Kindred Gifts' Blog

Birthdays are the highlight of the year for every child. They find pure delight with the perfect cake, party favours, and games. Every year, parents strive to throw the best birthday party to commemorate the birth of their pride and joy. One of the hardest aspects of these fantastic birthday parties is finding the ultimate present.

Choosing ideal kids gifts does not need to be a stressful experience. You should find joy and happiness with the entire gift purchasing and giving experience. Knowing that your gift will make the boy or girl in your life feel special and loved is worth so much. With so many new products on the market and a variety of places to purchase gifts for kids, the task of finding the ultimate gift ideas for kids can seem daunting. This need not be the case.

When you shop with Kindred Gifts, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you have purchased the highest quality of product from a retailer you can trust. We have the ideal gifts for baby girls, baby boys and older kids. One of our most popular items is the eco-friendly Fun In The Sack. Remember your childhood summers playing this simple game? You start at one end of the yard with your egg in a spoon and race to your team member. Your team member proceeds to race back to the other starting line. The goal throughout the race is to keep the egg steady and unbroken. This version is a little less messy but just as much fun. Fun In The Sack is the ideal gift for children's birthday parties. The reusable brightly coloured spoons and wooden eggs easily allow for six children (and even adults) to enjoy the fun. Fun In The Sack encourages teamwork, a steady hand and lots of fun. This is a great kids gift.

Birthday parties are the ultimate celebration for each and every child. Finding the gifts for kids may seem stressful but with our variety of Fun In The Sack games, we have taken the guesswork out of choosing the ultimate gift. All of Kindred Gifts products are eco-friendly and made from natural materials. While the birthday boy or girl receives the best gift they can imagine, they are also learning to help the environment. Start a tradition and give kids gifts that give back to the planet. Kindred Gifts truly provides the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS IDEAS

Everyone has that friend or family member who is IMPOSSIBLE to buy for at Christmas time – they have everything they need, their hobbies don’t entail added extras and they don’t want for anything. This year, when you’re stuck for ideas look no further than kindredgifts.com.au. The range of unique presents is diverse and ingenious and who couldn’t love a present which is as ethical as it is beautiful?

Best friends: they’re the closest people to us, the family we choose for ourselves and yet, come Christmas, they couldn’t be more mystifying!

For those of us with a fashionista for a best friend, the Dolly Rockers Black And White Jewelled Necklace is a perfect fit. It’ll suit all those post-Christmas/pre-New Year parties, is incredibly chic and will help anyone who is worth their own weight in designer shoes to stay one step ahead in the fashion game!

For friends who prefer their jewels dainty, discreet and elegant, you can opt for one of the handmade necklaces from Dogeared Jewellery. Meaningful gifts with heart, the sweet range helps to let your friend know just how much she means to you. The ‘Pearls of’ range of delicate pearl necklaces are a popular choice, available in options including Pearls of Love, Pearls of Friendship, Pearls of Success and Pearls of Inspiration. One for every occasion!

Little Sister: Anyone who comes into contact with a little girl these days is used to being bombarded with statistics about Bratz or Barbie Dolls, but if you’re trying to instil some real values in your little sister, why not buy her a funky Tiger Tribe Beach Villa or Dolls House Boxset? These beautifully designed and portable sets are cute, not classless. The sets encourage creativity, not Hollywood, and will actually be something that she can pass down to her own children, not thrown out or given away as soon as the trend is over! (Alternatively, if you’re after something special for your little brother, then Tiger Tribe also offers these sustainably produced Boxsets in fun Airport, Car or Train options too!).

Your boss: Want to buy your boss a Christmas present without seeming like you’re shamelessly sucking up (all the while secretly hoping it earns you the promotion you have been lusting after)??

Oliveria Peace With Earth Ceramic Olive Oil Decanter - Limited Black Edition has a sleek design and playful exterior which will be the perfect accompaniment to any kitchen. What’s more, every decanter sold will result in a portion of the profits being donated to the Fifteen Foundation – making your purchase even more generous!

Or if your boss is a frequent traveller, what about a funky bamboo travel clock or calculator from French design brand Lexon? Lexon’s Safe Travel Clock or Safe Calculator (both made from eco friendly bamboo) are stylish office or travel gifts that are not only useful, but also boast super cool design.

Secret Santa: Did you get someone in your Secret Santa that you just don’t know what to buy for?? Is it that guy that sits by the printer, the one you say hello to every day but whose name you have no idea about? Well what about a Resource Revival Bicycle Chain Bottle Opener - Blue? It’s practical and novel as well as strong enough to deal with any bottle it’s faced with. So even if you can’t remember the recipient’s name, he will certainly remember yours!

