How Eco-Friendly Gifts Can Make an Impact
As parents, it’s important to start teaching kids how to live sustainably from a young age. The sooner you begin this process, the more likely they will carry these sustainability lessons with them throughout the rest of their lives. However, the thought of introducing little ones to such a grown-up concept can be intimidating. Where do you start? How can you catch—and hold—their attention as you discuss the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling?
That’s where eco-friendly gifts come in. Not only do they help build excitement around the topic of sustainability, they allow kids to interact with sustainability in an engaging and tangible way. Remember: The key to living sustainably is to find easy changes that fit with your lifestyle. While going zero-waste may not be realistic for some families, giving eco-friendly gifts is an easy (and fun!) way to make your home more sustainable.
4 Best Eco-Friendly Presents for Any Occasion
Finding the perfect gift for your kids is important. The best eco-friendly gifts check all the boxes for both you and your little ones. Here are some key characteristics to look for when shopping for eco-friendly gifts:
They’re affordable.
Some companies frame sustainability in a “luxury” light, making their products a splurge for most families. Truly sustainable products include financial sustainability as well. Eco-friendly gifts should be financially achievable for everyone.
They’re sustainable.
The best eco-friendly gifts are made with sustainably sourced materials or made from upcycled materials. When shopping for sustainable gifts, be sure to keep in mind the packaging as well. Look for biodegradable or recyclable packaging.
They’re kid approved.
Just because products are sustainable, organic, and eco-friendly, doesn’t mean that kids won’t love these gifts. The best eco-friendly gifts are sustainable and fun! Many times, sustainable kids’ products are even more engaging than non-sustainable options, as they encourage imagination and compassion for our environment.
They’re perfect for any occasion.
No matter what occasion you’re shopping for—birthdays, holidays, Valentine’s day—eco-friendly toys make the perfect gift for kids. Made with sustainable materials, these are gifts that will last for years to come.
Get your kids excited about sustainability with these sustainable gift ideas for kids.
Eco-Friendly Art Supplies & Craft Kits
Creating eco-friendly art supplies is an easy way to make your gifts more sustainable. From retail packaging to marker tubes, taditional art supplies are often loaded with plastic that adds to our carbon footprint and contributes to pollution. Instead of heading to the store, try giving your little artist sustainably sourced art supplies for an easy eco-friendly gift. Here are a few ideas to consider:
Recycled Crayons
Rather than buying a new pack of Crayolas, try gifting recycled crayons instead! Whether you buy or DIY, this can be a great way to use leftover crayons that would have otherwise been discarded.
Eco-Friendly Sculpting Dough
Ditch the plastic-wrapped Play-Doh for this homemade option! Made with household ingredients such as flour, salt, cream of tartar, and non-petroleum based oils, this is an eco-friendly, non-toxic gift for your kids.
Upcycled Craft Kits
Gather upcycled materials like jars, cans, and paper towel tubes to create recycled craft kits for kids! This eco-friendly gift brings new life to products around your house and creates fun upcycled crafts to do with your brood.
Not only are eco-friendly craft kits a great opportunity to teach your kids about sustainability, it also allows them to bring their imagination to life!
Eco-Friendly Kitchen & Workbench Sets
Many children’s toys are made entirely from plastic. Unfortunately, as kids outgrow their toys, many of these plastic toys end up in landfills and oceans. As we know, it can take thousands of years for plastic to decompose, all while they slowly release carbon emissions and toxins into the environment.
When searching for eco-friendly gifts for your children, avoid plastic-based items altogether. Instead, try to purchase locally sourced alternatives like wooden play kitchens and workbench sets for kids. These are staple gifts for boys and girls, and it’s becoming increasingly easier to find biodegradable options.
Sustainably Made Build-Your-Own Bug Hotel
Bug hotels are a great eco-friendly gift that serve sustainability in a few different ways. First, you can purchase kits that use recycled products and repurposed wood scraps. Second, bug hotels help reestablish healthy insect populations that have been decimated by pesticides. It’s pretty cool to think your child could play a part in saving endangered species like bees! Third, it’s a wonderful opportunity to teach your kids about the important role bugs play in maintaining our ecosystem. By seeing these bugs in action, your kids will be inspired to protect these species and their environment.
For extra sustainability points, you can make your own DIY bug hotel kit with recycled items around the house! All you need is an old jar or bottle, a brown paper bag, and some string. It’s that easy!
Eco-Friendly Clothing & Dress-Up Clothes
Clothes are always a fun, practical gift to give your children. Unfortunately, most of the clothes we purchase are made with synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, all of which require a lot of energy and resources to manufacture. Worse still, as kids outgrow clothing made from these textiles, the clothing often ends up in landfills and oceans, where they’re broken down into microplastics.
While there’s not a way to slow down time, there is a way to make kids’ closets more sustainable! Shop for sustainably made clothes that are made with eco-friendly, natural materials. Products made with organic materials like cotton or wool are easier to decompose, making them better for our environment.
Some brands even make clothing out of recycled materials, like plastic water bottles. Here at Socktopus Ink, we recycle ocean-bound plastics into our fun, eco-friendly socks! Every time somebody gifts a pair of our sustainable socks, they’re limiting the creation of new synthetic materials while also preventing plastic waste from entering our oceans.
Start a Sustainable Lifestyle for Your Kids with Eco-Friendly Gifts
It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about living a sustainable lifestyle. In fact, the earlier you start creating lessons around sustainability, the more likely you are to create lifelong habits for your little ones!
Giving gifts can be one of the best opportunities to build excitement around sustainability and create a teachable moment for your children. It helps young minds build the connection between happiness and smart choices, while actively protecting our environment. Whether it’s gifting an eco-friendly art kit or sustainable socks, you can inspire your children to live sustainably.
Help build a cleaner planet for future generations with eco-friendly gifts. Shop for sustainable gifts for kids today!
