Mindful Eid Gift Guide For Kids

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Ramadan is more than halfway over and like us, many of you are probably thinking ahead to Eid (early Eid Mubarak!). While many people traditionally give Eid money to children, it seems more and more people are opting for physical gifts. Often these gifts can be a source of stress for parents as the accumulation of toys is daunting to deal with (speaking from experience here). On top of that, many toys are made cheaply to satisfy short term interests and end up being wasteful in the long run. What to do? That’s where this gift guide comes in!

The list and links you will find in this guide are for toys that are either eco-friendly (made from wood or recycled plastics), sustainably and ethically made, or for long term educational use. These are toys we have either purchased for Eid previously or are considering for Eid this year. I’ve tried to include diverse options and price points so I hope you’ll find something for you. After the list of toys, you will find sources for some fun DIY gift options as well as printable Eid envelopes if you’re going to go the cash route. I am also including a list of ideas for fun experiences you can do with your family on Eid. It should go without saying that Eid is not about gifting but rather a time of celebration with family so please don’t let this post make you feel overwhelmed. Lastly, I would like to point out that buying second-hand is the more sustainable option for our environment but I understand that it’s frowned upon in certain cultures as “cheap.” These toys are for those looking to purchase new toys but want more mindful, socially responsible options; they are definitely not the latest and greatest toy trends of 2019.

  1. Books are one of my favorite gift options for children because they open up a whole new world and encourage parent-child bonding time. Gifting books is extra special when you know the child’s interests and nothing is better than seeing a child’s face light up as they flip through a good book. Here are some wonderful book options:

2. Opinel Le Petit Chef– This knife and peeler equipment set for children aged 7-11 is an excellent gift for your favorite kitchen helper and offers the perfect opportunity to bond over meal prep as well as teach cooking safety early on.

3. Kiddie Woods Doctor Kit-This doctor’s kit is beautifully made and perfect for imaginative play. We bought this for our kids for Eid last year and they still love role playing doctor together. Needless to say it was a huge hit!

4. Kid’s Beginner Microscope– If you have a curious, budding scientist on your hands, this microscope is perfect for introducing STEM and encouraging exploration and learning.

5. PlanToys Assorted Fruits and Vegetables– These are the perfect addition to a play kitchen set or for a child that enjoys playing chef. I love this company because of their focus on sustainability and using reclaimed rubber woods. They have a large and wonderful selection of wooden toys for babies and toddlers and you can browse them all here.

6. Tegu Magnetic Blocks-Magnetic blocks are a great toy for encouraging creative play and supporting cognitive development. I love that Tegu blocks are made from durable solid wood and that the company cares about social impact by prioritizing “long term employee growth and development.”

7. ALEX Pretend Tin Tea Set-What child doesn’t love a good tea party? The set pictured is made of tin and I included it because it’s durable and withstands the clumsiness of toddlers but if you’re gifting an older, more responsible child then this porcelain set is a gorgeous and affordable option.

8. Green Toys Indoor Gardening Set– These planters with seeds make an excellent gift for the nature-loving child in your life. I love Green Toys because they are made from recycled plastics and they also have a huge selection of toys for children of all ages. You can browse them here.

9. Wishbone Design Studio 3-in-1 Bike-This is the priciest gift on this list but if you’ve been on the lookout for a toddler bike then this is a wonderful option. It’s made from sustainably-harvested wood, converts from a baby walker to a balance bike, and won Best Green Toy in 2011.

10. Cuddle + Kind Handknit Dolls– You can’t go wrong with a classic doll especially when it’s handmade from 100% cotton using sustainable, fair trade practices. My favorite part about this company is that it’s family-owned and the purchase of each doll provides 10 meals to children in need.

11. National Geographic Fossil Dig Kit– Another great STEM gift that is the perfect balance of learning and fun. I’m probably getting this for my son because he LOVES to “dig” for dinosaur bones in the yard and I love the hands-on learning it will offer. Not a dinosaur enthusiast? No worries! National Geographic has plenty of other hands-on learning kits here.

