Sustainable Gifts for Kids | Sports Edition

Recycled Plastic Jump Rope

A jump rope is perfect for any active kid. This jump rope is made of recycled plastic and the rope is made of organic cotton. The rope is packed in a box with recycled and recyclable materials.

Recycled Scooter

This scooter is made from recycled fishnets and plastic to help clean up our oceans. It comes in two sizes depending on the age of the child. Additionally, all parts are replaceable to help make it last longer and be a great hand-me-down to siblings, cousins, or friends. The company also donates a portion of annual sales to 1% for the Planet.

Recycled Fishnet Skateboard

This skateboard is made from recycled fishnets, one of the most prominent items in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Give kids another reason to get outside with this cool skateboard. It also comes in all recyclable packaging and is made in the United States by a company that is a Certified B Corporation.

Eco-Friendly Frisbee

Sports-obsessed kids can create games to run around and play together with this frisbee. This saucer is made of 100% recycled plastic grocery bags.

Fair Trade Soccer Ball

These FIFA performance quality soccer balls are made in Pakistan and are Fair Trade certified. You can also check out another brand, Senda, that also makes fair trade soccer balls for another alternative. (need new link to the right page)

Secondhand Sports Gear

Why not buy them something they already need for their favorite sports team? There are lots of places to find secondhand sports gear like Play It Again Sports, Facebook Marketplace, and more specific used gear websites for each sport.

Iconic Sports Puzzle

These puzzles, made from sustainable wood, have unique shapes to make them totally different than your regular puzzle. The wood is much thicker than normal puzzles, and they come with a satisfaction guarantee. They have good reviews, so I’m hoping this will be a product that lasts for many years (and can be passed along when we have outgrown it). Bonus: the company works with non-profit organizations to plant a tree with every order.

Wobble Board

Help young athletes build their strength, balance, and vestibular system with this wobble board. It’s great for core strengthening and just fun to play with. For those with curious imaginations, they can also use it for a variety of other non-sport functions, but it’s a great training tool for athletes, even when they’re having a low-key day between games and practices.

Basketball Hoop

We have this basketball hoop on the wall in our basement. We’ve had it for many years, and the boys use it almost every day. It’s a huge hit when their friends come over as well (and has been a lifesaver in the wintertime when the boys need to blow off some steam). Despite constant use for many years, it’s still in amazing condition and looks practically new. This is definitely something that lasts!

Basketball Lines on the Driveway

If you have a basketball hoop in your driveway, consider giving the gift of basketball lines on your driveway. It may seem like an eyesore, but we have them and I barely notice them. We got them last summer, and the boys (and my husband) love them. They play more basketball with them which is great for getting outdoors and staying active.

We hired a local guy who charges about $250 for the service and does it as a side hustle. He installed this outdoor basketball hoop for us, and then he added the lines when we paid him cash on the side. You can probably find someone in your area to do it or try it yourself.

If not, you could also get this basketball court line stencil and do it yourself.

Sustainable Activewear

There are a growing number of brands making sustainable activewear for adults. Increasingly, some of them are selling gear for kids too. Check out brands like Allbirds, Pact, and Patagonia, all of which have sustainable clothing for active kids.

Tickets to Professional Sports Games

A quintessential experience gift, grab tickets to see a sports game in your area. It could be a professional game, but it might also be just as fun to attend a minor league or local college sports game. This is one of the few items on my son’s list this year, and he always loves attending with his dad.

Tickets to Ninja Warrior Gym or Trampoline Park

My boys love visiting the local trampoline park or ninja warrior gym. It’s such a good way to burn some energy, especially when the weather isn’t great.

Reusable Water Bottle

Is a gift list for athletes even complete with a water bottle? If they already have one, they don’t need a ton of them. But if not, Yeti water bottles with chug caps are the absolute best.

Plastic, single-use water bottles are the worst for the planet, and they don’t keep water cold well. Opt for a better water bottle that’s more functional and better for the environment.

Jen Panaro

Jen Panaro, founder and editor-in-chief of Honestly Modern, is a self-proclaimed composting nerd and advocate for sustainable living for modern families. To find her latest work, subscribe to her newsletter, Stepping Stones.

In her spare time, she’s a serial library book borrower, a messy gardener, and a mom of two boys who spends a lot of time in hockey rinks and on baseball fields.

You can find more of her work at Raising Global Kidizens, an online space to help parents and caregivers raise the next generation of responsible global citizens.