favourite?
