[New] Eco ideas

Sustainable and socially responsible

Check out Eeny Meeny’s online store. Their independent e-shop stocks unique brands like DanToy, a Danish company who make their products from sugarcane. (One of the only toy companies which got the Eco Swan Nordic Label for its production.) A great range of products that support children's imagination, creativity and early years of development, whilst making a positive impact on the world through their ethos and production. https://eenymeeny.com something like a magnifying glass and a bug identification book (which come in under £10), ‘scavenger hunt’ type cards, a kite, pavement chalks or a gardening or craft kit.

Non toy’ gifts

Children are often inundated with toys on their birthdays, so a fun tshirt or some funky socks can work well, especially if you can find something featuring their favourite superhero or TV character. These can be very reasonably priced in high street chains and most supermarkets and parents will be pleased you’ve bought their child something to wear.

Handmade

With a little time and creativity, handmade presents are a very cheap option; hair scrunchies, superhero masks, embellished t-shirts, crochet toys, personalised totes or hand knitted beanies.

Scrap schemes

These are a great source of free and cheap craft materials, such as paper, fabric, elastic, ribbons, beads and sequins. Not only do these make crafting even cheaper, they also help the planet by using up materials that would otherwise have gone to landfill, so it’s win-win!

The Work and Play Scrapstore (WaPS), the arts and crafts re-use charity is at 13 Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0DA. Open: Tuesdays and Thursdays (11am-5pm) each week and the first Saturday of every month (11-4pm). http://workandplayscrapstore.org.uk

Club together Club together with other parents in the class and buy one larger toy, voucher or experience. The birthday child will get a much bigger present and it will have cost you each less.

Creative gift-wrapping can zing up the contents and it doesn’t have to cost a thing. Use pages from an old magazine or street map, leftover wallpaper or personalise a brown paper bag with lots of colour.

Pre-loved

Gifting pre-loved is becoming more acceptable. So many toys are untouched and unloved and whether it’s something your own children don’t want or a toy purchased from a charity shop, children really don’t mind! It’s also worth noting that many pre-loved marketplaces and charity shops also sell brand new toys that are looking for a new home; some real bargains can be found that anyone would be very happy to re-gift. Fara Kids shops are brilliant.

Grow your own

Gift wrap a plant pot with a little bag of compost and some seeds for a gift that will keep growing!

For more birthday party tips, read Tamsin’s blog at www.icecreamandjelly.com or check out her Instagram page @icecreamandjelly_uk.