Beautiful and more sustainable present ideas for children!

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

I’m planning a much more traditional Christmas this year more focus on time together than things, this is helped by us having the 1st ever year of no plastic toys coming into the house.

Don’t get me wrong my DD’s will get a pile of presents but I’m really wanting to be much more selective about it and put money into quality and things they will love for a long time than than over prized plastic crap and more brain numbing technology.

I wondered if anyone else was feeling the same this year and if we could have a thread of ideas of lovely things/ideal and recommend any small businesses we might have came across.

I’ll start.

Such a beautiful advent calendar, I did do a sharp intake of breath when I seen the price but then remembered that I quite often spend £20+ a calendar full over overpriced crap that’s left with lids of, spilt, stood on or forgotten about within a couple of days and with this everything goes away in its little box until next year when it all comes out and get used again.

merimeri.co.uk/products/festive-village-wooden-advent-calendar

Cannot recommended this lovely lady and and her small business more, we have been buying her adorable little animals for years and my DD9 collects them, I mean a duck in a party hat and a tutu what’s not to love (check out her Instagram for lots of pictures of her beautiful things)

www.bowbeaus.co.uk/

I’ve cut back on selection boxes and Christmas chocs and again just buying a few nice bits, couldn’t resist this honey bear form F&M, my honey obsessed DD is going to love it

www.fortnumandmason.com/squeezy-honey-bear-340g

All my DD’s love blankets and snuggly things and I had looked at the Oodies for them but in all honesty how long will the craze last and how expensive!!! Instead I’m going order my middle DD a quilt made by this lovely lady, a little bit more expensive but hand made by lovely lady and will definitely stand the rest of time.

www.poppyandhonesty.com/

And last one for just now, cool prints etc for tween/teenagers. We love their cards which I buy for birthdays and then we frame, my DD has got a lovely gallery going on in her bedroom, really reasonably priced too.

www.maxmademedoit.com/

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

Just to add I realise there is a similar (brilliant) thread on small business and gift ideas but thought it would be nice to have this one just for children seeing as where most of Santa’s bank account goes!!!

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

Bump

[Twilightstarbright]

I don't have anything to add but lovely ideas, thank you.

[KitKatastrophe]

I think sustainable toys are great and good quality wooden toys are worth the money (and have great resale value too). I plan on buying most of our christmas present from Babipur which is ethical, sustainable, organic etc.

I also make our Christmas more sustainable by buying second hand. My kids are 3 and 6 months, they have no idea if things are brand new as long S they're not damaged!

However I couldnt bring myself to pay £10 for 350g of honey, even if it is in a bear shaped pot!

[BefuddledPerson]

We've often used Myriad, their catalogue is great.

These advent calendars are nice www.myriadonline.co.uk/product/christmas-train/

And this Christmas village is cute too www.myriadonline.co.uk/product/christmas-village-advent-kit/

[Tiltheend]

My 9 year old nephew will be getting a little “pamper yourself kit” bathbombs, bath salts, face masks, and foot scrubs. He loves a good pamper session lately. No toys this year, only stuff he will actually get some use out of.

[ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings]

www.birdkids.co.uk

Lots of beautiful things for younger children (primary age and lower I'd say), including Djeco which is my favourite brand of the moment. Based in Cornwall (or at least they used to be), with fast shipping times. I bought most of my kids gifts from there this year and last.

There's also a nice independent childrens bookshop called Small Print. They don't have the biggest selection of stock, but what they do have is lovely.

www.smallprint-online.com

Also, I haven't found this group to be great for traditional kids toys, but if you need gifts for adults there are some gorgeous things being advertised in the Facebook group "Black owned economy". It's a group for black business owners to promote their products and its absolutely full of small businesses selling gorgeous toiletries, candles, food hampers, homeware, handmade clothes and accessories etc.

[spacemask]

Hey!

Great ideas. Thank you - I can tell I'm going to spend a lot of time on the small prints site looking at all those beautiful books.

I've also been looking for an advent option and the train with presents looks cute. I'd probably just fill them with a small chocolate.

I've been looking at bowbeaus for a while. I can't work out if they're more ornamental of if they'd survive the test of play too? They look great though and like you say, what's not to love?!

I've certainly spent more money for more sustainable gifts.

I've got this rabbit hutch https://www.yoyoandflo.com/pet-rabbit-wooden-play-set-5437-p.asp to go with a wooden doll house we have. They also have a chicken coup that looks fun.

And I've got some sensory play bits from https://www.organisedchaoswithkids.com

My daughter is pre school age and loves role play/playing with figures/making a mess!