12. Sarah’s Play Silks– These play silks are not only beautiful but perfect for all sorts of open-ended play. I love this company because it’s family-owned, specializes in Waldorf inspired toys, and uses natural materials such as wood and silk.

13. HABA Bonita Garden– This beautifully painted stacking peg toy is perfect for younger toddlers and fosters creativity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. I love HABA because their wooden toys are made to last and are colored with non-toxic, water-based stains. The German company also has a diverse selection of other wooden toys and puzzles that you can browse through here.

Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas

These are some simple, fun DIY gifts you can make together with your kids. I am considering making one of these to have on hand for young Eid visitors or to send as Eid favors for my children’s classes.

Printable Eid Money Envelopes

Giving the traditional Eid money is easier because it takes the stress out of gift giving and gives the parents the option to spend or invest as they see fit (college fund, much needed summer clothes, etc.) . If you go that route, we have you covered with some free and purchasable Eid envelope options.

Fun Eid Experiences

While we do usually get one simple gift for the kids, we believe the best gift (and most sustainable gift) is spending quality time together so we’re taking the guesswork out of your Eid planning by sharing some fun things you can do during these special days.

  • A trip to the zoo
  • A movie outing
  • A picnic, BBQ, or kite flying at the park
  • Strawberry picking (or whatever fruit is in season)
  • Mini-golf
  • Bowling
  • A family bike ride
  • A visit to a local museum
  • Go Paddle-boating or canoeing
  • Go out for ice cream
  • Take family pictures

We hope you’ve found this comprehensive gift guide helpful. If you do, we would greatly appreciate you sharing this post with family and friends across your favorite social media channels. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments below and as always….

Our DIY Ramadan: Ramadan Banner & Tablescape Inspiration

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Hello lovely readers! If you are coming here from Mint Candy Designs, hello and welcome to our blog. It’s always wonderful to have new faces around here 🙂 With Ramadan just around the corner, we are excited to share with you some simple ways to decorate your home and make the spirit of Ramadan manifest in your heart and home. Last year, we shared different ways to add festive and colorful touches to the dining table, where you gather to break bread after a long day of fasting. This year, we teamed up with some talented home bloggers to bring you creative DIYs that you can do to welcome this beautiful month into your home.

“There’s hidden sweetness in the stomach’s emptiness.”-Rumi

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The feature of this post is a minimalist Ramadan banner and backdrop that I created near the front entrance of our home. I think it’s a beautiful welcoming statement for family and iftar guests and it makes the perfect backdrop for any family photos. It’s also super easy to make!

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For the Ramadan banner, here’s what you’ll need:
galvanized letters
natural cord
scissors
measuring tape

You can actually use any type of materials for the letters. I chose galvanized tin because they were on clearance at Jo-Anns and I wanted something more sustainable and long-lasting. I was tempted to spray paint the letters gold but in the end decided I liked the rustic, industrial look. To make the sign, all you need to do is arrange your letters spelling RAMADAN MUBARAK. Measure equal spaces between each letter (I did 5 inches) and secure each letter to the cord with a double knot. When you’re finished, create a loop at each end of the cord so you can hang the banner easily on a hook.

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To complete the backdrop simply cut out stars from glittered card stock and stick them to the wall using washi tape. You can also tie ribbon or yarn to cover up the command hooks and add a touch of green with any stems of your choice (eucalyptus, myrtle, grevillea, huckleberry).

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I also spruced up the dining area by hanging up garland and faux greenery. On our open shelving I created a simple display with a lantern and a gold foil Ramadan Mubarak print.

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I hung up our Ramadan advent calendar from Handmade Beginnings  where I’ll put something fun for the kiddos throughout the month. For the table I pulled out the turquoise glasses and purple linens I purchased from IKEA on clearance last year. Unfortunately they no longer offer those specific products (or if they do the colors are different) so I’ll link what alternatives they have below. For the napkins, my source link takes you to a conscious minimalist cotton napkin from H&M.

