For me there’s a few basic principles that help me look for natural gifts and experiences to give.  I love buying gifts and giving things, but I have to still remind myself sometimes that more is not necessarily better.  This is the first principle, quality over quantity.  I learned this lesson when my kids were small — the more toys they had, the fewer they actually played with.  It was like the sheer choice of items and toys gave them paralyzing overwhelm.

The second principle for buying natural gifts is to avoid plastic wherever you can.  Believe me, this can be REALLY tricky.  I recently was looking for a new high chair that wasn’t mostly made of plastic, and it was super frustrating that I had so few options when it came to what I wanted.  I think this is true of many items for kids and even adults — plastic is often the main component and can be difficult to avoid.  But enter online shopping and you can find specific items that are made plastic free with a little more ease.

My third principle for buying natural gifts is to be really intentional.  Sometimes this means waiting and not purchasing something right away.  It may mean thinking about it for a few days before purchasing.  So often I think we see something that looks halfway decent and decide to get it for the sake of being done with shopping.  But, if we took a step back and asked if our recipient really wants or needs it and is it something that aligns with my feelings on waste and plastic, you may make a different choice in the long run.

Another tip I have is that practicality goes a long way.  Oftentimes my husband and I don’t necessarily go all out on frivolous gifts.  And to be honest, I’m COMPLETELY okay with that.  We make an intentional decision to go out to a nice dinner, or do something together as part of our gift to each other.  And if we do get gifts for one another, it’s usually something more on the practical side that we’ll really use or something we really wanted.  I think the key here is to think about how often the item will get used, and if the answer is frequently, it’s a good pick.

When it comes to shopping, I love handmade shops and items for natural gifts.  These often mean more to someone getting them and they also usually create a lot less waste and shipping costs when made.  This post I wrote on Etsy shops that sell natural and organic items is one of my favorites to reference when looking for home decor items to give. Etsy and local shops near you often have some of the most creative gifts you can give.  Jewelry is especially great to find in these places.

And lastly, gifts do not always have to be things.  THIS is where I’m completely at with my own kids and family.  We’ve done family adventures and trips in the past, or for my husband and it might be an outing without the kids together.  We’ve also done passes, tickets and lessons in the past, which are all great experiences and not necessarily things that need to be stored.