Looking for the perfect gift for the nature-loving child in your life? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s our pick of the best gifts for kids for Christmas 2021.
It’s hard sometimes finding the balance between buying kids something that will encourage them to spend time in nature – and reflects well on you as a parent or family friend – and that which they will be over the moon to receive.
We’ve scoured the internet to create this list of fantastic Christmas gifts for kids that do both. Whether you’re looking for a larger present to ask Father Christmas to deliver, or some excellent stocking fillers, here is our pick of the best presents for nature-loving kids to help you tick off the last of your shopping list.
Still got some adults to buy for? You might like to check out our list of Best eco friendly gifts for Christmas, 35 best gift ideas for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers and Best gifts for walkers: 15 top presents for hikers. And, if you’re interested in adopting a sustainable approach to gift-giving this year, discover inspiring ideas in our guide to the best reusable wrapping paper.
Best gifts for nature-loving boys and girls
The Den Kit Company Forest Den Kit
There are two types of den: the one you build in your bedroom to read your favourite book under on a rainy day, and the one that serves as your spy headquarters for your adventures in the great outdoors. This fantastic den-building kit contains everything a child needs to create the latter: his or her very own shelter among the trees, with a tarpaulin, tent pegs, wooden mallet and groundsheet.
The kit is perfect for encouraging children to get creative in the great outdoors, engaging problem-solving skills and a sense of achievement. It comes with a beautifully illustrated identification and fact sheet, to help expand knowledge of our native, living heritage. There’s also a trowel and a helpful guide to growing your own sapling.
Frugi pyjamas
- Buy now from Frugi (RRP from £33)
This family clothing brand is well loved for its cheerful, bright designs and sustainable manufacturing techniques, whether that means using organic cotton or recycled plastic on its outerwear.
Frugi pyjamas remain firm favourites with parents and children, and this year sees a delightful range of unisex sleepwear – including these seasonal Dusk Switch pyjamas, available in a range of sizes from 12-month-olds up to age 10.
Cardboard Bugs kits
- Buy now from Etsy (£7)
These adorable folding cardboard bugs make an excellent stocking filler for budding naturalists.
With simple, easy-to-fold designs, they’re a great introduction to the more complicated origami sets on the market – and what’s more, a child can actually do them without your supervision. Wins all round.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ refractor telescope
As recommended by our sister title, The Sky at Night, this is a brilliant beginner’s telescope for the whole family to have a go with. At around the £99 mark, it’s at the lowest end of what you should pay for an entry-level telescope, offering some fantastic extra features including a smartphone dock that allows you to locate objects via the StarSense app.
Read the full review at Sky at Night magazine, and see their buyers guide to telescopes for more information about how telescopes work and what to look for when buying your first one.
RSPB Puffin Binoculars
- Buy now from RSPB (£70)
This fun-looking pair of binoculars make a great entry point for budding ornithologists and nature spotters. They come in a range of colours, including this delightful pink – perfect for fashion-conscious tweens and young adults. They’re lightweight on young necks, too.
They come complete with a case and strap, bird ID guide and free pin badge.
Find more gift ideas for bird lovers in our dedicated guide.
The Ordnance Survey Kids’ Adventure Book
Sat nav is all very well, but on a walk in the countryside there’s no beating OS Maps, either on paper or via the app. Start kids off early in this bumper kids’ book of outdoor adventures, which teaches kids vital orienteering skills and provides colourful inspiration by the bucketload.
Created by the experts at Ordnance Survey, it includes skills such as understanding a map, using a compass, planning a trip and what to do in an emergency.
There are also suggestions for places to go, and plenty of top tips and fun facts, while map skills are put to the test in a series of ‘map challenges’ created by puzzle master Dr Gareth Moore to test observation skills and map reading.
This is the perfect book for any kid who loves the outdoors, recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Find more non-fiction adventure books for adults and children in our list of favourites.
National Trust Make your Own Woodland Bracelet kit
- Buy now from Not On The Highstreet (£3.14)
This sweet little jewellery-making kit is great for younger children. Thread on the little wooden owls, leaves and beads to make a natural set of chunky woodland friends to take with you. Comes complete with charming little tin.
Primus Pippi Vacuum flask
Packing for a family walk can often feel like packing for a holiday. Spare kids clothes, first aid kit, spare loo roll, waste bags, snacks for the family, thermos of tea for the grown-ups, milk, cups, spoons…
Save on effort and give children some autonomy with their own little flask for hot chocolate, warm blackcurrant squash or milky decaf tea – whatever your family preference is.
They’ll love having their own special drink, preserved at just the right temperature, and in a vivid Pippi Longstocking flask. A great investment for those outdoor adventures together.
