We're going green! Here are our top tips for a great green party. These easy ideas should help you lead by example with an eco-friendly bash the little ones are sure to enjoy.First things first - tell the birthday child your plan to make their party friendly to the environment and involve them in the organization. They will love feeling grown up enough to help out and you'll be able to tell them about what it means to be green.
Invitations: Instead of sending out paper invites be one step ahead of the crowd and send out invites on the net instead. There are hundreds of themes to choose from and it makes it super easy for your guests to RSVP. Paperless Post is perfect. If you want to stick to paper just make sure it is recycled.
Decorations: Banish plastic and opt for fabric and paper decorations instead. The mixed fabric bunting and paper flower garland are incredibly sweet and still eco-friendly. Paper lanterns will look lovely in your child's bedroom after the party is over unlike balloons which will just burst and be thrown away.
Eco-friendly food: Choose locally sourced food rather than products which have been flown half way across the world. Perhaps you live near a farmer's market that you could check out too? Finger food is fantastic for children's parties so just serve it onto either compostable or real plates.
Green Games: Turn off the TV and go back to basics with these fun party activities. With the weather permitting get all the kids outside to a local park or into your garden to burn off energy and enjoy the great outdoors.
Dressing Up Competition: Divide the children into small groups. Provide old newspapers, sticky tape and scissors - a couple of teens or helpers need to be on hand. One child from each group is the mannequin to be dressed by the others. Set a time limit and then they go off to make an outfit out of the newspaper. You could specify a theme and award prizes to Most Original, Most Practical, Best Themed outfit.
Get Crafty Recycling: For younger tots a big box of recycled goodies such as cardboard egg boxes, inner tubes of loo rolls and strips of old fabrics can be the basis of a fun craft session. The mega craft kit will help bring it all together. Award little prizes for the best creations. You could guide the children by asking them to create their own new animal, for example.
The Cereal Box Game: This is great fun and all you will need is an empty cereal cardboard box. Cut the flaps off the top of the box. Arrange all the guests in a circle with the box in the middle. They then have to take it in turns to pick up the box standing up and using only their teeth. When the first person has managed to pick it up you tear around the box making it an inch shorter in length. The next person then goes. It will get harder and harder as the box gets smaller and smaller. (P.S Getting a parent to have a go will cause lots of laughter, as the children will be so much better!)
Releasing beautiful eco friendly lanterns add a special touch to any occasion. Why not write a wish on them before you light them and let them go?
Green gift bags: Ditch the plastic party bag and opt instead for a bag made out of paper or cotton. Pop in a green gift too. The Grow My First Ever Plant kits from Nigel's Eco Store are brilliant. Wooden toys for tinier tots are a good choice. The wooden London Bus is a sure favourite. It is not all about lots of presents so a thoughtful token such as a slice of delicious cake is the perfect end to your eco party.
By Laura Pullman, Features Writer, The Party Times.
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