The Green Birthday Party alternative
By Camila Rivera-Tinsley, environmental educator & mother of 3-year-old Amaya
As many parents understand, planning birthday parties can be serious business. There is a lot of thought and effort that goes into planning a party—so many goals to accomplish and people to please!
Parents want the day to be special and to be all about the kids, but the reality is we are trying to please others as well. Whether we want to admit it or not, we’re worried about keeping up with the Joneses. When the precedent is to invite a child’s entire class to the party, there’s an awful lot of Joneses with whom to keep up!
Crafting the perfect party can come at pretty hefty price—to our wallets and to the environment. Nothing makes the impact on the earth more apparent than watching the clean up from these parties. Large trash bags filled with left-over sugary snacks; plastic decorations, streamers and balloons; disposable cups, plates, and cutlery; and wrapping paper from the gifts. You can almost hear the register ringing in the background, and all of these things are on their way to the landfill.
What is an eco-minded parent to do? The best advice is generally the simplest, and I think that applies to birthday party planning as well.
- Instead of having your parties in a boxed corporate setting, try having it out-of doors! Let nature be the entertainment instead of a clown or inflatable contraption. Kids enjoy simply playing with each other and having the opportunity to be outside.
- Themed parties are a lot of fun, why not have a party where kids dress up in the theme? Save on themed decorations.
- Try using paper lanterns instead of balloons
- Sending e-vites instead of paper invites is a great way to cut down on paper waste.
- Instead of giving out plastic toys as party favors, try giving out more natural gifts, such as polished rocks, or seeds to plant. Another great idea is to have a craft at your party that the kids can take home—like homemade play-doh!
- Part of the celebration can be making donations in lieu of gifts. The Schuylkill Center’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic is always accepting donations of paper towels, laundry detergent, canned pet food and more!
- Try a toy swap. The item doesn’t have to be new from the store, just new to the child.
- Ask parents not to wrap gifts, or to use newspaper instead.
- Reusable or compostable dinner ware is an eco-friendly alternative to disposable. It costs a bit more, but the savings to the environment is well worth it.
If you are looking to host an eco-friendly birthday party this spring, The Schuylkill Center is a great venue for a ‘green party’. The woodland setting provides the perfect backdrop for a naturally fun party. Children love being in a place that is different from their usual surroundings. And having the children run around the woods is much preferred over their running around your home!
Details about The Center’s birthday party options are available on our website > https://www.schuylkillcenter.org/programs/birthdays/
To register for a party or to ask questions, please call 215-482-7300 ext. 110. We look forward to partying the green way with you and your child!
