For bookworms
Celebrating inspirational figures such as Greta Thunberg, Sir David Attenborough and lesser-known heroes such as First Nations activists, Lily Dyu’s positive and cheerful hardback for all ages Earth Heroes: Twenty Inspiring Stories of People Saving Our World (£9.99, Green Tulip) is perfect for the mini activist in your life.
For children aged eight years and over, Onjali Rauf’s Boy at the Back of the Classroom (£7.35, Orion) offers lessons in friendship and acceptance through this heartwarming story about Syrian refugee Ahmed who moves to London. Meanwhile, the beautifully illustrated How to Help a Hedgehog and Protect a Polar Bear: 70 Everyday Ways to Save Our Planet by Jess French (£8.99, Nosy Crow), aimed at pre-teens, tells the story of Earth’s wildlife habitats – from woodlands and freshwater rivers to savannahs, oceans and jungles – and how we can all look after them.
A letter from Santa
Of course, the most special gift on any child’s list is likely to be a letter from the big man himself – and this year, you can make that wish come true. For an £8 donation to the NSPCC, the children’s charity will arrange for its good friend Father Christmas to send a personalised Letter From Santa to your chosen little one, ready to be opened on Christmas morning. Santa’s letter can be written in English or Welsh, and can be made even more special by adding in secret information about a child’s favourite hobby or activity that only Santa would know.
For the trendsetters
MamaOwl specialises in high quality childrenswear made from natural fabrics, much of it organic. The business was launched by a London-based, Danish-born mother after she realised that much of the wool clothing popular in her homeland was not readily available in the UK. You can expect to find everything from jumpsuits and dungarees, to dresses and tracksuits.
Combine these with Patagonia’s outdoor clothing that is guaranteed to last years, and you’ll have a stylish and happy child at Christmas. The long-serving outdoor brand’s commitment to quality craftsmanship and sustainability means it has heavily invested in recycled and biodegradable materials. From parkas to one-pieces, your favourite small people will be snug and protected from the rain this winter.
To nurture their passions
For crafty kids, Green Creativity’s activity packs use techniques of recycling and upcycling to make fun creations. With its Recycled Paper Beads pack (£11.95), children can turn old magazine and newspaper pages into beads, and then make colourful bracelets, anklets and necklaces. The Pressed Flower Art (£12.50) encourages kids to collect and identify fallen flowers and leaves before pressing them to use in greeting cards, and on bookmarks and box lids.
For those who have a love for singing and dancing, the experience of visiting theatreland is a lovely treat – and the West End favourite Elf The Musical is back for a short run between 14 November and 7 January at London’s Dominion Theatre. Or check out your local John Lewis store for theatre token gift cards to use at more than 250 nationwide venues.
To introduce them to nature
Children will lose themselves in Mud & Bloom monthly activity boxes, which are packed with seasonal nature-focused craft and gardening activities. Designed for three- to eight-year-olds, little ones will learn so much, from planning photography hunts to making snow globes – with each task curated by qualified teachers and forest school leaders. Subscription boxes come in three-, six- or 12-month options (prices vary). Meanwhile, Natural Collection Select’s About Bugs kit (£14.95) is for anyone who is fascinated with creepy crawlies. With more than 160 bugs to learn about on handy cards, and a net and jar provided for safe handling, this kit encourages children to capture and study insects – before releasing them back into the wild.
To grow their confidence
Suitable for children from two to five, the Micro Eco Mini Scooter (£79.95) from Green Toys is made from recycled ocean plastic, with the deck composed of re-used fishing nets. It also has replaceable parts so that if something breaks, it can be repaired.
The Fairtrade company Lanka Kade has created a range of ethnically diverse rag dolls (prices start from £12.95) – each great for nurturing role-playing and inclusivity.
Meanwhile, children over the age of six can practise their French, Spanish, German and more with the I Speak Six Languages game (£21.95).
Every donation that is given with a Letter from Santa helps the NSPCC’s Childline service answer more calls and be here for all children over the holidays. To donate and get yours, visit: letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk/letter-from-santa
Registered charity number 216401 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), SC037717 (Scotland) and 384 (Jersey).
