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Kid’s parties – help!

We recently received an email from Georgina asking;

i wondered if any of your readers would have suggestions for a rubbish free childrens party? Reusable plates etc are easy.

The hard part is the compulory goody bag (it really is) which usually has a) way too may sweets and b) loads of really throaway plasticy toys (laser lights (v cool), water pistols, random toys that come in packs of ten and break the first time you use them etc etc)

I tried using little notepads and pens last year but really its the plastic that was popular with the 6 year olds

The stuff that comes home from parties usually ends up in landfill within a week.

So what can I do that it is reasonably green and likely to be popular with kids?

We have information in the Guide on Parties and Children but it’d be good to get some specific rubbish free information on Children’s Parties – Can you help?

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6 Comments

  1. Josie Jackson, June 9, 2012:

    For my daughter Indy’s 6th birthday, we did it completly rubbish free, The goodie bags and prizes consisted of homemade bags made from material scraps from the op-shop, small pansys in old cat food containers – they look lovely and the tins just get recycled when the season ends.Dancing sticks made from branches, a small loop screw and ribbon, we plaited coloured string into their hair, they decorated their own cupcakes, you can also put some sunflower seeds into little bags for them to grow, make your own badges, collect pretties from the op shop to use as prizes. HAVE FUN!

  2. Matthew & Waveney, June 10, 2012:

    Thanks heaps for that reply Josie, and well done, sounds like it was a fantastic party! I’ve added your ideas to the Guide under parties. Thanks.

  3. Georgina, August 9, 2012:

    I love the idea of plants and seeds and decorating own cupcakes. And
    i agree with MAtthew- it sounds a fantastic party! hope ours is as good

  4. Paris, November 5, 2012:

    Here are some tips and ideas about zero waste kids party. Please add your own ideas to the comments, so other friends can I can learn about them. Thank you.
    http://thegreenminimalist.blogspot.com/search/label/Children

  5. Shelly, February 13, 2013:

    We simply don’t give out goody bags. Where this practice started I don’t know but I was raised to believe that the party itself combined with a thank you note later was the fulfillment of good manners to your guests. I dislike the unneeded added pressure on parents to provide a gift to the guests when it is not their birthday. This practice adds to the sense of entitlement I see so prevalent is children today. That being said, flower seeds in a pretty piece of cloth or burlap is someting small children get a kick out of. It is the older children that become tricky and expensive to provide for; hence, just don’t start the practice in the first place.

  6. Helen, May 6, 2013:

    I agree with Shelly, our daughter is two and had her first party this year. We put a piece of cake in a paper bag for the guests to take home. However if you wanted to do goody bags what about colouring pencils? They come in cardboard. Spotlight have packs of small paper bags, also lots of crafty things like wooden cutouts to paint. Lollies from the Bin Inn could be put in paper bags if you wanted some sweets. On a related note I would love some environmentally friendly stickers, does anyone know where I could get some from?

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