The Best Non-Toxic & Sustainable Gifts for Kids Ages 2- 12 (2024)
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an eco-friendly & Sustainable Gift Guide for Children
Looking for a sustainable children’s gift this holiday season? We’re here to help!
Our carefully curated gift guides are designed to make your holiday shopping experience not only enjoyable but also more accessible than ever. Whether you're searching for the perfect present for your children, niece, nephew, or grandchildren, we've got you covered. We take great pride in selecting products that genuinely make a positive impact on the world. Each item in our guides is thoughtfully chosen to reflect our commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. We prioritize gifts that treat our planet & makers with love, ensuring that your gifts don’t just bring joy but also contribute to a better future for everyone :)
WHAT MAKES A GIFT SUSTAINABLE?
When selecting products for our sustainable holiday gift guides, we consider several important factors to ensure that each item aligns with our commitment to eco-friendliness and ethical practices:
1) Material Composition: The first aspect we examine is the materials used in the gift. We prioritize items crafted from eco-friendly, sustainable materials that minimize harm to the environment. This includes natural, biodegradable, or recycled materials that contribute to a healthier planet. We believe that the choice of materials is foundational to the sustainability of the product.
2) Ethical Production: Equally important is understanding who created the gift. We value transparency regarding the makers behind the products, ensuring that they receive fair compensation for their craftsmanship. Support for artisans and workers directly impacts their livelihoods and communities, so we actively seek out brands that uphold fair labor practices and ethical production methods.
3) Brand’s Commitment to Sustainability: We dive deeper into the brand’s overall commitment to sustainability. Our goal is to curate gifts from companies that go beyond surface-level eco-consciousness. We want to partner with brands that demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability in all aspects of their operations. This includes responsible sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, sustainable shipping practices, and community involvement through charitable initiatives. It’s vital that sustainability is woven into the fabric of their business.
4) Practicality and Longevity: Finally, we assess the practicality of each gift. We want to ensure that every item we recommend is not only useful but also durable enough to last for many years. We’ve all received gifts that end up collecting dust or are quickly discarded; instead, we aim to present gifts that are meaningful and can become cherished possessions. We seek out items that recipients will truly appreciate and that can even be passed down through generations.
By considering these factors, we strive to provide a thoughtful selection of gifts that are not only sustainable but also meaningful and practical, enhancing the holiday experience for both the giver and the recipient.
p.s. check out our favorite eco-friendly toy brands
our top picks for sustainable gifts for kids:
1. Curious Kingdom Buildable Playsets
Brand: Playper
Price: $15-35
Ages: 3+
Playper offers a delightful collection of toys that are bursting with silliness and charm, designed specifically to captivate the imaginations of young children. This innovative company was founded by a trio of parents from the entertainment industry who sought to provide eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic toys.
Their mission is to inspire creativity and imaginative play in children while minimizing environmental impact. Playper’s first toy line, known as the Curious Kingdom, includes an enchanting array of buildable playsets that invite kids to engage in storytelling and exploration. Among the captivating offerings in this line is a beautifully designed castle complete with intricate details, a functioning catapult perfect for launching imaginative adventures, and a dragon trainer set that encourages role-playing and fantastical scenarios.
Plus, the Curious Kingdom features a unique set of Story Starters cards, which serve as a fun and interactive prompt for storytelling. These cards inspire children to weave their own narratives, making playtime an opportunity for creative expression that both kids and parents will appreciate. With Playper toys, children can immerse themselves in a world of creativity, laughter, and endless possibilities.
2. Recycled Scooter
Brand: Micro Kickboard
Price: $100-150
Ages: 2 - 12
This scooter brand has quickly become a favorite among toddlers and young children, capturing the attention of both kids and parents alike! Crafted from environmentally friendly materials, this particular scooter is made from recycled fishing nets and plastic, making it a great choice for eco-conscious families. Additionally, a portion of the annual sales contributes to 1% for the Planet, supporting various environmental initiatives.
All parts of these scooters are designed to be replaceable, which not only helps prevent the scooter from ending up in a landfill but also allows it to be easily repaired as needed. This thoughtful design means that when your child outgrows their scooter, you can pass it down to a younger sibling or friend.
The scooter is available in two sizes: the Mini model is perfect for children aged 2 to 5 years, while the Maxi model is designed for kids aged 5 to 12 years. With its sturdy construction and focus on sustainability, this scooter is sure to provide hours of fun and adventure for little ones during their early years!
3. Plastic-Free Playhouses
Brand: Make It Cute
Price: $220
Ages: 2 - 6
Make It Cute is on a mission to transform a beloved classic into something truly magical: the children's playhouse! Driven by their unwavering commitment to using eco-friendly materials and making a positive impact, they’ve created an enchanting line of Play Decor™ that's not just adorable, but also safe for little ones and gentle on our planet.
The playhouse is available in two styles: the Modern Farmhouse and the Cottage. Each design exudes its own unique charm and character, making them perfect additions to your play areas. What truly sets these playhouses apart are the interchangeable Decor Kits that you can purchase separately. These kits allow you to easily switch up the decor to match the seasons & special occasions. Whether you prefer the sleek, contemporary lines of the Modern Farmhouse or the quaint, whimsical feel of the Cottage, you’ll find that both options provide a delightful space for imaginative play and creativity!
4. Anywhere Chairs
Brand: Pottery Barn
Price: $100 - 219
Ages: 2+
One of the favorites among our little ones is undoubtedly these charming reading chairs! Available in an assortment of fabrics, colors, and playful prints, these chairs come with slipcovers that can be personalized to add a unique touch for each child. A fantastic feature of these chairs is that the slipcovers zip off easily, making them a breeze to clean since they are machine washable.
