Gifts for children

Reducing the amount of plastics generated at Christmas can be tricky, especially if you have children. Why not try some of our tips below to help reduce the plastics in your home.

Opt for a big present 🚲🛴📱

Quite often children end up with lots of smaller presents which increases the amount of waste generated, and the time it takes to wrap them too! Have a think about whether one big/main present may be better for your child and your waste bin. Something like a bike or a scooter, or a tablet or electronic device. Of course accompany it with a few smaller presents so they have more than one thing to open.

Shop second hand

Shopping for presents second hand, either online or in a charity shop can be a great way to get childrens gifts cheaper and without the packaging too. Second hand shopping is perfect for childrens toys because they only get used for a couple of years before your child grows out of it. If you have toys to sell or donate yourself, make sure you do it early to give people a chance to grab it before Christmas day.

DIY kits

There are lots of DIY kits available such as a blanket fort making kit, a science or experiments kit or even a robot making kit. Lots of these contain a minimal amount of single use plastics and give your child something fun to do over the school holidays.

Puzzles and games 

Most puzzles and board games tend to contain little to no plastic, and they can be used over and over again. They can be great for learning and education for small children when using games that involve counting or strategy. Card games are a great option too and they make a good travel activity.

Plastic free treats

Chocolate selection boxes and festive sweets are a staple of every childs Christmas. Sweets and chocolates wrapped in foil are a great alternative and are easy to substitute for the plastic wrapped version. Foil is recyclable in all households in Gloucestershire, just scrunch clean foil up in to a ball the size of a golf ball and recycle with your tins and cans.

If you have time, why not pop to a zero waste store or local farm shop for sweet treats. Quite often they have a good selection of zero waste chocolates and sweets and even options like fudge too. They also end to be a similar price, or cheaper than the plastic wrapped option. This is also a great option for adults too.