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. When you look for the perfect gift for your children, niece, nephew, or grandchildren, we have everything you need. We take great pride in selecting products that genuinely make a positive impact on the world. Each item in our guides is carefully chosen to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. We prioritize gifts that treat our planet and makers with love. This ensures that your gifts not only bring joy but also contribute to a better future for everyone. 🙂
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands – and us!
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:
- Material Composition: The first aspect we examine is the materials that make up 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.
- 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.
- Brand’s 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.
- Practicality and Longevity: 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 collect dust or get tossed aside, but we strive to give gifts that hold real meaning and become cherished possessions. We actively search for items that the recipients will truly appreciate, treasures they might even pass down through generations.
p.s. check out our favorite eco-friendly toy brands
Our Top Picks for Sustainable Gifts for Kids:
1. Plastic-Free Playhouse
Brand: Make It Cute
Price: $220 (on sale for $158!)
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!
2. Recycled Scooter
Brand: Micro Kickboard
Price: $120-140
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! This scooter stands out because it uses environmentally friendly materials like recycled fishing nets and plastic. It’s an excellent choice for eco-conscious families who want to make a positive impact. Additionally, a portion of the annual sales contributes to 1% for the Planet, supporting various environmental initiatives.
The design of these scooters ensures that all parts can be easily replaced. This approach not only prevents the scooters from ending up in a landfill, but it also makes repairs straightforward whenever necessary. 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. The Little Artist Gift Box
DISCOUNT: use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 10% off (plus, order 2 or more & get free shipping)
Brand: The Filtery
Price: $150
Ages: 5-12
Give the young creative in your life a gift that’s as mindful as it is fun. The Little Artist Gift Box features a carefully crafted set of non-toxic, natural materials designed to ignite creativity and imagination.
Inside you’ll find eco-play dough, a portable watercolor kit, a DIY macramé rainbow, a pollinator-friendly seed garden, and a plantable holiday card. Each item undergoes careful selection to minimize the use of plastic, synthetic dyes, and waste. Designed for children around ages 5-12, it encourages tactile, open-ended play and hands-on discovery.
The presentation-ready packaging makes it perfect for gifting straight out of the box, and the emphasis on healthier materials aligns perfectly with a green-living ethos. With this box, you’re giving creativity, connection and a brighter, more sustainable future for little makers 🙂
4. Plastic-Free Buildable Play Sets
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 emerged from the vision of three parents in the entertainment industry who wanted to create 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.
5. Anywhere Chairs
Brand: Pottery Barn
Price: $100-250
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.
6. Balance Board
Brand: Blueberry & Third
Price: $89
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.
7. 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!
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 actively promotes sustainability, showcasing it 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 comes from their innovative approach to using rubber trees that are harvested once they stop producing 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 undergoes an advanced thermal process that makes it 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. Parents can feel confident that these toys are designed to last for years, offering 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™ cater to kids who love building, exploring, and expressing their creativity. Each brick comes from FSC-certified sustainable wood, making it a fun and responsible choice compared to conventional plastic toys that typically 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. Eco-Bricks™ cater to kids who love building, exploring, and expressing their creativity. Each brick comes from FSC-certified sustainable wood, making it a fun and responsible choice compared to conventional plastic toys that typically end up in landfills.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 Clothes
When it comes to Christmas gifts for little ones, sustainable clothing is always a wonderful choice. Some of our favorite brands are creating heirloom-quality pieces from GOTS-certified organic cotton, low-impact dyes, and natural fibers that feel incredibly soft on sensitive skin.
Some of our favorite sustainable clothing brands for kids are:
Perfect for stocking stuffers, under-the-tree surprises, or building a thoughtful wardrobe they’ll use all year long!
