Whenever the occasion calls, be it birthdays, religious holidays or simply a reward for a particular achievement, it’s always nice to give your child a gift. With grandparents and family members always looking for a reason to spoil them, and where children’s attention so quickly shifts to the next new toy in demand, the collection of plastic will inevitably keep growing.

We’ve been there and sadly, the majority of toys, particularly bright, non-recyclable plastics make their way to the landfill as waste. It’s a tricky one to avoid, given that the UK’s toy industry is overwhelmingly huge, with consumers spending over £370m on them last year alone. However as we are growing more aware of our plastic consumption, most of us are looking for ways to cut down, or at least curb the consumption of factory-made plastic toys. This is where the Children’s ISA comes in, a sustainable savings option which allows any of your friends or family to contribute to the pot for your child’s future, offering a great environmentally friendly gift option.

Whilst the Children’s ISA may lack the bright colours, sounds and gimmicks that capture your child’s attention for a few days, building a financial safety net for your child is a smart, viable option for the long term. Once you have opened a Junior ISA with the Children’s ISA, you can grant access to any number of friends and family, should they wish to contribute to more than a throwaway gift. This really is an investment for their future, as your child will have full control over the account once they reach the age of eighteen. With instant online access, you can monitor your account online, and make note of the contributors so your child can thank them in the future.

With the annual allowance for JISA’s (junior ISAs) recently growing from £4,368 to £9,000 grandparents, family friends and whoever would like to contribute can now put away more than twice as much for their loved ones and build towards a better financial future for them. This may cover a life-changing worldwide trip, driving lessons (and perhaps car when they pass) or even the deposit for their first home, which we think is far more valuable than the latest ‘it’ toy. 

We’re on hand to discuss all the benefits of the Children’s ISA today, so please do not hesitate to get in touch. In a world of excess toys and environmental impact, a Junior ISA really is the gift that keeps giving, opening a whole new world of possibility for your child, when they take their first steps into adulthood.

Bonus point – in the long run, you will also save a substantial amount of money on batteries for those random remote controls!