For parents
Hand-me-downs are treasures: 6 ways to make reusing feel special
In Gilli's big squirrel family, nothing is wasted. Clothes are worn, mended and handed down. Here's how to make hand-me-downs feel like treasures, not leftovers.
- Tell the story. "This was your cousin's favourite jumper. She wore it to the river picnic." A story makes an old thing special.
- Hold a little ceremony. Let the older child hand the item over and say what they loved about it.
- Add something new. A patch, a sewn-on name or a button your child chooses makes it theirs.
- Mend together. Sewing on a button side by side teaches care and patience, like Tara.
- Swap with friends. A clothes swap with other families is fun, and free.
- Let children choose what to pass on. Giving away something they've outgrown teaches generosity.
A word on pride
In Dewberry Hollow, reusing is always a proud choice, never a sign of having less. The way we talk about hand-me-downs shapes how children feel about them.
In Book 3, One T-shirt, Many Lives, Gilli hands her T-shirt down to little Pip. Coming soon.
Get the free starter book
Meet all the friends of Dewberry Hollow, with a true nature fact about each one.