[spacemask]

Try again

https://www.organisedchaoswithkids.com/products/ice-age-explorer-play-kit

[PeonyandDahlia]

www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/christmas/christmas-gifts/gifts-for-kids

[SinkGirl]

I’ve been eyeing these up for a long time but my twins aren’t really into cuddly toys.

eu.cuddleandkind.com/collections/hand-knit-dolls

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

@spacemask my DD has been collecting the Bow Beaus animals since she was little and she did use to play with them quite a bit (lots of gentle hands encouragement!! 😂) we have had the odd party hat fall off but they have definitely lasted the rest of time. Now she dots and moves them about her room although I think I possibly get more enjoyment out of them them than she does!!! 😂

[CovidClara]

[quote Aponcetasticchristmastoall]@spacemask my DD has been collecting the Bow Beaus animals since she was little and she did use to play with them quite a bit (lots of gentle hands encouragement!! 😂) we have had the odd party hat fall off but they have definitely lasted the rest of time. Now she dots and moves them about her room although I think I possibly get more enjoyment out of them them than she does!!! 😂[/quote]
are they just schleich animals with a hat stuck on?

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

@CovidClara take a look the links above, there are all sorts of accessories from glitter, to sparkly crowns and tutus and wands.

The party hats are my favourite though as made from Liberty print with little Pom Pom’s on top.

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

@SinkGirl I have also been looking at these, such an amazing brand

[CovidClara]

[quote Aponcetasticchristmastoall]@CovidClara take a look the links above, there are all sorts of accessories from glitter, to sparkly crowns and tutus and wands.

The party hats are my favourite though as made from Liberty print with little Pom Pom’s on top.[/quote]
They are most certainly schleich toys with hats on

It seems really sad to make a child be careful with a toy with a hat on (you say lots of gentle hands encouragement) those animal are designed for boisterous and fun play.

[Barmbraic]

And I've just spent a fortune. Thanks OP

[2020nymph]

Quite a few charities have online shops, I know WWF has a strict sustainability policy.

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

@CovidClara you’d obviously made your mind up so why ask the question...

Each to their own, my DD absolutely loves hers and looks forward to receiving a new surprise one on birthdays and Christmas.

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

@Barmbraic glad I could assist...happy shopping! 🥰

[2020nymph]

Also used ethical.market/ love Dinosaurs Doing Stuff (bought the bunting and letter prints for my son seven years ago) and just bought some more Bombi recycled pencils.

[2020nymph]

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings

www.birdkids.co.uk

Lots of beautiful things for younger children (primary age and lower I'd say), including Djeco which is my favourite brand of the moment. Based in Cornwall (or at least they used to be), with fast shipping times. I bought most of my kids gifts from there this year and last.

There's also a nice independent childrens bookshop called Small Print. They don't have the biggest selection of stock, but what they do have is lovely.

www.smallprint-online.com

Also, I haven't found this group to be great for traditional kids toys, but if you need gifts for adults there are some gorgeous things being advertised in the Facebook group "Black owned economy". It's a group for black business owners to promote their products and its absolutely full of small businesses selling gorgeous toiletries, candles, food hampers, homeware, handmade clothes and accessories etc.

Thanks @ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings I'm loving Bird Kids!

[Aponcetasticchristmastoall]

Some more...

The most beautiful girls hair clips, and accessories, I’ve just bought my youngest DD the rainbow bum bag and matching hair bobbles

www.rockahulakids.com/collections/hair-clips

build and fill it yourself advent, little business on Etsy and I can’t tell you how beautifully Christmassy and packaged this was when it arrived, no more bits of plastic, tinfoil and torn cardboard lying about abs can fill with decent chocolate...what a price too!!

[SinkGirl]

If anyone wants to make toys and can crochet, I really recommend the Lalylala patterns (Etsy shop) - I had made my boys a toy every year for the birthday for the first three years, didn’t this year but will make one for Christmas. They don’t care now but hopefully will when they are older!

[haba]

The German company Habaake lots of gorgeous, long -lasting toys. (My user name is inspired by them, but I don't work for them!)
For younger children they have the most gorgeous wooden building blocks that are shaped like Gaudi or Hundertwasser buildings. They have lovely fabric dolls, with clothing that can be changed. They do lots of great games, they have wooden marble runs, and for older children they have more scientific/discovery toys such as a microscope, whittling toys, etc.
We have had so many things over the years, and they are extremely robust. All have been handed on in immaculate condition to friends' children after mine have outgrown them.