Tender leaf toys My botanical press
- Buy now from Kidly (£18)
A wonderful way for kids to engage and enjoy the great outdoors, this gender-neutral botanical press could have them making nature pictures all through their childhood.
Whether it’s beautiful wild flowers, fern leaves, or colourful grasses, boys and girls can have fun collecting and preserving botanical items from the natural world.
Kids Hedgehog and Beaver Christmas Hoodies
- Buy now from the Wildlife Trusts (£24)
Printed on demand in a renewable-energy-powered factory, these adorable hoodies from the Wildlife Trusts will keep nature fans for the whole of winter. They’re printed on organic cotton, super snuggly and you’ll be supporting nature by buying them.
Spotty Otter Forest Leader fleece-lined wellies
As featured in our Best Kids Wellies feature, these sturdy, fleece-lined wellies stand the test of time when it comes to waterproofing, durability and comfort for kids.
They come in a range of bright colours, complete with a drawstring rain guard to keep puddle-splash and torrential downpours firmly locked out. These boots are so warm, our tester wore them as slippers for the first week before christening them outside.
Moon Picnic A Dozen Eggs
- Buy now from Temu (£45.49)
These delightful wooden eggs from Californian brand Moon Picnic make a gorgeous sensory toy for very little people.
Based on common farm bird eggs, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose and other wild bird eggs, they’re perfect for little hands to hold, roll, count, sort by sizes and observe the lovely colours and speckles. Use them to introduce the idea of the life cycles of birds – and indeed creative ideas – while fostering an interest in nature and wildlife.
Fox Flip Top Gloves
- Buy now from John Lewis (from £9.00)
These adorable fox-themed gloves not only feature a flip-top mitten for added warmth during chilly weather but are also perfect for nature-loving kids who will adore their playful design.
Available for ages 3 – 12 yrs.
Bug Bingo by Magma for Laurence King
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of insects with Bug Bingo, a beautifully illustrated game showcasing 64 bug species from around the globe. From the striking giant hawker dragonfly to the intriguing kissing bug and the vibrant orchid bee to the revered sacred scarab, players can identify and mark off these fascinating creatures on their cards to shout “bingo!”
This engaging twist on the classic game not only entertains but educates as you learn about the names and unique characteristics of both beloved species like the honeybee and more exotic bugs such as the vampire moth.
The game includes a master board, 64 stunning bug tokens, 12 bingo cards, colourful counters for tracking your discoveries, and a leaflet filled with essential bug information and quirky traits, making it an excellent choice for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
Bugs not your bag? This fun game is available in a range of other themes, from dinosaurs to dogs! Buy your favourite now on Amazon.
Hape Hide-And-Seek Periscope, Made From Sustainable Bamboo
This periscope is designed to allow kids to discreetly observe animals in their natural habitat. It’s also a fantastic accessory for hide-and-seek, enabling children to peer over walls, peek around corners, and explore rabbit holes.
Made from sustainable bamboo and Green PE (plant plastic derived from sugarcane), this eco-friendly toy encourages kids to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while promoting environmental responsibility for the benefit of future generations.
Green Science Weather Station
Explore weather phenomena with the Kidz Labs Green Science Weather Station.
This multi-function science kit is designed to help kids aged 8 and up learn fascinating facts about the weather and conduct experiments related to the greenhouse effect. As part of the Green Science education range, it provides an engaging and educational way for young minds to delve into meteorology and environmental science.
Match a Track Near You by Magma for Laurence King
Calling all nature enthusiasts! Enjoy an adventure with this matching and memory game tailored for wildlife lovers – a sequel to the bestselling Match a Track.
Play indoors or venture outside to discover animal tracks in your local wilderness. Marcel George’s exquisite watercolor illustrations vividly portray 25 animals and their tracks, making it an educational and visually appealing game.
With its design-led, high-quality features, it’s the ideal gift for hours of entertainment and maximum gifting potential.
This game is available in a range of other themes, from birds to leaves! Buy your favourite now on Amazon.
Minty Green Wigiwama Teepee
- Buy now from Kidly (£170)
Encourage little ones to embark on adventures under-canvas, whether it’s indoors or outside on a dry, sunny day.
This easy-to-set-up teepee is made by eco-company, Wigiwama, who use a mix of organic cotton fabrics and recycled textiles – all of them being certified with OEKO-Tex class 1, which is the highest classification in the textile industry.
These nature-themed gifts for kids offer both educational and adventurous experiences, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world. They provide young nature enthusiasts with the tools and inspiration to explore and appreciate the wonders of the great outdoors.
For more great gift ideas, see our guide to the best tractor toys to buy this year, including small and ride-on models. And, if you’re looking for sustainable presents for family and friends, check out our guide to the best eco friendly gift ideas.