Eco-Friendly Party Themes for Children's Birthday Parties

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Eco-Friendly Party Themes
Eco-friendly Birthday Parties

What are eco-friendly party themes? Well, an eco-friendly party theme can be almost any traditional party theme planned mindfully and consciously with the goal of doing as little harm as possible to the planet, limiting waste and incorporating materials whose use or manufacture have a low impact on the environment. Your daughter can still be a princess without the plastic slippers, crowns and wands. Your son can still be a superhero without all the plastic paraphernalia. You can replace paper goods with durable items, reusable fabrics and compostable materials. It's basically about looking for greener alternatives. An eco-friendly party theme is really about making some simple, affordable and painless changes to our children's parties just as we try to do in our everyday life. Check out our ECO-FRIENDLY PARTY SUPPLIES for ways to replace some of those paper products!

In addition to traditional themes that you can adapt to be more eco-friendly, here are some sugggestions for green party themes that celebrate your child and his world.

ECO-FRIENDLY ANIMAL THEMES

This green party theme covers a score of parties. Does your child like cows, horses, sheep and bunnies? How about tractors? Find a local farm, petting zoo or stable. Lions, tigers and bears more his style? Take a trip to a zoo, wild animal park or preservation compound. You can often arrange private tours or behind-the-scene demonstrations with some of the animals and their keepers/trainers. Extinct animals more to their liking? Check out prehistoric exhibits at local museums. Whales, sharks and dolphins? Visit an aquarium. Many of these venues provide space or will permit you to picnic on the grounds. Bringing your own food may require a little more effort on your part but the food will definitely be more nutritious and you won't be generating all that paper/plastic/styrofoam trash.

Consider also a green party theme that involves a trip to an animal rescue shelter or SPCA facility. Children can learn to appreciate the needs of lost or abandoned animals and even learn how they might contribute to their care by bringing items the shelter needs. Check with your local facility and they can advise you.

ECO-FRIENDLY GARDEN THEMES

This green party theme includes anything from playing in the dirt with tractors to garden fairies. Visit a local market garden (or farmer's market if that's more accessible). Learn about growing organically, sample the fruits and vegetables, point out the difference between the annuals, perennials and bulbs. Let the children choose some seeds of their own to plant or to take home in a small pot to germinate. Little girls can dress up as garden fairies and create small fairy-sized garden habitats with baby's breath, lobelia, small stones and twigs. Visit local nurseries or botanical gardens to find out what fairies might like.

ECO-FRIENDLY COOKING THEMES

The popularity of network food shows has created a whole new realm of possibilities for green party themes. Track a selected food (wheat, fruit, diary, eggs...you get the idea) from its beginning on the farm until it reaches the kitchen. Then use it in a recipe. It can be as simple as making apple crisp or whipping cream for strawberries. Learn about the ingredients, how to measure, how to follow a recipe. Then enjoy the results! You can provide aprons for the young chefs to personalize and books for writing down their recipes. Have a rehearsal then video the cooking segment as they star in their own cooking show!

ECO-FRIENDLY ART STUDIO THEMES

This green party theme is adaptable for all age groups. It's also a great way to use up and recycle those craft supplies you have around the house. Young artists can color in the weekday newspaper comics. Cut up old magazines to creat collages or mosaic self-portraits. Or have each guest bring a favorite photograph and then make picture frames out of cardboard, fabric, paper scraps, beads, feathers - whatever you have collected. Or have the children create greeting cards for an upcoming holiday or for children who are hospitalized. You can take your child to deliver them at a later date. Or make your own playdough and using found objects create a sculpture or mosaic tile. The possibiilties are limitless! For older children consider a tour of a local artist's studio or glass, pottery or jewelry making exhibits.

ECO-FRIENDLY ADVENTURE THEMES

This green party theme goes outdoors wherever you are. Walk in a forest, a park, along a lakeside, river or beach. Set a time or distance limit and have the children collect whatever they find interesting then share their treasures with the others at a picnic. Or make it a scavenger hunt and give everyone a list of items to find. See our Montessori inspired party activities for ideas. Give older children a map or written directions and introduce them to orienteering. Or have children come on their bikes and hold a rally, riding skills contest, race or parade.

ECO-FRIENDLY FASHION RUNWAY THEMES

This green party theme appeals to the tween set and can also be an activity for a slumber party. Collect a variety of clothing, scarves and accessories that you're ready to donate. Have guests bring more from home. Augment your supply if necessary with finds at your local thrift shops and yard sales. Individually or in groups, the girls can design outfits (a school outfit, a party dress, a formal gown, an outfit of the future..you can think up as many categories as you like) then put on a fashion show as the grand finale. Take lots of photos! Afterward the clothes still in one piece can be donated. The rest can become doll clothes or cleaning rags!

ECO-FRIENDLY SOCIAL ACTIVISM THEMES

This green party theme encourages guests to participate in something that benefits someone else or their community. Organize or join a group to clean up a park, hiking trail, beach or street. Plant a tree or garden to beautify a neighborhood. Rake up leaves in the fall. Participate in a charity walk or run and take photos of each guest crossing the finish line. Collect toys or books for children in shelters. Call around, check out websites of your local tv stations, read the local section of your newspaper and find out what is needed in your community.

ECO-FRIENDLY SLEEPOVER OR CAMP-OUT THEMES

This green party theme is probably already pretty eco-friendly! How do you improve on popcorn, pizza and a movie? Try incorporating a spa treatment with natural products. Have a mineral salts foot soak and pedicure (polish optional) then facials using creams you've made up yourself! Teach some yoga moves for relaxation and flexibility. Have a tea party with herbal tea and cookies they make themselves. Boys (girls too!) can camp out in the backyard or even on the patio. Adult supervised fire pits or barbecues can be used to roast marshmallows - who doesn't love s'mores? Teach them about the phases of the moon. Identify some constellations. Catch some fireflies. Read an adventure story aloud.

ECO-FRIENDLY FUNNY THEMES

This green party theme encourages children to just be crazy for a day. Have a surprise party...for the guests, not the party child (as long as she can keep it a secret!). Let the other parents in on the plan but surprise the guests by arriving unannounced to pick them up - come as they are - to take them to the party. This works really well for early morning pickups; then take them out or back home for a pancake breakfast. Or have a backwards party where everyone must dress, talk and walk backwards. Or choose a color for the party and everyone must dress in that color, the food must be that color, decorations must be that color and that color must be mentiond at least once everytime someone speaks. Take lots of pictures and give awards for the craziest, the funniest, the most colorful, etc - you get the idea!

THE MONTESSORI STYLE BIRTHDAY PARTY

This is a green party by its very nature. It is designed to celebrate the child and his or her place in the universe. Children are introduced to a wider understanding of the passing of the year and its meaning in their lives. In a simple ceremony (see the Montessori section of our party activities) the child learns that a year is the time it takes for the earth to circle the sun one time. With each passing year a parent and/or members of the family tell the story of the child's life from birth to the present. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring out those treasured items and photos you've saved in a memory box....or a good reason to start one! It can be a little time capsule of objects that commemmorate special events through the years: photos, souvenirs, artwork, awards and miscellaneous token treasures. You might create or purchase a special birthday candle that can be used each year and is unique to your child. You can end the celebration by singing "Happy Birthday" and have the child blow out the candle. The emphasis is on celebrating the child, not the party itself. What could make a child feel more special?

Being kinder to our planet....One Mom, One Party at a time!

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