Or if you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful for a female Secret Santa recipient, then what about the funky new Wear Your Music range of bracelets? Available in a slew of fun colours, from Backstage Black to Punk Pink, Totally Teal and Rock Star Red, the bracelets are all made from guitar strings, and the perfect gift idea for any music or fashion lover!     

With Christmas just around the corner, now is an excellent time to start Christmas shopping, before the shops get too busy. However, the very process of shopping for gifts can be a tricky one, regardless of whether you’re looking for adults or kids gifts, and some people are harder to buy for than others.

At Kindred Gifts, we have a range of unique and interesting gifts that are perfect. Whether you’re trying to find gifts for kids or gifts for a baby, Kindred Gifts are sure to have something to suit even the most difficult of recipients. In addition to having a range of interesting gift ideas, Kindred Gifts also gives you the chance to shop online, meaning you can view and buy presents from the comfort of your own home, avoiding the crowds and the noise of shopping centres altogether.

We are constantly adding to our range, which means that even the most discerning shopper will find something that suits them or the gift recipient they are shopping for. With gifts to suit all age groups, Kindred Gifts makes it easier to do all your Christmas shopping in the one place. Whether you’re looking for gifts for baby boys or girls, or gifts for kids, then look no further than the range at Kindred Gifts.

Kids can be diverse when it comes to interests, and Kindred Gifts is aware of this. Whether the intended recipient is science minded, prefers music, or enjoys being outdoors, there is a plethora of ideas for kids’ gifts available at Kindred Gifts. Determine the area of interest that appeals to the kid the most, then browse through the range of kids’ gifts available.

With a focus on stocking and sourcing unique gift ideas that really stand out from the rest, we have a range of gifts for kids that are suitable for hours of endless fun. You might even find that long after the kid is no longer a kid the present is still a part of their life, going on to be something the kid keeps until adulthood and looks fondly back on, or one day passes it on to their own children.

If you haven’t as yet forayed into the world of online shopping, then Kindred Gifts is an excellent place to start. The range of gift ideas available for kids is extensive, and offers plenty that will suit a wide variety of interests. We also have a range of gifts that are perfect for baby. If you’re looking for gifts for baby boys and baby girls, then Kindred Gifts has a range that includes baby clothing and shoes, as well as accessories and toys like dolls and teddy bears.

Top Tips for Choosing the Perfect Gift

We all have our own reasons for giving gifts but regardless of the occasion, the intention is the same: that small smile as the wrapping comes away and the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that you have made someone feel that little bit special.

Now, with www.kindredgifts.com.au here to help, that gift can bring smiles all round, as you shop from a range of unique gifts which are not only stylish, but also helping to support the environment and the people and animals in it too.

We know that choosing the perfect gift can be daunting though, so to help make things a little easier, we'll be offering one great gift giving tip per week, for 8 weeks, starting with....

Tip 1: Effort

Finding a gift for someone which reflects what they mean to you far outshines how expensive (or inexpensive !) it is: in this coffee crazy era, the Handpresso Wild Outdoor Espresso Maker Travel Set is perfect for those caffeine crazy buddies we have who live in tiny city apartments and don’t have the space for a regular sized coffee machine. Show them you know them (and their habits!) so well by surprising them with a gift that they can truly use, day in, day out.

Caffeine fiends will also love to show off their individuality (and sustainable chops) by taking these stylish, eco friendly BYO Cups with them to their local cafe. These reusable coffee cups from Hookturn Industries come in a variety of striking and pastel toned hues, and make a great gift for men or women who love their daily caffeine fix. Choose their favourite colour - or two - and they'll end up smiling and thinking of you fondly each time they head to their favourite coffee shop. Now that's a way for your gift to be remembered!

We love the Makedo range of products, and wrote about it on our blog earlier in the week.

To share the love, we've decided to giveaway two of the great Find & Make Playhouse kits, valued at $24.95 AUD each! So two lucky people will each win one of these fantastic Playhouse gifts for kids.

To enter the competition, go to Facebook and like our page; and then enter the draw by sending us an email at feedback@kindredgifts.com. In the email you need to send us your name, address and emailcontact, as well as the answer to the following question:

"What was your favourite toy growing up, and why?"

Thanks for entering the competition, and good luck! See below for Terms& Conditions.

Makedo makes a difference!

By Pete Bennett, Chief of Operations

I had a really happy childhood. I was - and obviously still am - the youngest in my family of four siblings.

