Having yourself a merry little Christmas doesn’t have to mean maxing out on chocolate and mainlining TV box sets. Here are a few crafty, ethical and downright covetable gifts to stuff in Santa’s (organic cotton) stocking this Christmas.
By Kate Farr.
Boot Up
Donsje Amsterdam shoes are made from supple nubuck leather, padded for comfort and come with grippy, pre-roughened soles, meaning your newly-mobile sprout stays planted firmly on the pavement where they belong. Carefully crafted by Indonesian artisans to allow your child’s feet to develop and grow properly, these fairtrade cutie booties have secure fastenings, allowing you to bid farewell to those “Argh, we’ve lost another one!” moments of parental panic.
$430-$580; available from sooqcentral.com.
Boxing Day
Transform a simple cardboard box into the best Christmas present ever. Makedo kits are packs of reusable tools and fastenings that bring any old box to spectacular life, enabling kids to make absolutely anything that their heart desires. Bonus parent hack – if you’re caught on the hop by Book Week/Halloween/fancy dress parties, this kit is a last-minute costume lifesaver. Just add cardboard.
Costs from AU$13.50 (HK$79.60); buy online at int.make.do.
That’s Amaze’ing
Lure the kiddos away from Pokémon with the promise of some hands-on crafting with a high-tech twist. Seedling’s brand-new MAZE VR range may look like simple wooden craft kits, but, when paired with Seedling’s iOS app, a simple marble maze becomes a castle or a spaceship. For arty types, the modern art viewer allows you to browse your own virtual reality gallery.
Kits start at $349; available at Lane Crawford or online at seedling.com.hk.
You Water Know
One of the smartest new kids’ products we’ve seen in forever, Gululu is a drinking bottle, a game and a new best friend, all rolled into one. This BPA-free interactive water bottle pairs with a mobile app to measure water consumption, encouraging kids to stay hydrated by letting them choose their own virtual “pet”, which lives in the Gululu Universe and grows as they drink. They can also team up to interact with other Gululu users, making this a social – and practical – pressie.
Prices start at US$99 (HK$768); find out more at mygululu.com.
Give a Little
Christmas can leave everyone feeling a little flat after the initial excitement of ripping open gifts has subsided. For a longer-lasting warm and fuzzy feeling, TwoPresents is a good way for kids to spread some Christmas cheer while still allowing the grandparents to spoil them a bit. Kids nominate a charity that they’d like to support, along with a gift that they’d like to save for, and gift-givers donate funds online that are then split between the two. Easy, clutter-free and all-round satisfying.
Find out more at twopresents.com.
We Need a Hero
A perennial favourite here at Liv, Baby Hero has once again given us something to smile about in what’s felt like a pretty turbulent year. With every purchase of these sweet baby clothes funding a life-saving neonatal and maternal health kit for use in developing countries, Baby Hero also fairly-trades the production and processing of its cotton garments, making these gifts an ethical no-brainer. Its new “Global Kidizen” gift set, including a onesie, rattle toy and reusable gift bag not only looks adorbs, but is made for “a kid who celebrates differences, embraces equality and practices kindness… a true citizen of the world.” Sounds like the future heroes we all need.
Costs $271.06; available from babyhe.ro.
Santa Baby
Written by a group of entrepreneurial Hong Kong kids aged between 8-11, “How To Be A Good Babysitter” is a cute and informative bilingual children’s book. It gives hints and tips to tweens on how best to interact with and care safely for babies and toddlers – be that as a fully-fledged babysitter, or simply as an older sibling wanting to get involved with a younger family member. Funds raised by the book will go to the kids’ chosen charity, Hong Kong Dog Rescue, making this a thoughtful little stocking filler.
$125, available from Bookazine and Toys Club.