I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to Christmas. I love giving friends and family gifts. I especially enjoy buying gifts for kids. But if we are being honest, gift-giving has become increasingly difficult for me since we have chosen to live more sustainably. In my quest for a ‘greener’ Christmas this year I have sourced a few sustainable gifts that should put a smile on the faces of your kids (and the planet). With our small businesses still trying to cope in the face of covid19 I feel it’s more important than ever to support proudly South African entrepreneurs this year. So here are some of my favourite sustainable (and mostly local) gifts for kids.
We bought Amélie a KNOCK-A-BLOCK starter kit from Stumped Wooden Toys and Accessories last Christmas and it is the only gift she is still playing with almost a year later. The Knock-a-block kit is a unique set of open-ended building blocks that inspire imaginative play and teach important tactile skills. Stumped Wooden Toys also has the cutest toolbox and bird feeder DIY kits to choose from. All Stumped products are made locally from untreated timber and sourced from sustainable forests. Because they use no paint or varnish their toys are also completely child friendly. They have some amazing specials this time of the year.
My Ecosprout is another one of our favourites. I especially love their GROWING KITS. Spoiler alert – my nieces are getting Strawberry Popcorn kits this Christmas. The kit contains a biodegradable bio-based pot, pink heirloom corn seeds, wooden plant marker sticks and much more. Order your kit today at myecosprout.com.
A book is always a great gift. YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD by Lucy Bell is the perfect Christmas gift for families and kids that want to start living more sustainably. The book is full of practical information, tools, activities, resources and inspirational stories about young activists who are making a big impact. The book is also available in Afrikaans.
I think one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is a love for nature and that is why FAANSIE’S BIRD BOOK is the perfect christmas gift. This book is one of its kind. It is beautifully illustrated by Faansie himself and has minimum text. It is full of games, challenges, questions, trivia and hidden objects. You can order the book in Afrikaans or English directly from Faansie for R490 (including delivery). They are also available at Chamberlain stores.
RECIPES IN JARS make a great gift option for that blooming foodie in your family. I especially love The Refillery’s Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Deluxe Chocolate Pecan Brownie recipes in a jar. The Pecan Brownie recipe was created for them by The Chocolate Academy of South Africa using the finest chocolate from Callebaut who support sustainable cocoa. These DIY cookie kits are available from their Linden, Morningside and Woodlands Boulevard stores or online at therefillery.co.za for R125.
This beautiful SENSORY TABLE from Dovetail Studio is sure to last a lifetime and can be covered with basins to convert it into a functional table as well. R1890.
A FAMILY-OUTING COUPON BOOK makes a wonderful gift for older children. Give that Tween or Teen in your life a coupon book with 12 family-outing coupons – one for each month of the year. The family can decide what outing they will do together each month – depending on your budget and everyone’s programs. A family outing can be anything from skydiving to an interesting dinner out, or attending a live show together. I love this idea from Bea Johnson. Not only are you replacing ‘stuff’ with experiences which is great for the planet, but also ensuring that your family gets some quality time together throughout the coming year.
Happy shopping!
xxx
