If you're trying to live a zero-waste lifestyle, gift wrapping during the holidays can be quite challenging. However, you can make Christmas magical and fun for your kids while still being conscious about our environment. By using a little creativity and imagination, you can wrap their eco-friendly wooden toys beautifully and lessen your impact on Mother Earth. Here are some of the best green gift wrapping ideas you can try.

• Turn your child's artwork into gift wrappers

Every kid loves to doodle, paint, and draw. By using your little Picasso's artwork to wrap their gifts, not only will you be helping the environment, but it will also make them feel good by letting them know that their creations are that extra special for Santa's gift for them.

• Wrap it with a map!

Need to wrap a dollhouse or any large toy? Repurpose the old colourful map you have lying around your home instead of throwing them out. You can even use it to educate your child about the different continents of the world and its countries instead of Googling it.

• Fabrics

Scraps of fabrics you've saved all year round is also a good way to wrap your Christmas presents. You can wrap, roll or tie these reusable gift wrappers around whatever kind of toy, from wooden puzzles to train sets. Insert a candy cane into the know to make it even more fun. Your little girl may even use them to make clothes for their dolls later on.

• Reusable shopping bags

Reusable shopping bags are a practical way to wrap children's gifts as well and are preferred by most environment-friendly parents. They're a lot cheaper than most gift bags out there. They're also less time-consuming and can hold multiple gifts at the same time. Think of it as a holiday loot bag where you can put some of the smaller toys in your child's Christmas wish list. You can even create a gift theme for each shopping bag depending on its design.

• Blanket

Like most parents, we tend to keep our baby's firsts including their first blankie. You can use this to wrap toys for your now toddler or preschooler, and you can walk down on memory lane with your child as he unwraps his present. This is especially great to use for wrapping doll prams where your little girl can use her baby blanket for her dolls afterwards.

• Old boxes

We usually have some boxes in our homes. Instead of putting your child's gifts in new boxes and wrapping them up, you can help save the planet by reusing them instead. You can decorate them non-toxic stamps and paints. You can even let your kids join in the fun by letting them draw on them. Just imagine the excitement in them when you hand them the DIY box on Christmas morning that they help create!

Things to Remember for a Greener Christmas

There are plenty more ways on how you can green wrap your children's gifts in, but one thing you have to keep in mind is to reuse and recycle as much as you can. Here are a few more things to remember:

• Make use of what you have. Avoid purchasing gift wraps unless you really have to. Your home is full of inspiration if you will look for it, from newspapers and maps to shopping bags and scarves. You just have to be creative.
• Be sensible when shopping. The holidays tend to make people splurge not just for gifts but for gift wrapping materials as well. Always look around your home first before heading to the mall. If you have to absolutely purchase gift wrapping materials, choose bags and paper that you can reuse and recycle.
• Less is more. Do not overly decorate your gifts. Make it simple by placing a little bow on top or be more personal with a handwritten message or picture. Remember, what's inside is what really matters.