After a year full of challenges, our first instinct as parents is to use the holiday season as an excuse to overcompensate our kids with gifts. But how to do it consciously?
One of the biggest lessons of 2020 is that we have to take better care of our planet and of each other. One way of doing this is to look for different ways of gifting our children this year. It might be by supporting a company that gives something back to charities, a brand that is heavily investing in recycled materials or even an unusual present such as adopting an animal in Africa. There are many creative ways to make this Holiday season more meaningful to your child and to end a very difficult year with a positive message. Let’s create a conscious movement around the world and plant the idea that the change starts on each one of us. Here are some ideas:
- Funky Stocking
Yoobi is a stationary company that creates fun, colorful and useful materials to be used at school, home or office. Their products are a good option to fill your kids’ stockings during this time of the year or to gift that talented and crafty child.
What’s great about them: for every item purchased, they donate a school supply item to a child in need in the US. They work in partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation that ensures that every kid is prepared to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies nationally to students most in need. Each Yoobi classroom pack is filled with 425 items or 30 school supply sets for 30 students.
www.yoobi.com
- Adopt a Wild Animal
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a non-profit organization that aims to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. They organize their work in six areas: food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests and oceans.
What’s great about them: everything they do is great! All the awareness and active actions pro nature is enough to justify them here. However, there is a nice way to support their global conservation, you can symbolic adopt a wild animal. A great option to get kids to protect the world we live in. There is an adoption kit that comes with a soft stuffed toy from the chosen animal (they have around 140 options), a frame certificate and photo, species card, all in a special gift box.
www.worldwildlife.org
- Cozy Hugs
Cuddle+Kind was founded by a family of five and creates cute hand-knit dolls, made with premium cotton yarn that is certified non-toxic and safe for even the littlest of little ones. A great gift for small kids as a companion that will watch them grow or even a collection idea!
What’s great about them: despite creating safe and unique soft dolls to every item purchased, the brand gives 10 meals to children in North America and around the world. To date, they have donated over 14 million meals to children in 66 countries. But that’s not all, the dolls are handcrafted in Peru and helps empower 750 talented artisans with sustainable and fair trade employment.
www.cuddleandkind.com
- Beyond Skincare
Lush is a handmade cosmetic company with ethical actions in their core values. It uses 100 percent vegetarian ingredients, fights animal testing and tries to minimize the use of packaging. For the teenager in the house, their products can be the perfect gift!
What’s great about them: if you choose to purchase their Naked Charity Pot or Coin Body Lotion, 100 percent of the purchase price goes to grassroots organizations upholding human rights, environmental justice and the protection of animals. Each coin available has a design that represents each of these areas of support. The nourishing product combines cocoa and shea butters, olive, jojoba and moringa oils with notes of vanila, ylang ylang and rosewood. Also available in a potted cream formula.
www.lush.com
