Finding gifts that children will actually play with, treasure, and learn from – while also supporting ethical values – is surely the ultimate win this Christmas!
We’ve chosen five ideas from BAFTS members of fair trade gifts for kids that combine fun, quality, and conscience. Show kids that the best toys and treats come with great stories behind them.
1. Bridget Wooden Game by Good Things Gifts – £30
Get rid of those screens! This is wholesome fun for the whole family!
Bridget is a beautifully handcrafted strategy game from Switzerland. Good Things Gifts describe it as a combination between Connect 4 and Tetris. That sounds to us like a great opportunity to test those problem-solving skills while having a laugh (with a touch of friendly rivalry, of course)!
We particularly love the fact that the materials are all natural – not even a speck of plastic in sight…that’s RARE these days! The deep rich brown wooden blocks are made from sustainably sourced wood and the cotton bag it comes in is organic. What a classy game!
2. Multi-Ethnic Rag Dolls by Lanka Kade – from £14.95
Every child should see themselves reflected in their toys. And these beautiful multi-ethnic rags dolls from Lanka Kade (pictured above) offer just that.
They are soft, cuddly, colourful and full of character. It’s a wonderful way to help celebrate diversity and develop empathy and imagination. The dolls are hand-stitched by skilled artisans in Sri Lanka who earn fair wages and work in safe conditions, and are made to last and be loved for a long time.
We want them all!
3. Animal Print Shirts by Where Does It Come From – £24
These gorgeously playful organic cotton shirts feature characterful tortoises, tigers and ants that your children will love. And, even better than that, you can feel good about buying them!
Made from 100% organic cotton grown in Uganda and tailored in Fairtrade-certified workshops in Malawi, each shirt is free from harmful chemicals, soft, durable enough for playground adventures and produced by artisans earning fair wages.
Where Does It Come From‘s transparent supply chain means you know exactly who made your child’s clothing and under what conditions.
4. Divine Chocolate Advent Calendar – True Origin – £7.99
Countdown to Christmas is almost here and this advent calendar is the tastiest way to embrace it.
Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the Kuapa Kokoo cocoa farmers’ cooperative in Ghana. The people who grow the cocoa actually share in the company’s profits – a revolutionary model in the chocolate industry. We think that is worth celebrating…every single day in December!
Divine invests in education, clean water, and community projects in cocoa-growing regions and True Origin does brilliantly in supporting them.
5. Handmade Recycled Paper Notebooks by Shakti.ism – from £8
Nurture young writers, artists, and dreamers with colourful notebooks perfect for doodling, diary writing or any creative endeavour.
These notebooks also have their own beautiful backstory. Shakti.ism creates employment opportunities for women in India who have survived trafficking and exploitation, providing them with fair wages, skills training, and a path to independence. What could be more inspiring than that?!
Handmade from recycled paper, the notebooks come in different sizes and are covered with a wide variety of vibrant cotton fabric covers in assorted colours and patterns.
These fair trade gifts for kids from BAFTS members show children that toys, treats, and treasures are even more special when they’re made with care, respect, and kindness. Teaching ethical values starts with the choices we make – and these products make it easy and joyful.