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How to Make Eco-Friendly Gifts for Kids

In a society that is often dangerously focused on consumerism, buying eco-friendly gifts can be a great step toward living a greener life. Giving eco-friendly gifts to children is an even greater step because it can help to foster a sense of care and responsibility for the planet early on in life. Eco-friendly is a fairly broad term and can encompass gifts made from reused, biodegradable or organic materials. The following ideas provide a little of each to help you find the perfect gift for the special child in your life.

Things You'll Need

Organic chocolate
Reusable canvas bag
Recycled jewelry
Organic cotton toys and clothing
Reusable water bottle
Recycled paper
Plants
Gardening tools

Instructions

- 1
  Put together a green gift basket. Introduce your child to green living through a variety of eco-friendly items, such as organic chocolate, a reusable canvas bag for shopping trips, jewelry made from recycled materials (there are great products available made from everything from license plates to skateboards), and stuffed animals or other toys made from organic cotton.
- 2
  Plan a day of outdoor activities. So many people spend their time attached to a television or computer screen that they rarely go outside and enjoy nature. The same is true of many children, and a day spent out of doors can go a long way toward fostering an appreciation of nature. Put together a gift bag for your journey including a reusable water bottle, a journal printed on recycled paper for documenting your trip, and a bag or backpack made from organic or recycled materials.
- 3
  Reuse household items for unique homemade gifts. This may seem like cheap re-gifting at first glance, but with some care and creativity you can put together a present more precious than anything available in stores. Consider making a quilt out of old T-shirts, sheets and other materials that the child may remember as being theirs when they were younger; make hand puppets from scraps of material; or sew your own unique doll fashions from leftover material or worn clothing that no longer fits.
- 4
  Help them cultivate a green thumb. Gift your child their own corner of the garden and provide them with a few plants and child-sized garden tools to begin planting with. Use seed paper for the card. This eco friendly paper can be planted -- the paper disintegrates and the seeds embedded in it will sprout beautiful flowers.
- 5
  Make coupons for gifts of service. These I.O.U. coupons are often stashed in a drawer and forgotten by adults, but rest assured that your child will remember her "one day free of chores" or "Mom cleans up my room" coupon. Putting together a book of coupons is a great way to give of yourself instead of giving more material items.

Childrens Toys