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 The only new things I purchased for this look were the gold placemats, the craft paper for the table-runner, and the glitter card stock to make the stars for the embellishments. I got the idea for the craft paper table runner from a Pinterest tablescape for Thanksgiving. I think it’s a nice screen-free way to keep children occupied with coloring and you can even write down your own reflections throughout the month. For an extra pop of color, never underestimate the power of fresh flowers. If you’re blessed with a beautiful flower garden then make it a family tradition and go flower picking right before iftar. If not, a local market or a Trader Joe’s would be a good option for gorgeous and reasonably-priced florals.

 

 

 

Sources:

Gold Placemat $1.99 | Craft Roll  $4.79 |Glitter Cardstock  $1.99| Ramadan Print $5.00 | Kitchen Towel $8.00 | Cotton Napkins $3.99 | Turquoise Glass $0.99 | Lantern $3.99

You can also find my sources of inspiration for these looks here on our Pinterest boards:

What did you think of the final result? Would you make this Ramadan banner? If you’re looking for more Ramadan decor inspiration then you’ll definitely want to head on over to my friend at Nimistyle and see her DIY Doily Table Runner and Gratitude Wall. Also don’t forget to check out the rest of the lovely DIYs in the Blog Hop linked below!

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Nimi Style | Amna B Interiors | Simply in Control | Mint Candy Designs | Zair Zabr Play

Last but not least, my friend Amanda and I put together our first Ramadan Ebook. It’s an idea that we’ve been sitting on for a while but this year we took a leap and tried to make it a reality. It’s nothing fancy but it’s a helpful resource filled with meal ideas and recipe links, decor tips, a checklist to help get you organized and even a few simple, mindful challenges for you to try. The best part is it’s available for free download right here:

Ramadan Ready Ebook

Amanda's Plate & The Cozy Home Chronicles

As always if you loved this post, please follow us and share. And for those who celebrate,  Ramadan Mubarak!

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DIY Eid Stocking Stuffers

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Eid Al-Adha is less than two weeks away and I’ve been scrambling to get the house ready so that we can feel those celebratory vibes as summer comes to an end. I came up with the idea to make these Eid-themed stocking stuffers as both a way to fill with small gifts and eidiya (money), as well as decorate the home while marking the end of pilgrimage or haj that has come to pass. Despite brainstorming this project in advance, I am only now getting around to making them a reality. Now all that’s left for me to do is fill them up with some gift cards, sweet treats, and inspirational trinkets. If only there were more hours in a day! Thankfully these take only minutes to make so if you don’t feel like wrapping gifts, this is the perfect little project to make and the kids (and adults) will love having their own Kaaba filled with fun goodies. Let’s get started shall we!

Supplies
(6) 9in x  12in Basic Felt (black)
(1) 9in x  12in Basic Felt (white)
(1) 7/8in x 5yd gold sparkly ribbon
(1) 1/8in x 7yd ribbon (sub string)
Monogram letter stickers (gold)
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Hole puncher
Needle and thread (optional)

*Makes 3 stocking stuffers. To make 1 you only need 2 pieces of black felt. All of these materials can be purchased from Michaels or a local craft store.

Directions

  1. Begin by cutting one of your black felt pieces down from 12in to 9in so that you have a 9×9 square.
  2. Line up both black felt pieces and glue them together (carefully) using your hot glue gun. Start with the bottom and move on to the sides but leave the top open (this is where the awesome stuffing happens). You can also sew the felt together with needle and thread but hot glue works just as well and takes less time. Let dry for 5 minutes.
  3. Cut out a piece of gold sparkly ribbon 9 inches long and glue along the top of your 9×9 felt piece.
  4. Cut out a piece of white felt 2inches thick (2×9) and glue about 2 inches from the bottom of your 9×9 piece.
  5. Place your monogram sticker centrally between the white felt and gold ribbon strip.
  6. At the top of the 9×12 black felt piece, punch two holes approximately  3.5in from the ends.
  7. Thread any thin ribbon or string through the holes, stuff them with some fun trinkets and gift cards, and hang them up for the family to enjoy.

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Let us know in the comments below if you made these and what you stuffed them with. We are always looking for new, creative ideas 🙂 And as always, if you liked this post please follow us and share!

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