Easter falls on Sunday 4th April this year so now’s the time to start thinking about stocking up on those Easter eggs! But what about treating your little ones to something more long-lasting (and healthy!) than chocolate instead? I’ve put together this guide to alternative Easter gifts for children so that you can give them a fun activity (to keep them entertained during the school holidays!) and something that’s sustainable too…
When celebrating special occasions throughout the year, I like to look for sustainable gift options, as well as choosing experiences or activities rather than ‘things’. Easter is no exception – sure, I love the chocolate as much as the next person, but I also like the idea of giving a gift that can be used time and again, or that encourages kids to get active and use their bodies and minds.
Entertaining children during the school holidays can be difficult – especially with limited places to go outside the house – so how about giving them an Easter gift that they can enjoy playing with in the garden or on a woodland walk? The Huckleberry range encourages outdoor exploration with a magnifying glass to check out plants and bugs, a morse code torch for camping, a make-your-own grass whistle and chalk pens that wash away and are dust-free and safe for people, pets, the environment.
If the weather’s not so great during the Easter break, it would be handy to give your child an Easter gift that allows them to cosy-up indoors and have an at-home picnic! This bioplastic tea set from Dantoy is made from sugarcane, which is a 100% sustainable raw material as it can be harvested several times a year and absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. Do toys get more sustainable than that?
For older kids who are stuck indoors, a building kit will help them to while away the hours. I’ve previously included Geomag in my guide to activities that encourage STEM learning so it’s no wonder that I’ve chosen it again as an Easter gift. This particular Supercolor Panels set is made with 100% recycled plastic, making it more sustainable and the simple Geomag elements allow youngsters to build endless 3D constructions with creativity and imagination.
I’ve mentioned in the past that I prefer giving and receiving experiences rather than things so I’ll always include a gift voucher idea in my gift guides. This time, I’ve looked for an experience that kids can look forward to enjoying when it’s safe to explore the great outdoors again and I’ve found plenty of Go-Ape activity vouchers that would be ideal. There’s a range of activities in forests all around the country, including tree-top adventures and (my personal favourite) off-road segway!
Back indoors, here’s an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages – yes, even grown-ups! A Marvin’s Magic kit comes in a wooden storage box and the tricks are made from wood too, which makes a welcome change from all the plastic packaging and toys filling our homes. The kit is suitable for ages 6+ to play with, but younger children can still be involved by watching the tricks being performed by teens or adults.
All you need is a bit of mud or a sandpit in the garden and younger kids from 24months+ will love making a mess with this eco-conscious tipper truck from Dantoy. The Danish company’s “I’m Green” range is 100% recyclable but still durable enough to take outside and do a bit of construction work! Even the packaging is made from recycled cardboard so it’s certainly an environmentally friendly gift for little ones.
I hope these sustainable toys have given you some inspiration for Easter gifts and that’ll these ideas will help to keep your youngsters entertained during the school holidays – no matter what the weather throws at us! Let me know if you recommend any other eco-friendly brands for children, I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. 🙂
Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
