Toys we're happy to see come into our home: sustainable gift ideas

My emotional side, for its part, also understands the need to give them a present that will make them happy for a moment. The catch is that, very often, toys only make their eyes light up for a moment, precisely. They're quickly abandoned, or else they fall apart far too fast, and they're forgotten along with all the other toys the kids have left behind.

This year, I'd like to suggest to my loved ones that we think about responsible buying together. Far be it from me to stop them from giving my children something, but I'd like us to give my children not only a gift but also a value. The value of “not all consumer goods make me happy,” the value of “abundance isn't synonymous with happiness,” the value of “I'm not defined by what I own” and above all the value of “consuming less is better for our planet.” Like most people in my family, I signed the pact, and under the heading “Consumption,” I promised to “Reduce my consumption, my waste production (reuse, recycle, compost) and waste in all its forms, especially energy waste; reduce my plastic consumption, by choosing, among other things, the least packaged products.” At Christmas, the festival of consumption, it's time to keep our commitments, isn't it?

Along the same lines, I want my children to receive things they'll not only enjoy but that will also last and that, on top of that, will help them develop their ability to grow and to understand the world around them. That's where it gets tricky! To the people around me, this kind of talk can seem like a buzzkill! If I give them this spiel, they'll surely be quite discouraged; it might seem a bit complicated to them. How do you find the gift that will please both the kids and the parents… So, dear parent, we decided to help you help them! We've even prepared a little reminder sheet that you can give them and that they can slip into their wallet. That way, when they get to the toy store, the bookstore or the sporting goods store, the friendly clerks will be able to give them a hand with their choice.

What makes a good toy? Here, according to Les Belles Combines, are the criteria every good toy should meet!

• Toys that get a child's imagination working. A good toy has the quality of being changed, handled and transformed by children's imagination. Building blocks, Lego, modelling clay, craft supplies, figurines and costumes are excellent examples. ALL my children use them, girls or boys. I can't tell you how many times I've been treated to a parade of costumed characters, heard “Mom, come see my creation!”, and watched my children get lost for very long minutes, even hours, creating something and proudly showing me their masterpieces!

• Toys that will stand the test of time. We avoid toys that do too much and break quickly. They're very often doomed to a mechanical breakdown. For the youngest, we favour wooden toys. They're beautiful and durable!

• Still with durability in mind, we try to avoid toys based on Disney movies. Honestly, in two months, they won't even like them anymore. Lightning McQueen was super popular a few years ago. The kids had every little car from the series. Unfortunately, it passed quickly. Funny thing, the little car they loved the most was the very ordinary one that came from dad's-toy-chest-from-when-he-was-little!

• We avoid toys that are overstimulating, that make lots of sound effects, with lights that flash, etc. In fact, just like screens, these toys turn children into spectators who don't exercise their cognitive abilities. Anyway, once the novelty wears off, they very quickly lose their appeal.

• The kids have a doll they adore and five little cars they play with? Why buy them three more? We avoid duplicates and multiples. When they have too many toys of the same kind, they go looking for one particular item, dumping the toy bin on the floor and abandoning its contents without putting them away.

So what do we buy them? Are you a parent who has to give toy suggestions to the people around you? Toys aren't the only thing to give as gifts. Come up with a project and ask people to buy things related to it. Kids will love going home with everything they need to bring this new project to life. This year, we decided to turn the basement into an active zone. To get there, there are lots of things to get: a padded floor mat, exercise rings to hang from the ceiling, a punching bag, a wooden swing, a slackline, climbing holds to put on the wall, giant padded cubes for building, and so on. We fully intend to ask everyone to buy one of these items. It'll be great since we'll receive almost everything we need and one child's gift can also be used by the others. In the end, what we'll be receiving is a family gift!

You can also decide to create a craft corner for them. We'd need a work desk, stools, small compartmentalized bins to store supplies, craft materials, pencils, and so on. You can create a reading nook in the house with a nice rug, cushions, a teepee, posters, books, a bookcase, a nice pouf, and so on. Maybe it's time to redo your growing child's bedroom? Think bedding, cushions, a rug, posters, a new bookcase, books, and so on. Are your kids not getting outside enough? Think about equipping them to play in the snow: snowshoes, shovels, pails, supplies for building igloos, snow paint, sleds for sliding, and so on. Maybe you'd like to take the whole family on a trip and it seems beyond your financial means? Why not ask family and friends to help! They can give the children money to contribute to this project. To make the experience more fun, set up a treasure hunt for the Christmas loot by having the elves hide bills all over the house. The magic will still be there! You can also ask people to give things related to the upcoming trip: passport, travel bag, swimsuit, snorkel mask, a travel guidebook, and so on. We did this for our family trip. The kids loved it!

And if this year you truly have neither the desire nor the need for any of that, let the people around you know that your kids love one-on-one outings and that, for lack of time or money, trips to the movies, a restaurant, the museum, the theatre, the Science Centre or the Planetarium are rare!

Out of original ideas for giving kids non-material gifts? Find our suggestions here!

Want to be the first to see everything published in the Magazine each month, and get access to our Toolbox, which includes, among other things, free downloads that are as practical as they are fun? Subscribe to Belles Combines Magazine today!