Feel Good Gifts for Kids
Buying Christmas gifts for little ones can feel like navigating a festive minefield. All too often, the must-have toys come wrapped in layers of plastic, made from even more plastic, only to end up in landfill far too soon. It’s enough to make Santa himself rethink his workshop!
This year let’s do things differently. Sustainable gifts for kids are growing in popularity, and for good reason. Not only are they kinder to the planet, but they’re often longer-lasting, more engaging, and packed with feel-good vibes. From eco-friendly materials to toys that inspire learning and creative play, these thoughtful options are the gifts that keep on giving. Every family has those precious heirloom toys that get handed down through the generations – the wooden building blocks, the push along toys that supported those very first steps, those much cherished cuddly toys..
But in the UK alone, millions of plastic toys are purchased each year, many of which barely survive until the New Year. In fact, a staggering percentage are discarded within months, contributing to our ever-growing landfill crisis. Let’s make 2024 the year we gift differently; with presents that are fun, future-friendly, and guaranteed to bring a smile to kids and grown-ups alike. Here’s our ultimate guide to the best sustainable gifts for kids this Christmas.
Potion Making Kit, The Den Kit Company, £29.50
Give the gift of adventure! Perfect for curious minds and budding wizards, this potion making kit encourages creativity, exploration, and hours of imaginative outdoor play. For boys, for girls, for everywhere and for years to come - your passport to the outdoors. We love The Den Kit Company, their Kits are designed to encourage children outside - whether a tiny back garden, on top of a hill, in a meadow, field, forest, beach or balcony. The promise of a hand-crafted space in which to set up a temporary retreat is tempting to children (and adults) of all ages, and with little or no previous den-building experience. No single-use-plastic, no batteries, natural components and no complicated instructions, made in the UK - this is inclusive, simple, endless fun.
Adopt A Tiger, WWF, From £3 a month
An amazing gift for young animal lovers. Adopt a tiger with WWF for them and they'll get an exclusive WWF cuddly toy, welcome pack, regular updates and a personalised adoption certificate. When you choose a tiger gift adoption, you are supporting both tigers and WWF's wider work to help bring our world back to life.
WWF adoptions are much more than just a cuddly toy, they’re helping protect and restore iconic wildlife around the world and their precious habitats. It’s not just tigers, you can choose from panda’s, turtles, penguins, elephants, snow leopards, gorillas, rhinos, polar bears, orangutans and jaguars. Plus children love recieving the updates about their adopted species throughout the year.
Rent a Frog Bike, from £15.99 per month
Bikes are always a popular gift for kids, but it becomes an expensive business as they soon outgrow it and need another. By joining bikeclub.com, you’ll never have to buy another kids bike again. This kids bike subscription service allows you to exchange as your child grows. Making sure they'll always be on the perfect size. With a Bike Club subscription there are no big upfront costs and payments are spread out into an affordable monthly subscription. Pre-loved bikes that are exchanged go back to their expert mechanics who refurbish them to industry leading standards before they return to their fleet ready to be ridden and loved by a new family. By adopting this circular model, they reduce waste and CO2 emissions. In fact each Bike Club bike saves 336Kg CO2 vs an owned bike.
Duffy’s Lucky Escape Bundle, Peace With The Wild, £18.49
We love these Wild Tribe Heroes books - gentle and engaging true stories about animals that find themselves in trouble when their lives are affected by plastic in the oceans or palm oil deforestation. Your little one will love to follow the story of Duffy the turtle to see what happens, how they are saved and learn what they can do to help them! Children and adults alike will love these books and feel inspired to make positive changes to their own lives and their communities. This bundle also comes with a cuddly Duffy (from keel’s Eco range) made from 100% recycled materials. Turtle teddy, Duffy is the perfect companion for ocean lovers and adventure seekers! With his adorable turtle shell and cosy teddy bear charm, any little one will love snuggling up with this soft, huggable friend who’s ready to accompany them on every journey, whether it’s a seaside picnic, a bedtime story, or a stroll around town.
Cities Of The World Jigsaw Puzzle, Vinted £3.00
Jigsaws are always a family favourite over the festive period, but why splash out on brand new when there are so many preloved jigsaws in excellent condition that need a new home. This one is from an incredible selection available on Vinted for only £3.00 UK consumers are set to spend over £2 billion on second-hand gifts this Christmas, according to a report by Vinted and Retail Economics, with 84% of shoppers planning to spend part of their holiday budget on pre-loved items. It’s estimated that second-hand gifting will account for 10% of all holiday spending this year. So don’t miss out. You can stock up on preloved jigsaws safe in the knowledge you can resell and buy more preloved when the kids are done with them - reducing waste and saving money.
Natural Wax Crayons, Peace With The Wild £9.95
These fun shaped crayons from the Natural Crayon Company are made from a mix of natural wax pellets and food grade pigments. Presented in a gift box, these vibrant crayons are perfect for little ones to let their imagination run wild. Plus they’re vegan, natural, plastic free, biodegradable and handmade - good all round.
Polarn O. Pyret Moustache Print Kids Pyjamas, £21
We love Swedish organic kidswear brand Polarn O. Pyret for their gorgeously cosy organic cotton PJs that are made to last. Perfect for snoozing and relaxing around the house, these Moustache print kid’s pyjamas are warm, comfy and sure to be a sleeping essential for a long, long time thanks to their extendable cuffs. Designed in super soft, high quality organic cotton, they guarantee ultimate comfort right through until morning. Once your family are done with them Polarn O. Pyret will buy them back.
Maileg Princess and the Pea Big Sister Mouse, Scandiborn £40.59
Maileg combines everything we love about Scandinavian kids toys, a merging of style, whimsical storytelling and attention to detail as well as a focus on sustainable materials and hand craftsmanship. These very collectable mice really are future heirlooms. The famous tale of the princess & the pea has been brought to life by Maileg. This gorgeous set includes a paper castle with beautiful mattresses, a pea and a princess mouse. There’s a whole world of Maileg to discover, but be warned, they are seriously collectable.
This Christmas, let’s embrace the joy of gifting sustainably, sparking creativity and adventure while treading lightly on the planet. Whether it’s den-building kits that encourage outdoor exploration or heirloom-quality toys that inspire generations, these thoughtful choices prove that eco-friendly doesn’t mean less fun. By choosing gifts that nurture imagination and protect our environment, you’re not just making Christmas magical for the little ones—you’re helping to shape a brighter, greener future.