90’s was a great time to be alive and to grow up especially in India. The economy had just opened up, and foreign goods and money had begun to circulate in the country. Also with these goods, came Western culture and their customs and traditions. One such trend that quickly caught on was the concept of return gifts on birthdays. It was an incentive for kids to attend a birthday party that wasn’t their own. Any millennial kid who had the best return gift (like the latest GI Joe action figure) automatically gained bragging rights for an entire year and went down as a legend.

When kids become teenagers, suddenly return gifts turn childish and immature, but they’re still handed out at birthday parties for younger kids. Most of the time, return gifts are plastic toys. These plastic toys have a coat of paint which is shiny to make it more attractive for kids. The shine is a result of lead mixed into the paint. Younger kids are prone to put such toys in their mouth and keep them near all the time. Lead has disastrous effects on the skin and overall health of children. Some kids in China have turned corneal blind due to long exposure of such toys covered in lead paint. Such toys and gifts are not only harmful to the children but also an environment hazard.

Thus, we here at hamaraevent.com thought of putting together a list of eco-friendly return gifts to children at birthday parties. These gifts deliver a powerful message of environmental conservation to young impressionable minds of our children. Read on to know more.

1. Small Sapling:

A child planting a sapling

The easiest way to start a chain of goodness is by gifting children a small sapling. Little children hate to be treated as children and love to take up responsibilities as it makes them feel more grown up. Tell them while gifting this tree, that they’re in charge of this baby tree and are responsible for its food and growth. They’d jump at this with all their innocence, and this would help them in inculcating a love for trees and nature. Ideally, saplings of trees which are commonly found all over India like Neem, Peepal, Gulmohar, Banyan or Rose, Lotus, Orchid are apt for gifting. Presenting this idea in an effective and attractive manner is very important.

2. Sprout Pencil:

A sprout pencil planted in a pot. Pencils become trees!

The commonly associated symbol for stationery is a pencil. Kids require stationery the most, not because they use it heavily, but because they tend to lose it very often. Thus, pencil sets are also very common as return gifts. When the long attractive pencils become short stubs, they’re usually thrown away. A lot of wood is wasted in this manner. A US-based called Sprouts has made an innovative type of pencil to tackle this exact problem. It’s made from sustainable wood and has seeds at the end of the pencil. So when it does turn into a stub, you just have to plant it! You have a plant in a few weeks! These plants include fruits, trees, flowers and herbs of different kinds.

3. Recycled Paper Notebooks:

A set of recycled paper notebooks and pens

Notebooks made out of recycled paper make excellent return gifts. They deliver a very impactful message of environment conservation and also serve the purpose of education. The paper used in these notebooks is made from agro-industrial waste and waste paper. It’s also free from acids and other chemicals used to whiten the paper.

4. Multipurpose Cloth Bags:

A train themed cloth bag. A creative return gift!

Old, dirty and torn clothes are usually given away or made into dusting cloths. Instead, try doing something new this time. If you have time on your hands, stitch those old clothes into cloth bags. Even old curtains, bed sheets, bed covers and pillow covers make awesome bags. If you don’t know how to stitch, there are plenty of DIY tutorials available online. If you can’t afford the time, simply outsource this job to a tailor. Such bags are useful for a ton of things.

5. Jewelry For Girls:

Creative jewelry packed in an attractive box for girls

Some spiffy, ethical jewelry looks good on girls and women of all ages. Most of the jewelry is made out of recycled steel, iron and wood. They’re handmade by artisans in remote and rural areas. Sustainability of these goods is also high.

6. Jute Pouches/ Bags For Kids:

Creatively designed jute pouches for kids

The best part of these jute bags is the sturdiness. No matter how heavy the bag gets, jute can carry it. Again, grass root level workers get a boost through the purchase of these articles. The brown color which these bags and pouches have given a rugged look. Also, kids can use fabric colors to paint on these bags and pouches to make them attractive. It would actually make a fun activity at a birthday party!

7. Painted Bottles/ Cups:

Mickey Mouse themed cup for children!

Instead of throwing away old bottles and cups, painting them gives them a new life. A nicely painted bottle with an intricate design and some flowers would serve as a good centerpiece. So ask the children to color the Old cups, which can be later given them as return gift and it can be used by them to store stationery like pens, rulers and pencils.

8. Dream Catchers:

A holistic and thoughtful return gift for children

A dream catcher is basically a wooden hoop, on which a net or web is loosely woven. It’s then decorated with sacred feathers and beads. In some Native American cultures, Lakota or dream catchers are believed to filter out all the bad dreams in little children. A dream catcher is usually hung over the bed or somewhere in the room and is considered to be a positive symbol. This holistic gift is usually made with the fallen feathers of birds and waste materials.

9. Keychains:

Minion themed keychains for children

Another popular giveaway as a return gift, fancy key chains has different types of micro electrical parts fitted in it. Plastic and ceramic key chains are also cheap and popular. Hence, eco-friendly key chains made of bio-degradable materials can be gifted.

10. Eco-friendly Play Dough:

Eco-friendly play dough!

Playing with play dough is one of the best childhood memories of any child. The soft pasty material can take any shape that a child’s brain can think of. This very prospect makes it very exciting for children. However, the commercial play dough available in the market is injurious to health if ingested.  Instead, this play dough can also be made at home, and there are many DIY videos and recipes available online. 

So this is our list of amazing and unique return gifts that you can count on for children’s birthday parties. Once you have return gifts ticked off your to-do list, the next things to fall in line our event venue, decoration, entertainment, etc. For all these requirements you can visit hamaraevent.com for end to end solutions.