Comments on: Green Birthday Parties for Kids

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 06 May 2011 01:53:57 +0000

For my daughter’s 6th birthday, she wanted to do something to help animals. So we had a cat and dog theme and a donation drive to benefit our local animal shelter. In lieu of gifts we requested that guests bring a donation for the shelter and included their “wish list” of items like cat food, dog treats, paper towels, etc. with the invitation. It was a huge success! Not only were the other parents impressed with the idea but the children were excited to be participating. Everyone loved it. The shelter sent a letter of thanks to my daughter for her generousity. Grandparents bought a few toy gifts and she did get one thing from us, so she did not feel deprived at all. The experience was priceless and did more good for her than a traditional party could.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:25:51 +0000

Ive got some good party tips from this. Halloween is going be a scary one! Cheers

By: Charity Party Invitations

Charity Party Invitations — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:47:08 +0000

Inlieuofagift.com provides electronic invitaions with a “Donate Now” button attached to your favorite charity. Guests are encouraged to make a donation in lieu of bringing a gift. Our service turns charitable gifts into simple, convenient and fun acts of kindness that encompass all budgets and lifestyles.

By: Charitable Party Gifts

Charitable Party Gifts — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:46:07 +0000

For children, birthday invitation cards are the perfect vehicle to introduce young people to the practice of giving to charity from an early age. Over time, philanthropy will become one of the best habits that stays with them for life.

By: kirsty

kirsty — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:41:20 +0000

The book exchange is a great idea, thanks to Jessica for that and the list!

By: suzannah

suzannah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:06:57 +0000

these are such great ideas, and i’m extra impressed about composting paper products! you’re so right that so often the details are more for adults anyways–young kids can easily be please with simple!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:39:44 +0000

For those interested, I have created a Green Birthday Party Planner to help busy parents have a low stress party that’s simple and eco friendly. It’s my thought that if we are going to make green something not alternative, but a normal way of life, we have to make it simple and practical.

http://www.hoisingtonbooks.com/Green_Birthday_Party2.pdf

By: rebecca

rebecca — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:28:33 +0000

I think the donation-as-gift idea could be a great way to get kids to focus on the nonmaterial aspects of their celebration, and of course it’s wonderful to support a worthy cause rather than add to a kid’s stockpile of toys and clothes. However . . . I might feel a bit under pressure and annoyed if I received an invitation with the “suggestion” that I donate to a charity. What if it was a charity I didn’t want to support? It puts the guests in the uncomfortable position of having to look stingy. To me there is a big difference between asking someone not to buy a gift at all and telling them (even in a really nice way!) exactly what to get as a gift.

Perhaps, though, there is a really good way to do this without making guests feel obligated to donate money to a charity? Perhaps it could be done anonymously somehow, like “In lieu of gifts, please consider supporting X foundation”? That might work well!

By: joy

joy — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:32:07 +0000

I love your idea Erika! I suppose that older children could help choose the cause that they wanted their guests to support. Family and parents could still pick out special gifts for the child, but having friends support a worthy charity at the party would probably give our son a chance to really enjoy the unique joy of generosity. I’m saving this tip for next year’s party!

By: Erika

Erika — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:07:46 +0000

So I keep getting mental blocks for this carnival:( But my green party idea comes from a one-year old party I attended this year. Instead of gifts the parents suggested guests bring donations to a medical research foundation. In this case it was an ailment a family member had suffered. The one-year old didn’t miss the extra toys and it made others pause for the cause.