I loved to play cricket in the front yard after school (after playing it at recess and lunchtime too) and was always pretty sporty. My favourite t-shirt at the time had "Inside this shirt is a future champion Australian cricketer" emblazoned across the front of it. Cute right? I didn't like rainy days or when there wasn't someone else around to play with. I got bored really easily because there was this reliance on others to keep me occupied, busy and out of trouble. 

I guess because I played a lot of sport I had a lot of structured play time. I also had free play time but not nearly as much. As far as I can remember, I only exercised the creative aspect of my personality through making up stories in creative writing and not much else.

Guess what? I'm now 35 and things haven't really changed that much. I'm still sporty and I'm still not very good at occupying my own time. I still get bored when I'm by myself and look for other people to distract me.

I'm sure part of this is just in my nature but I definitely think my personality was also shaped from how I was nurtured too. Who can really say that I would (or will) never paint beautifully, compose a moving musical piano piece, or create something spectacular that requires a highly developed imaginative right brain? My point is this: I think it's very important to exercise both sides of the brain as I see it as an advantage in life to be nicely balanced rather than to be dominant on one side.

That's why I'm a really big fan of the Makedo range of eco friendly products. Makedo products make fantastic, ethical, gifts for kids as they exercise the creative (right) side of the brain and encourage kids’ imaginations to run wild and create whatever they desire with whatever is lying around the house. As an added bonus, playing with Makedo is a great way too for adults and children to spend quality time together.

For the little dudes of both distinctions that haven't done all that much free, unrestricted, creative thinking so far, the Makedo Find and Make range would be perfect. Starting at just $14.95, you can choose from Robot, Flowers, Playhouse, Dollhouse and Car kits that inspire creativity by encouraging kids to use whatever can be found around the house. The kits also guide them in the right direction with the necessary clips, hinges, tools and accessories to put it all together, along with an inspiration poster, stickers and instruction sheet.   

For the kids who are more comfortable with being creative and using their imagination, Makedo offers two "Free Play" kits, starting from $19.95. One is the Makedo kit for one and the other a kit for three , the former containing enough parts for a child to make one good thing, and the latter enough parts for one child to make 3 different creations or for 3 kids to make one really big masterpiece. With the Free Play kits, the kids will be kept busy for hours and the possibilities of what they can make are endless!

Isn't this a great lesson in life to teach your kids? That you can begin with all this 'useless stuff' around you, start imagining what you want to create, use a few pivotal tools to make it possible and create something out of nothing. I wonder if projects similar to Makedo were the key to success of some notable people that created something out of nothing like Donald Trump, Richard Branson et al? 

The Makedo range of products, being both innovative and eco friendly, obviously ties in very well with what we're about at Kindred Gifts. Makedo operates through a reuseable system, so when the kids get sick of what they have made, they simply take it apart and use the parts supplied to do it all again. Try doing that with a plastic toy car! The products are also packaged in recycled boxes and come from our supplier with basically no packing materials like bubble wrap or packing peanuts. The factory where the range is made is also ICTI certified, which means it has been independently audited to ensure toys are produced in safe and humane environments.

The Makedo range of products offers a great eco friendly alternative to the usual plastic, battery operated gifts for kids. Makedo products are innovative and creative, and help to steer us away from the very wasteful plastic throwaway society that currently exists. We need to actively change this throw-away mentality for our own good, our kids' future and the planet's health, and Makedo is a great way to encourage kids to think about the way they add to the world's consumption.

If you're looking for unique gifts for kids online then you really can't go past Makedo products. They're simply fantastic value for money, starting at just $14.95, and help children learn new skills by promoting creative thinking and imaginative play. Best of all though these green gifts are great fun, for both adults and kids!

Pondering on it, I wonder how I might be now that I'm all grown up, if Makedo was part of my upbringing? Either way I can't wait to have kids of my own so that I can spend some time creating Makedo masterpieces with them!

(Editor's note: If your kids have made some cool creations from Makedo parts then we would LOVE to see them! Simply send us a photo to feedback@kindredgifts.com and we'll upload the pic to the site!)

how to makedo - extended version from MAKEDO on Vimeo.

 

Since it’s time again for tots to head back to school or daycare, we thought it would be a good idea to bring you a range of great online gifts to make the transition for little tykes easier. Whether you’re looking for the right gear for your own child or unique baby gifts or gifts for bigger kids, we can definitely help you find something special. From eco friendly gifts to lovingly handmade creations or charity gift ideas, we’ve got you covered!

