Present for vegan child?

[WhathappenstoDD]

Been invited to an old school friends DCs birthday party with my DD. SFs DC will be turning 5, my DD will be 7 by the time we go.

Invite says that they can only accept gifts which are fully vegan including toys. I was thinking maybe of getting a book? But I don’t know if books are vegan.

So any suggestions? I don’t want to offend by turning up with the wrong present.

www.ethicalsuperstore.com/category/baby-child-and-toys/toys/

Second the flower press idea! My dd loves hers. Lots of lovely ones on Etsy.

Why are people making this so hard???
Literally hey the kid pretty much ANYTHING and it will be fine.

There's plenty of non plastic and 'vegan' options for a child of 5!

A puzzle.... Easy

An activity book.... Easy

Art art supplies... Eas

A marble run....

A set of peg dolls...

A game like Uno

Seed bomb

Bath bomb

Pencils with whatever cartoon she is into on them

A ticket to the cinema or theatre

A promise to go to the soft play/swimming/the park

A bell for their bike....

Modeling clay

A set of dominoes

PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING BASICALLY.

Doesn't have to be difficult.

www.webbsdirect.co.uk/the-lettuce-who-wanted-a-new-look-plantable-childrens-book/

This has to be the perfect present you are looking for! A lovely story book and you can plant the back pages and grow the main character .

Ha I would love to see the 'no plastic toys' rule inforced when the child actually wants good quality and reasonably educational toys that happen to be made out of plastic...Lego and knex for engineering skills for a start.

What's with all the "poor kid" comments? OP says the child seems happy, she's not sure if she goes to other clubs so may have other friends, and lento of kids are home schooled. I wish I could afford and had the brains to home school mine. Would have made my life a lot easier.

God what a sad state of affairs when caring about animals and the environment is considered "batshit". Good on them, they're going to be raising a compassionate and principled child, unlike some people here who froth at the mouth at the mere mention of the word vegan.

@OrangeSamphire

They don’t attend school and OP thinks they may not have interaction with other children

Plenty of people think (wrongly) that home educated children don’t interact with others. It really couldn’t be further from the truth.

Of course maybe this family is the exception. I doubt it somehow though.

Great thread for showing how people who make life choices other than the mainstream get bashed over the head. Really. A star.

My kids are flexi-schooled so I do not assume home schooled children don’t interact with others. I’m reading and responding to what the OP has said. All the home Ed groups in our area haven’t meet for over a year. They’re starting to slowly open now. Our original plan was to home school our children, which after a great deal of research we decided against (for now at least), so I’m not as clueless as you seem to assume.

I often do a rainy day box. So add some flour and salt for a salt dough making kit and we often put in some instructions of things to make with it.
Also a moon sand kit (flour in a packet and vegetable oil in a glass bottle, with instructions).
Cookie making kit.
Flower press? (Again, home made and hand decorated?)
Clay. Pompom (non animal yarn).

I would have a look in charity shops or on Facebook market place and upcycle something to give it a lease of life. Sounds like they would appreciate something like that.

Or a voucher for a day out/experience/pizza making session and film at yours.

As a parent, I don't think 'poor child'. I hate all the shit my kids are bought and would prefer something that has had thought. I love it when friends gift my kids something like this.

Oh dear! When I read the OP I thought this had become a normal thing and I have just lived away from the UK for too long.

Glad that many of the replies seem to suggest this is, ahem, unusual.

Don't know if they still do but John Lewis used to do nice wooden toys - snakes and ladders, solitaire, ludo etcq

You know, after reading some posts on here I've changed my mind about this being unreasonable especially in light of the polite message from the parents.

If they try to minimise waste then asking for this to be considered is fair enough, they're not actually assuming there will be presents but they know people will likely buy them.

Lots of lovely suggestions too.

I think that’s generous of you, Merchy! I’m veggie and admire vegans, total respect for this friend’s lifestyle, but it’s the telling people what to buy that sticks in my craw. I’m sure some people would say that saving the world is more important than worrying about being rude, but for me it’s similar to wedding gifts asking for money. Probably I am BU but it’s in my too rude bracket!

Undersnatch

But the message they sent was really polite. They said ‘IF bringing a gift.....‘ so definitely not telling people they have to buy anything. And they ended it with ‘sorry to be a pain’.

So an ethical family that are polite. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Undersnatch

I think that’s generous of you, Merchy! I’m veggie and admire vegans, total respect for this friend’s lifestyle, but it’s the telling people what to buy that sticks in my craw. I’m sure some people would say that saving the world is more important than worrying about being rude, but for me it’s similar to wedding gifts asking for money. Probably I am BU but it’s in my too rude bracket!

That was my first reaction, but I think because nothing is really presumed in this instance it's not too bad.

But I get where you are coming from too.

I've been vegan for more than 30 years but it was for animal welfare concerns rather than environmental so I guess they have a different perspective..

[quote Merchymor]These are a bit pricey .. but I would love someone to buy me the aubergine one

www.jellycat.com/eu/fresh--foodie/[/quote]
I never thought of Jellycat, my DD has a vast collection will definitely buy one, there’s a good Facebook group where you can buy 2nd hand with the tags too!

Thank you

Thanks everyone going to go with a soft toy (jellycat) and a good quality wooden jigsaw my DD has a few we were given where the pieces have letters and numbers on and can be used in different ways too so will look for one like that.

I am absolutely not judging them, the child seems happy enough and may do home schooling groups that I’m not aware of. As I said I’d have loved to homeschool my DD but she has some additional needs which I felt would be much better met at school. I completely respect that choice though. I said she might be lonely as I don’t see photos of other children just her but she might go to groups I just don’t know, hopefully I’ll be able to learn a bit more about them and the little girl at the party.

My DD loves parties and other children so I well absolutely be going.

A glass jar with some air in it?

😂

They sound like nightmares, feel sorry for their little girl. I’d just get books or vegan treats like baked goods, chocolate etc. Never met a vegan who doesn’t read books so doubt that could be deemed offensive. Maybe they think books ruin the planet though because of the paper so get second hand ones just incase.

A grip.

Well done for not being judgemental op.
Here's a list of accidentally vegan type snacks for future parties. It doesn't take into account things like palm oil, though if they are environmental they should know palm oil sustainability is the best option not boycotting.
I keep a stash of party rings myself for vegan/veggie kids at school who are disappointed otherwise when haribo etc handed out at school. Love hearts are a good shout too!

www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/accidentally-vegan-products-you-can-find-in-supermarkets/#:~:text=Accidentally%20vegan%20products%20are%20those,to%20contain%20no%20animal%20ingredients.

Best birthday present my son ever got was an apple tree.

At his 5th birthday party, his friend turned up saying he wanted to get him a treehouse but his mum said no so they got him a tree for it to go in instead.

It's growing in our garden and has apples
Every year. Lovely long lasting (vegan) gift.

Ball of string and a packet of chalks?

The basis of lots of good imaginative play and learning!

@JackieTheFart

I’d give them a fiver. I don’t have time to be searching out vegan books or whatever.

Fivers aren't vegetarian, never mind vegan www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38144598

Gawd, that poor kid. Vegan diet is one thing but those parents sound like a right pain in the arse.

I'd get her something as mainstream as possible to counteract all their wacko stuff, maybe a nice cloth doll that's a tiny bit princessy?