The chair featured here is crafted from high-quality, durable cotton-twill, ensuring both comfort and longevity. Additionally, this fabric is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, indicating that it has undergone rigorous testing and is free from over 10,000 harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it a safer choice for your little ones’ environment. While some styles of these chairs are made with an outer polyester cover, we highly recommend opting for the cotton covers and avoid having to wash polyester which can release thousands of micro and nano plastics into the water.
*These chairs come in 3 different sizes depending on the age of your child.
5. Balance Board
Brand: Blueberry & Third
Price: $69
Ages: 2 - 7
Does your child have a zest for sensory adventures or an unstoppable urge to move? If so, the Balance Board could become a thrilling addition to their playtime!
This amazing toy offers endless fun while also working wonders for regulating their vestibular and nervous systems.
The benefits of using the Balance Board extend to enhancing children’s balance, fortifying gross motor strength, and improving coordination—all essential components of healthy development through active play. Plus, it is crafted from sustainably sourced birch wood that is certified NAF (No-Added Formaldehyde), and finished with water-based coatings that are both eco-friendly and safe for children.
6. Recycled Toys
Brand: Green Toys
Price: $13-53
Ages: 2-6
One of our all-time favorite sustainable toy brands for children is Green Toys! This innovative company takes a unique approach to playtime by ensuring that every single toy design is crafted from 100% recycled plastic, with a primary focus on repurposing milk jugs.
To create their products, these milk jugs are carefully collected, thoroughly cleaned, and then reprocessed into raw recycled plastic. The process involves using food-safe, mineral-based color dyes, ensuring that the toys are not only safe for children but also environmentally friendly. Every toy is proudly manufactured in the United States, supporting local jobs and reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping.
Green Toys offers a delightful variety of playtime options, ranging from colorful watering cans perfect for imaginative gardening to fun and buoyant boats that make bathtime a joyous experience. Their thoughtfully designed toys cater to various interests and developmental stages, ensuring that every child can find a toy they will cherish and enjoy!
7. Non-Toxic Art Supplies
Brand: Eco-Kids
Price: $5 - 30
Ages: 3+
Eco-kids is a leading brand known for offering eco-friendly and non-toxic art supplies specifically designed for children. Founded by a family in Portland, Maine, Eco-kids began its journey with a single product: eco-dough, a play dough recipe that Cammie, the owner, fondly recalls her mother making during her childhood. This nostalgic inspiration laid the foundation for the brand's commitment to safe and sustainable crafting materials.
Over the years, Eco-kids expanded its product line to include a variety of creative supplies, all of which are made using non-toxic ingredients that are carefully selected for their safety and environmental friendliness. For instance, their eco-dough is crafted from non-GMO flour, combined with vitamin E to promote skin safety, as well as natural essential oils that provide delightful scents without harmful chemicals. Each product reflects Eco-kids' dedication to promoting creativity in kids while ensuring their art experiences are safe and enriching. With a focus on sustainability and quality, Eco-kids continues to be a trusted choice for parents seeking environmentally conscious art supplies for their little ones.
8. Pretend Play Toys
Brand: PlanToys
Price: $20 - 60
Ages: 2+
This sweet toy brand is an excellent choice for fostering creativity in imaginative children, whether they aspire to be future veterinarians, chefs, or anything in between.
PlanToys is committed to sustainability, which is evident in every aspect of their operations. They utilize eco-friendly materials, sustainable manufacturing techniques, and promote a mindful approach to play.
The core of PlanToys' success lies in their innovative use of rubber trees, which are harvested once they no longer produce latex. Instead of letting the wood go to waste, they take the leftover materials, including sawdust and wood chips, and transform them into a unique product known as “PlanWood.” This material is created through an advanced thermal process, ensuring that it is both sturdy and safe for children. In addition, PlanToys employs a chemical-free kiln-drying technique to finish their products. This process not only enhances the durability of the toys but also prioritizes the health and safety of young playtime experts. As a result, parents can feel confident that these toys are built to last for years, providing endless opportunities for imaginative play.
9. Eco-Bricks
Brand: Once Kids
Price: $20 - 120
Ages: 4+
How amazing are these eco-friendly, plastic-free alternatives to Legos? Eco-Bricks™ are designed for kids who have a passion for building, exploring, and unleashing their creativity. Each brick is meticulously crafted from FSC-certified sustainable wood, ensuring that this product is not only fun but also a responsible and eco-conscious alternative to conventional plastic toys that often end up in landfills. And don’t worry about getting rid of your Legos - these ones are compatible and can make a great addition to your kid’s collection.
Unlike conventional plastic building bricks, which can take hundreds of years to decompose, these Eco-Bricks™ are fully biodegradable. They break down naturally over time, leaving no harmful residues behind. This eco-friendly feature not only protects the planet but also sets a positive example for children, teaching them the importance of caring for the Earth and our shared resources. Plus, kids can unleash their artistic flair with crayons, markers, paints, or other art materials to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces that reflect their unique personalities!
10. Sustainable Kids Clothing
Not every child is thrilled about receiving clothes as gifts for Christmas, but there are definitely some who appreciate it! For those young fashion enthusiasts, there are numerous fantastic sustainable clothing brands that offer unique and stylish options. This post highlights a variety of these brands.
If you’re looking for the perfect gifts for tween girls, we also have some wonderful selections specifically tailored to their tastes and preferences. From trendy outfits to cozy, sustainable fabrics, you'll find options that are both fashionable and kind to the environment.
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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!
Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.
