In this new era of social responsibility and concern for the environment, parents are looking for fun and easy ways to teach their children about the need to give back to those in need and clean up the environment. However, it has also become a time of extravagant birthday celebrations for toddlers with inflatable jumping machines, balloon arches, disposable party supplies, and lots of unnecessary giveaways; none of which seem to teach our kids about social issues or the environment. So what can we do as “green” parents? There are several different ways to incorporate giving back and eco-friendly ideas to create a fun and exciting birthday celebration.
1. Invitations: Create upcycled invitations from scrap paper, art supplies, and household items that fit your party theme. There are recycled paper invitations, “tree-free” paper invitations, as well as seeded invitations, which, when planted, will grow into a flower garden. You can also send electronic invitations that reduce paper and cost.
2. Location – Let your child choose the location based on their interests. Farms, parks, fire stations, zoos, museums, and animal shelters make wonderful “natural” settings for a party and won’t require much additional decoration. Plus, kids (and adults) can learn ways to help these local organizations, care for plants and animals, and enjoy nature.
3. Decorating: Latex balloons, plastic utensils, and paper napkins are a natural parent’s worst nightmare! Opt for some more environmentally friendly items such as paper lanterns, non-disposable utensils, cloth napkins and tablecloths, and flowers or plants as centerpieces.
4. Cake or Dessert – Make your own vegan or organic cake or cupcakes. This gives you the opportunity to teach your child about the importance of healthy and organic produce, as well as allowing him or her to participate in creating a dessert that all of your guests will enjoy.
5. Party Favors: The typical plastic bags filled with useless candy and toys can easily be replaced with eco-friendly items like unique rocks, flower or vegetable seeds, and planting materials. Homemade baked goods or art projects are always a good going-away gift, too.
6. Gifts – This is where things can get a bit tricky – most children enjoy and look forward to receiving gifts during their birthday celebration. Before you start planning the party, you need to re-evaluate what a birthday party means to you and your child. If a discussion occurs early in the process and clarifies the expectations of the party and the gifts, the children will be excited about the good things that will be created from their very special party. The key is to combine your social and environmental values with a theme that your child embraces and enjoys. Along with the topic, choose a charity or organization that will benefit from monetary or product donations. Take a tour of the shelter, charity or organization your child has chosen or, if the charity is not local, visit their website to help your child form an emotional connection to that particular group.
If this kind of involved planning really isn’t your thing, there are companies that will do it all for you. One such company is Inspired Birthdays. They offer 5 different theme parties that focus on anything from wildlife, healthy living, volunteering and they have several different planning packages depending on how much help you need. Each of them is associated with a charity and parents can choose from different donation options for their guests. They can bring everything you need or just the entertainment, it’s up to you!
These party planning options are easy, fun, and can be thoroughly enjoyed by the guests, the birthday boy, and the parents alike. The keys to raising socially and environmentally responsible children are educating them on how to give back and showing them how much fun it can be. A birthday party is an experience that children look forward to and remember. Why not tie together some simple but meaningful themes and ideas that will change your children and improve their world view?
