Not so long ago, a child’s birthday party would involve inviting a few of their classmates over for some games and cake before sending them home with a party bag of treats. More recently, however, children’s parties have been becoming more extravagant and can involve a lot of computer games, unhealthy foods, and general excess. This somewhat misses the point of the celebration, is harmful to the environment, and is often a waste of money when you consider all children really want is to feel special. If you are organizing a birthday party for your child and would like to make it a simpler, eco-friendlier event, here are 8 ideas to consider.
- Keep the invite list small
Do you need to invite every child in their class? Often smaller parties with just their closest friends and family members are easier to manage, less chaotic and messy, and ensure that your child gets to spend quality time with the people that love them most.
- Send invites by email
Rather than printing and sending out lots of paper invites, create free digital invitations from printerfairy.com and email them to their parents. If you prefer to use paper, handmade designs on recycled paper delivered by hand are better for the environment than printing and posting.
- Host it in nature
Hosting a party inside means using heating or air conditioning or possibly lighting. To give the party a more natural atmosphere, consider holding it in a public park or your garden if you have enough space. This will also reduce how much decoration you need to provide. Of course, you will need to ensure that you do not disturb any wildlife or leave any trash behind.
- Provide vegan foods
Consider providing the attendees with snacks and treats that are fruity or plant-based rather than meaty or highly processed foods full of refined sugars. If you are not confident preparing food at home, order take-out or delivery from vegan restaurants Boulder.
- Use compostable tableware
It is best to avoid the use of plastic plates, cutlery, cups, and straws and instead choose recycled glassware, wooden trays, paper straws, cloth napkins, and other compostable items.
- Keep decorations to a minimum
The more decorations you use, the more you will need to throw away, so it is best to keep decorations as simple as possible. Any decorations you use should be reusable, and it is usually best to avoid balloons.
- Play traditional games
If you are hosting the party outside, all you really need for entertainment is a few balls, some wooden skittles, a treasure hunt, and some organized group games like musical chairs, charades, hide and seek, etc. Click here for some party game ideas.
- Minimize waste
If you have leftover food, pop some into recyclable containers that your guests can take home or offer them to others who are enjoying the park. It is also a good idea to tell the other parents that you are trying to host an eco-friendly party, in case they can walk to the party or take public transport rather than driving in cars. You could also ask them to help you clear up any litter before they leave.
