Environmentally Friendly Kids' Parties

With the increased number of parents and families becoming more involved with natural and less wasteful lifestyles, there comes an increased number of questions on exactly how to go about making the change. We all know that we can recycle, for example. We have all learned about organic foods and GMOs, but now and again there are questions about how to make things that are highly commercialized less so.

Birthday parties are one time when parents are looking for healthier, more natural alternatives. Cakes and treats are part of a birthday, but do those cakes really have to have as much sugar as they do? Do we really need all of the artificial colors, plastic disposable junk favors, disposable plastic games, and heaps of plastic plates and forks? There is a natural solution for just about everything you want to include at your child's birthday party and almost all of them are cheaper or easier than their conventional counterparts.

Party Favors

There are plenty of great party favors that you can give out at birthdays and use to fill piñatas that are less wasteful, handmade, or more natural. Try a few of these:

Seashells plain or strung onto a cord to wear as a necklace

handmade felt finger puppets

sparkly pencils with star-shaped eraser toppers make great "magic wands"

beaded stretchy rings and jewelry from elastic

marbles

handmade felt rings - you can even sew-on rhinestones

homemade play-dough or slime in film canisters - decorate with paint pens

beading kits - fill a small Ziploc bag with beads and string

individually wrapped organic snacks or homemade cookies

glittery toothbrushes

metal whistles

homemade beanbags from cloth scraps

pencil sharpeners

make your own miniature coloring and activity books

die cast cars

handmade yarn dollies

rubber stamps

wind-up metal toys

brain-teaser puzzles

packs of playing cards

handmade bookmarks

lip balm

hair barrettes

handmade friendship bracelets

tokens to a local arcade

treasure bags - make a small drawstring pouch and fill with plastic gemstones, plastic gold coins, and flat glass marbles.

sugar-free gum (Spry makes delicious all-natural sugar-free gum)