 

Fluf Lunch Bags - available in 4 designs: Apple, Milkshake, Robot and Doggy. RRP: $26.95

 

These adorable eco friendly lunch bags will be a hit on the playground or at daycare – kids will become the envy of their friends and all the Mums and Dads will want one too! Washable, durable, practical, easy to use and large enough to fit a whole lunch in, these bags show off fabulous style and promote sustainable, forward thinking design.

Featuring a simple design with snap closure, the lunch bags are kid friendly, easy to carry and easy to care for. They are made of 100% organic cotton using water-based inks and feature a phthalate-free vinyl removable lining. The bag can be washed, wiped and rinsed, and has no toxins, phthalates, BPA or waste.

If you're looking for a unique gift for kids or really cool green gifts, then go further than the funky yet practical Fluf lunch bags. (Although, we must say that the 'Doggy' bag design in particular has also been super popular with adults too. Buy a couple so you won't have to worry about the whole family fighting over them!).

 

 

The Hank and JoJo Retro Toddler Tube Socks look super cool on kids, and have a celeb following to prove it! The socks have been seen on the bubs of style queen Nicole Ritchie and reality TV darling Kourtney Kardashian. New to Australia and exclusive to Kindred Gifts, the socks can now make an appearance on your own 'well heeled' child!

We love that the range of Hank & JoJo Retro Tube Socks make great baby gifts or gifts for kids, and are uniquely designed with no heel patch in order to fit and stretch throughout a kid's biggest growing years. Made from the highest quality bamboo and dyed with AZO-free dyes, kids will love how unbelievably soft the bamboo makes these socks, and parents will love that bamboo has a natural UV protection built right in. These sporty little knee highs are the perfect socks to wear with anything from a soccer uniform to a tutu, and trust us, your kids will want to. Actually, we're kind of wishing they came in adult sizes too!

To add to their cuteness, Hank & JoJo socks also come packaged in an awesome lead-free tin lunch box that is printed with food grade ink, so your big kid can carry his/her lunch, toys, markers and anything else they may currently be obsessed with to school every day!

 

 

Finding comfortable, safe and eco friendly shoes for babies is no easy task, but we searched the world in order to bring you a better option and finally found a great company making innovative and imaginative baby shoes. We just had to make these available in Australia so now, for the first time, Aussie bubs can experience the joy of wearing super cute, chemical free baby shoes that won’t pinch or squish their sensitive feet.

Using a patent-pending design, each ScooterBees shoe features a different 'storytelling' image to entertain the child, and is designed to easily wrap around your baby’s foot, regardless of whether they have chubby or narrow feet. Say goodbye to squeezing feet into rigid shoes while your baby wriggles – now you simply wrap the ScooterBees shoe around your baby’s foot and use the velcro closure to adjust to the width of their specific foot.

Your baby will be comfortable, entertained and healthy when they get to wear these super cute and ethical baby shoes from ScooterBees. Handmade by shoe artisans in Peru, and using environmentally friendly materials, ScooterBees shoes are perfect for babies at home, at daycare or out and about. ScooterBees also plants a tree for every pair of shoes sold, so buy a pair for your own child or as an ethical christening gift or eco friendly baby gift and you'll feel great about your choice.

 

What a fantastic way to start your child’s schooling year - help them learn their ABCs! Both children and adults alike will be amused with finding each letter of the alphabet that makes up this funky robot print. With a deliciously retro appeal and educational benefits, the Alphabot print by Bold & Noble is a great addition to the walls of a child's room, and will provide lots of entertainment (or distraction, if needed!).

We love the gorgeous colour, interesting, educational text and eco friendly material used to create this beautiful print. The print is hand produced using a silkscreen printing process, on 250gsm card made from recycled material. The card is made from 100% de-inked post consumer waste, that uses all by-products from production, which ensures a genuine 100% recycling process and minimises landfill waste.

 

 

Perfect to keep kids entertained while learning, this ten minute memory recall game is both FUN and educational. Brain Box Maths is beautifully illustrated, well researched and pure fun!

Players have 10 seconds to study a card before being asked a question from the back, chosen by the role of the 8-sided dice. If the question is answered correctly the card is kept, if not it is returned to the box. The player with the most cards after 10 minutes wins. Brain Box Maths has a box full of questions all relating to maths in some way; some cards have pictures of graphs, money and temperatures. Multi-levels mean that adults and children can play together.

Brain Box Maths is not just a memory game - it also helps children with understanding numbers and simple maths concepts while also having fun. The game is suitable for ages 7 +.

If you're looking for fun yet environmentally friendly gifts for kids, then you can't go past the Brain Box range. Also available in 'Nature', 'Around the World' and 'My First Pictures', the Brain Box games are not only great learning tools for kids but also better for the earth than most other kids' games.