Non plastic present for a 5yo g & 7/8yo b?

[KatyMac]

I'm on a bit of a budget, last year I made then jackets but they weren't a hit so this year I thought I'd buy something

I'm a bit of an eco geek so don't want to add to gratuitous gifts but something good/useful is fab. All adult presents are experiences.

No books as their dad owns a bookshop which is a shame as its my go to nonplastic child gift

Can anyone help?

Mmm, whilst commendable, I can understand that maybe a jacket/practical present isn't the most fun thing to receive for 2 young children and I guess, for me, Christmas should involve some fun :) Would you not consider 2nd hand toys? I actively try and buy 2nd hand and then pass on the toys when they are no longer played with e.g. just donated a selection of outgrown quality toys to a local re-gifting programme.

Wooden railway,/trains.

Board fame
jigsaw puzzle plus board.
wooden 3D model/puzzle

What about a game? My favourites for those ages..

Sleeping Queens
Uno
Chess board
Shut the box
Rhino hero
Dobble

You could make a games night parcel with some popcorn and hot chocolate.

Girl- jewellery making kit? Wood beads and leather or cotton string/twine.

I’d get them a trampoline park voucher or similar I think

Or a cinema voucher for nearest one?

Game or a puzzle would be my choice.

Brio train track, involves a bit of plastic but mostly wood.

Melissa and Doug do some nice wooden toys.

Or something plastic but not throwaway tat, something like Duplo/Lego.

Yes I was struggling with money last year and they have loads so it needed to be thoughtful - the kids liked them

Maybe a games night - popcorn game etc I'll look at what I can find

I am an annoying person buying presents as it has to be 'right'

Sounds a bit joyless.

Useful gifts are crap for kids

I guess - I have boring aunty status I think
Buying books was easier

10 years ago I was a great at present buying or children but I've just kind of lost my mojo with them

Best DD could come up with was a show but I can't afford expensive tickets right now

My 6 year old g would love anything crafty, her aunty is buying her a lockable notebook which I think she’ll love. I’ve also found some glitter pencils which she’ll like.

Lush bath bomb? My kids love the rainbow cow one and I think there’s a dinosaur egg.

I am the same with buying plastic tat but there are some toys that I do buy including Lego and board games, there are quite a few board games that don’t include loads of plastic? Also card games?

But is a super eco useful gift really a gift for them? You would be more eco friendly just giving them cash to get them something they actually want in that case surely as you wasting money buying something that you deem as being eco friendly - that they probably have no interest in and will not use / bin - surely defeats the whole purpose of what you are trying to do.

Sometimes I think people get so caught up in buying presents THEY deem useful/right you miss the whole point of what gift giving is about and it being something the recipient actually wants and will appreciate

No point spending money on eco friendly gifts if they don’t like them, that’s not eco friendly at all really! I’d go for tickets for a day out or something. Doesn’t have to be an expensive day out.

Yes I need something that meets both of our needs

A family game is quite good, Craft fits for the girl but not the boy and he isn't into lego as I understand

Can't give cash as the disparity in our family incomes is huge

I guess that is why I am struggling & not a scarp of inspiration at all

A gift is meant to be about the recipient not the giver, your look at this from the point of what YOU like and approve of not what they want.

For 'non plastic' ideas.

My DS at 8 would have liked a proper football (but it had to be the 'right' one as apparently different leagues have different balls etc...)

At 5 year old I might have liked a disney princess costume to dress up in.

Grow your own butterflies from Insect Lore
Bath bomb making kit, bomb cosmetics do them plus other places.
Baking kit with small utensils.
Stencils if you can find not plastic ones
Animal encounter
One of those kids where you make a solar powered robot
Galt science set of some sort
Face paints and book of ideas of designs, usborne do one (I now you said no books but something with ideas)
Magazine or comic subscription like the beano.

Another idea maybe an instrument like guitar or ukulele.

It's only my 2nd year of buying for them and we don't really have a relationship so I don't know their interests

My mum did the gifts from our side before that and always bought an outfit from Next for them each (or similar)

I'll come up with something to do I think, crafts and maybe a balsa model or a building kit

Yes I offered a princess dress/lego - last year but it was rejected

Craft/building is the way to go - I'll head off ro the local toy place this week

Colour in your own tshirt / PJs
Voucher for a paint a pot type place

What’s wrong with plastic for toys? Lasts forever and easy to clean.

Seeds and gardening tools?