This post on plastic free gift ideas was written in collaboration with Wicked Uncle. You can find their top toys for six year old boys here.
When asked what the biggest gripe about Christmas toys was, there was a chorus of parents saying ‘the sheer amount of plastic tat’.
I decided that in this post I would focus on gifts for kids that happen to be largely plastic free.
It would be very hypocritical for me to demonise all plastic toys; like most kids, mine have some great plastic toys. Many of their most-loved and well played with toys are made from plastic.
Some of these we were fortunate to be sent for review. We don’t do as many toy reviews as we used to now that my kids are slightly older, but we still do a few here and there; they bring traffic to this site and people find them helpful. Above anything else, it is fun to test out new toys!
However when it comes to purchasing presents with my own money, there are some things I absolutely refuse to buy, even though I know that my children would probably love them.
I’m particularly fed up with surprise toys with loads of plastic wrapping (although many are getting better these days, and have cardboard packaging instead), collectibles which we excitedly open only to find it is the same one we have 12 swaps of already, and things that take up so much space I can’t wait to pass them on to a unsuspecting friend.
Here are – hopefully – some better ideas for this Christmas!
Plastic free gift ideas for kids aged 6-8
I have a guide to picking the perfect Christmas toy for younger children HERE, and a post all about the benefits of wooden toys HERE.
1. Craft sets
Some kids just love to make things and craft sets can really encourage their creativity and between 6 and 8 years old there are so many craft options which they can do unsupervised. And don’t worry; not all of them make mess and create waste and there are plastic free options.
I particularly liked the idea of this Origami Art which is for kids aged 7 and over, which comes with instructions and 21 pieces of colourful Origami paper which can be folded to create different animals. No plastic, no cutting and no mess!
2. A magazine subscription
I find that too many present in one go means that some will be put by and forgotten, but the great thing about subscriptions is that they aren’t a one-off present, but something that lasts for six months, or even a year as well as being a plastic-free gift idea.
Last year we had a subscription to The Week Junior, a current affairs magazine for children aged 8-14 which was brilliant if your kids are asking questions about the news that you’re just not quite sure how to answer. We also subscribe to The Phoenix Comic, which is perfect for kids from seven and up. Plus, they are made from paper and go in the recycling once the issue has been read cover to cover.
3. Books
Books make great gifts for kids. Some children are avid readers who will devour anything, others need to be gently encouraged. Books you can read in short bursts like the Gross Factopia books with disgusting and hilarious facts will delight even the most reluctant of readers.
The Horrible Christmas book, also from Wicked Uncle, proved a very popular festive gift for my two kids (and taught them why kids don’t like sprouts).
4. Edible gifts
In my opinion if you can eat it, it’s never a waste. Adults love edible gifts but kids may not be so sure; make it more exciting (and gruesome) with these edible eyeballs from Choc on Choc via Wicked Uncle here. Made of milk chocolate, the eyeballs ooze strawberry sauce when bitten which will disgust and delight kids of any age.
5. Board games
Board games which the whole family can play are a great joint Christmas present, without all the plastic. Some of our favourite family boardgames for this age group can be found in this post.
6. Science kits
If your child is curious then you can encourage their scientific mind with a science kit. If the thought of letting them loose on chemicals is a bit much, then how about a grow your own bug-eating plant kit? Fascinating and educational!
7. Clothes
Clothes might be seen as dull by some kids, others will love them. Either way, they’re definitely a useful, and usually plastic free gift idea for kids. I very much like these odd socks which are not only cool but save time on pairing!
Chloe said ‘I have an 8 year old boy but one of his biggest requests from him which is a very unisex present is design his own converse. On their website you can literally customize every element of the shoes and he is desperate to do it. They are £45‘.
Dressing up clothes are also something to consider. They’re great for encouraging imaginative play.
8. Experiences
Tickets to a show, an experience or the zoo are a popular alternative to toys for Christmas. Membership to local attractions can provide a year-round gift which can be used again and again and benefit the whole family. Some zoos and animal parks give you the opportunity to adopt their animals which comes with unlimited entry for a year which means the child get an adoption pack to unwrap.
Can you suggest other plastic free gift ideas for kids aged 6-8?
Leave a comment!
Whatever you’re looking for, if you need extra help with picking a suitable present, do check out Wicked Uncle where you can find hand picked toys sorted by by age and category. I’ve used the site myself many times, and it makes finding toys for children a breeze!