Social Justice Gifts for Babies & Kiddos
I am of the age where I have attended countless baby showers and bought thousands of gifts for friends, relatives, and former students who are pregnant or have little ones. These small purchases can add up to a significant statement over time and I like to put my money where my politics are. Plus, as an educator, I think these gifts can foster early learning around social justice. Here are some of my favorite social justice-themed gifts in 5 categories that are great for baby showers and little ones up to about age 7.
- Children’s Books. Some of my favorite board books for babies are the following:
- A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
- Homemade Love by bell hooks
- Anti-Racist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
- Whoever You Are/Quienquiera Que Seas by Mem Fox
- Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara
- Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison
- Love the World by Todd Parr
For children past the board book stage, here are some lists of fantastic books on anti-racism, social justice, human rights, and I also compiled this list of books on South Asian culture & history (many with social justice content). You can also make a personalized book with a little one’s name.
2. Compostable Diapers. Start a fund as a baby-shower gift to invest in compostable diapers (cloth diapers are also eco-friendly). There are several companies (like Earth-Baby in the San Francisco Bay Area) that offer compostable diapers/wipes/bags and pick-up service, or you can choose biodegradable diapers that are less hard on the planet (conventional diapers take approximately 500 years to biodegrade).
3. Social Justice-themed Onesies (or clothes). Check out these cute onesies that advocate for Black lives and smashing patriarchy. One of my favorites is this Audre Lorde onesie. Check out these great items from the BlackMom Etsy store (Etsy and Cafe Press are treasure troves of great gear if you search for “social justice,” “activist” or “feminist” clothes).
4. Coloring books. A great gift is a set of crayons (regular or these multicultural skin-colored crayons are also awesome) and a social justice coloring book like “Coloring the Revolution” by Maya Gonzalez. The “Be the Change” Coloring book also has some lovely images (that can spark conversations on social justice).
5. Matching Game. This Little Feminist Memory matching game is a fun gift for young learners to start recognizing feminist icons. You can also make your own memory game with family photos, images, or other information.
These Activist Flashcards and Feminist Flashcards also make fun gifts. We also like these world map and flags of the world place mats and world flash cards as a nice way to get kiddos thinking globally.
This is just a sampling of the many social justice gifts that can be given to babies and small children in your lives. For birth announcements and holiday cards, Paper Culture prints on recycled paper and plants a tree for every order. Making a donation to an organization in honor of a new baby is also a great way to contribute to making the world a little better as this child grows up. As the poet June Jordan once wrote, “Children are the ways the world begins again and again.”
Dr. Monisha Bajaj is Professor of International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco, author/editor of 7 books, and a parent.