Ideas for 7 year old DD who has become eco-conscious

[OliverBabish]

School have done a big drive on being eco-friendly and DD (7) has taken it to heart. We are currently trying to reduce all the plastic we can in the house - she sees it as a little project.

But now she’s decided that she wants no plastic stuff for Christmas. I said fine - how about clothes? Experiences (like a visit to chocolate factory - I know this isn’t eco friendly but I’m working to her specification of no plastic toys!)? Creative stuff (I know this can be plastic stuff but she is very creative and I’m stuck for ideas!)? She said no to all.

She’s 7 so I’m sure she doesn’t realise what no plastic REALLY means (especially when her sister will be getting some “normal” stuff) but I’d like to at least attempt as she is really passionate about it at the moment.

Any ideas gratefully received!

Books, soft toys?
Board games made out of wood (a chess set?)
Card games (that come in a tin/cardboard box)?
Craft thIngs could easily be non plastic.

Have you asked her what she'd like? Or perhaps she would be be more open to plastic toys if they're second hand, as she's saving them from landfill?

Bamboo lunchbox
Apples to Pears do children’s craft kits in a tin applestopears.com/Category/276/gift-in-a-tin
Quite a few of the Buttonbag kits don’t have plastic either www.buttonbag.co.uk/shop/
I Am Not A Toilet Roll is a fun craft book for kids.
This recycled paper bead kit looks good www.crafts4kids.co.uk/sewing-kits-for-kids/4m-recycled-paper-beads?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsI7WtuPi8wIVEJntCh13IQ5AEAQYBSABEgK6gPD_BwE

WHSmith have a signed copy of the book plastic suucks! by Dougie poynter reduced. There are additional discount codes on the bargain thread that give free delivery too. My DD8 is very eco conscious too and getting this for xmas. Also cottontwist and papertown crafts are my go to for non plastic craft kits and support local businesses too.

Following as my 7 year old is exactly the same! She’s also just become a vegetarian.

Living Nature cuddly toys, they have a great range.
Second hand plastic things from ebay or Facebook marketplace?

I wonder why she's said no to those things? Can she say why?

I'd be inclined to think as above - second hand stuff, pantomime tickets, food, clothes. Candle making kit? It has to be said most packaged kits will contain tons of plastic so maybe buy the individual elements? Cookery book with a couple of recipe kits from it made up by you? Toolbox for woodwork - first hammer and saw, with a book on woodwork projects? Active stuff- Bow and arrow set?

What about a family pledge to minimise disposable wrapping?

I think at heart she's a 7 year old so ultimately I would trust your instincts and go with clothes and experiences. Tbh I really enjoyed litter picking even at that age so maybe a litter picker and one for a friend?

Clay - Hobbycraft and Tiger (sometimes) do a great white clay.
Jewellery making kit with non plastic beads
Baking things
Experience days out or craft workshops
A bike and helmet

Eco Kids magazine subscription?
Trees to plant in the garden?
Bird or bug House?

To be fair, the most eco conscious thing you can do is limit the amount of stuff you get, and maybe exchange for an experience or something.
Have a chat to her about how she feels about getting a very small number of gifts.
& wrap anything in recyclable paper.

Clothes she says ‘I’m not going to say “yay Santa got me clothes 🙄’” cheeky!

She’s dyslexic so really hates reading at the moment so lots of books isn’t an option but that plastic sucks book sounds great! I’m reading to her mostly at the moment as she gets really stressed out. I think she’d enjoy that book.

Thanks for these ideas - there is so much stuff once you think about it!

I've just had another look at the ideas lists for my 3dcs and and they include dolls clothes, jigsaw, chillys water bottles, clothes, wooden crazy golf set, giant Jenga, wooden labyrinth, football kit, personalised pencils. We had a wood and canvas teepee a couple of years ago that was a good non- plastic wow present.

These kits look good (haven't tried them). www.planetjunko.com/the-kits-shop/

As she doesn’t seem very keen on the standard no plastic alternatives I would have a talk with her about second hand plastic things and how by buying those you are potentially preventing them going to landfill. If she likes listening to you read then maybe she would like a refurbished device and an audible subscription?

Other suggestions;

A rag doll (I would have still loved a rag doll at that age but maybe she’s too old for it!)
Any plastic free soft toy
A new bedding set
Tickets to a zoo/farm/aquarium maybe with some sort of experience too?
Cloth bunting type decorations for her room
Jewellery (not on the high street have some lovely children’s jewellery)
Bath bombs and bubble bath

Good luck!

Something like this Save the Bees

or a kit for building a bug hotel? Her own window box or patch in the garden/on the patio if you have one?

You can get wooden marble runs and fabric dolls.

Consumables and second hand are the best gifts though to be really eco friendly.

If you think it would help, it might be worth talking to her about how Reduce and Reuse are at the beginning of the waste reduction hierarchy as they have the most impact.

I wouldn't mention it again for a couple of weeks, then ask her to write a Christmas list mid November, by then she might be far enough away from eco message to want the plastic toys after all and you don't want her stuck by what she said now.

You can be more eco with smaller non-landfill gifts, things my dc has used through the year that were Christmas gifts at 6/7 included new rucksack, a hat torch (basically a wooly hat with a light built in, good for evening walks), hair clips /accessories, a craft box set, a robot dog.

My dad is 9 and whilst not so set on no-plastic we do keep her eco-consciousness in mind with her presents. So wrapping paper is recyclable and homemade.
Board games and jigsaws can be entirely cardboard. We live near the sea so she’s also getting a beach bag and net for her foraging (as I’m sick of Sand filled pockets). But whilst she still wants a Nintendo switch game this year, I know her litter picker grabber will be a close second and she will have us out on Boxing Day trying it out!
Also she gets the Week Junior as a subscription which I would also recommend as they cover a lot of environmental issues and it’s another paper based present too.

My seven year old is loving the national geographic digging kits. She had a gemstone one last year and is getting a fossil one this year.

Definitely ask her what she would like.

My kids love The Phoenix Comic.. and graphic novels if books are not a great choice.

What about a pet? (hee hee)

Does she play sport? Does she have any hobbies?

Toy Galaxy Butterfly Garden Growing Kit Bundle With Stickers, Tattoos, and Glider (Original Bundle) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XWLG9C2/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_667E8ZPAF7S0NBSAN7KC?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Yeah, suggest secondhand things. This is actually more environmentally friendly than buying new 'eco' things.

So she can get what she likes, still, but won't be contributing to new plastic stuff being produced.

The Junko bits are very hard to use I'm afraid. My DF got DS some last Christmas and they haven't been used. Even DH and I found them tricky.

If she likes crafts what about Studio Roof kits? You can get some that you colour in yourself.

sorenshouse.co.uk/collections/studio-roof?page=2

Basketball
Football
Musical instrument

Thank you so much for all of these suggestions. Off to make a list!

Have discussed second hand toys with her - she thought that was cool. I actually think that the litter picker will be the biggest hit - she’s very passionate about “respecting the environment” at the moment