Buying something handmade for your little prince or princess is a really unique, individual and great way to get them a gift you can be sure they will not have, and one that no one else will have thought to give them.
That said, it is super important when looking to buy handmade gifts to think very carefully about safety, and to be clear as to what is and what is not safe to give to children of different ages. This is especially true when buying handmade items and gifts as a number of those advertised or sold will not unfortunately have been tested or approved for kids. Not only does this mean a gift given with love could actually be potentially dangerous, it could also make it impossible to know what age range a specific gift might be appropriate for.
Then, and ahead of getting shopping, it is well worth first heading over to the UK Toys Advice website and familiarising yourself with the laws surrounding children’s toys, products and safety. You can also find the UK Toy Regulations in full via the Gov.UK website. Meanwhile, here are four ideas provided by companies and creators who hand make children’s toys, furniture and games and which are all safe for your little princes and princess to enjoy.
1. Wooden Toys...of Just About Every Kind
Traditional, handmade wooden toys (whether a festive nutcracker, rocking horse, building blocks or something else entirely) make fantastic gifts for a number of reasons:
· they are sturdy.
· they look fantastic and consequently make great features in any nursery or bedroom as well as serving a function.
· they can be painted or personalised
· they can often be easily repaired
Perhaps one of the best things about gifting traditional wooden toys though is that in almost all cases they do not require batteries. This make wooden toys a fantastically cost effective, energy saving and eco-friendly option (provided you purchase your wooden toys via an ethically minded and established UK toy maker) when it comes to getting the perfect gift.
Making non-battery powered or assisted toys also opens up a whole world of potential for any expert toy maker who specialises in wooden toys will as they will as such take full advantage of the huge scope using wood provides – from creating non-peddle bikes to dolls houses to furniture items.
Then, and to discover such a toy maker based here in the UK and get exploring the wonderful world of wooden toys, head over to the Robroy Wooden Toys website. Creating and selling toys for toddlers up, Robroy Wooden toys also makes personalised wooden toys, play furniture and some truly magical wooden railways and puzzles that make ideal and educational Christmas gifts for any child.
2. Ethically Handcrafted Fair trade Dolls
Whilst this option is not one that is made in the UK, the dolls created by Lanka Kade UK are all designed in the UK which enables the Lanka Kade team to ensure that their Sri Lanka made rag dolls are not only crafted to the highest quality but that they are most importantly safe to give to and be played with by little ones. Further, there is good reason why these dolls are not made here in the UK.
Lanka Kade is a dedicated and registered Fair Trade company which designs here in the UK, but then entrusts its Sri Lanka based doll making artisans to realise their designs because the company in turn uses the profits generated by sales of their handmade toys to benefit disadvantaged children living in Sri Lanka. Hence, a Lanka Kade is not only a brilliantly unique alternative to a mass produced and plastic doll to give for Christmas 2016, but ensures that every doll given has a real heart and arrives with its own unique story.
Finally, being an ethically minded company, the rag dolls it creates are as such conscientiously made making finding a gorgeous doll of every race, gender and look possible and in turn introducing children from a young age to ideas of race and celebrating the multicultural world in which we live today whilst simultaneously celebrating the toy traditions also enjoyed here in Britain.
3. Why Teepees Make the Ultimate Dens...and Where to Find the Ultimate Teepee
Reclaim your dining table and chairs from their fort, fairy castle or den by re-housing your brood rather than simply evicting them. Not only will this save on the tears it will also provide the kids with their very own handmade, unique and totally magical place to retreat to, and as such is likely to also provide the grownups with some (in all likelihood) mush appreciated and well-earned respite.
Specifically, a teepee makes a fantastic den for the very same reason that they were first ever devised:
· they require minimum set up
· they require minimal materials to be made
· being made of soft fabrics enables them to easily feature colourful, diverse and vivid designs
· they are difficult for children to bump or injure themselves on or whilst using
· they can be quickly and easily assembled, and disassembled
· they are easy to store
· they take up a very little amount of space when not in use
Of course, not every kid is crazy about being an Indian though (after all, princes and princess live in castles not tents). Fortunately, UK based company, Just for Tiny People, realising this hand make a range of child-safe teepees that are themed to suit kids’ every whim – whether your little person requires a castle complete with its own dragon, fairy or princess themed retreat, pirate ship or perhaps (and why not) wants their own Christmas grotto to retire to along with their haul of gifts come Christmas day.
So, rather than disappoint a kid with a standard teepee or try to get creative with making one yourself, just give the Just for Tiny People Handmade Teepee range a browse through and see if you can’t find the perfect ready-made den, no matter how imaginative your kid is; the Just for Tiny People teepee making team are about as creative as it gets when it comes to den making and designing. Don’t believe us? See for yourself!
4. Traditional English Handmade Teddy Bears
There is nothing more British or more lovely than gifting a child or baby a handmade teddy bear at Christmas.
A gift that often travels and journeys through childhood with its recipient and might even end up moving on with to university and beyond, it is consequently important when gifting the little prince or princess in your family with a teddy bear that it is one which will and can stand up to the trials of childhood.
Then, it is also worth turning to a specialist teddy bear such as UK based Merry Thought when looking for such a bear. Merry Thought’s traditional, characterful and instantly recognisable bears have been popular and much loved by thousands of kids already and can also be personalised the name of their recipient or perhaps with a name of their very own. The choice is yours, as is the decision whether to opt to buy one of their more traditional bears or instead perhaps opt to purchase their colourful Humpty Dumpty plush, a Matilda Mouse or even green hippopotamus.
Alternatively, for those looking to spend a little less or simply involve their little prince or princess in the very making of their bear or plush, why not take them to a Build a Bear workshop and let them create their own? Good luck prying the finished creation from their little hands for those hoping to wrap up and give their teddy to its intended recipient though!
