Green Birthdays

Green Birthdays

Supplement to Treasury of Celebrations: Create Celebrations That Reflect Your Values and Don't Cost the Earth

Parks and Recreation Can Help You Celebrate Your Child's Next Birthday with a GREEN BIRTHDAY PARTY*

Six Easy Steps to hosting a Green Birthday Party

2. Location: The Fish Bowl or one of Worthington's Parks. In a natural setting, no extra decorations are necessary and you can have an educational activity like a tree/flower planting.

3. Food/Utensils: Use washable plates and utensils (if it must be paper, use recycled paper plates and utensils). Bake a homemade cake or a treat that does not have unnecessary wrapping (cupcakes and finger foods can alleviate forks). Use a cooler of lemonade instead of juice boxes.

4. Entertainment: The Fish Bowl provides access to a swimming pool and a room for games and crafts. Worthington's parks have plenty of space for sports and activities. Try playing a board game or making a homemade pinata full of recycled or reusable toys.

5. Party Favors: Ditch the traditional 'goody bag' full of candy and throw-away plastic toys for an item that kids make themselves (ex: homemade play-dough, princess hats, puppets, wands, etc.). Or, instead of favors, wouldn't it be nice if your child could have friends bring items that would help other children? Have friends bring in items to donate to a charity, while parents and family members still get the child gifts.

6. Wrapping Paper: Try placing the toy in a reusable container or use recycled wrapping paper or gift bags. Great Sources for a Green Birthday Party Your Child (and the Guests' Parents) Will Love! Helpful 'Green Birthday Party' Website: www.echoage.com. Others you know about?

Invitations & Thank-You Cards

Twisted Limb makes uncoated, recycled invitations and stationery by hand www.twistedlimbpaper.com.

Vickerey sells recycled paper handcrafted from the bark of the Lokta bush, a tree-free resource in Nepal, www.vickerey.com.

Go totally paper free--and save time and money as well--by sending your guests an electronic invitation: www.evite.com or www.regards.com.

Party Favors

Plates/Napkins & Utensils

Wrapping Paper

Gift Bags, Bows

Ideas For (Even Better) Green Birthdays

2. Try using recycled tissue paper or pre-used wrapping paper for pompoms, to wrap gifts, and make other decorations.

3. Others?

For Simpler, more Meaningful 'Green Birthdays'

2. Focus on relationships with Family and friends of the Birthday Person. Consider how you can emphasize joy and service to others less fortunate, reducing emphasis on 'more stuff.' Example: How many Barbie Dolls or stuffed animals does a child need? Are guns and other symbols of violence and hurting others really appropriate for Birthday celebrations?

3. Birthday symbols: Look to faith, not to commerce. Do Santa and bunnies tell the story you want to tell? Let's tell the real stories of our faith and values.

4. Avoid debt and gluttony. Refuse to be pressured by advertising to over spend or over eat. Build community with a meal of mostly locally produced food -- planned, prepared and cleaned up by the whole family.

5. Avoid stress. Give to yourself. Don't assume that things have to be the same way they've always been. Make changes slowly but persistently. Don't try to change everything and at once. The resistance may make you feel defeated and lonely.

6. Appropriate gifts. If giving gifts seems mandatory -- give appropriate ones. Get to know the recipient. Give what they want to receive, not what you want to buy. Give children one thing they really want, rather than many gifts. Set a price ceiling. Put gifts out shortly before opening them. Take turns opening them, not all at once, so that each gift can be admired and each giver thanked.

7. Give alternative gifts. Give at least 25% of what you spend to the needy -- groups or individuals -- local, national, or international. Show conspicuous sharing in place of 'conspicuous consumption.' Encourage children to discuss using birthday celebrations to help those less fortunate. Examples: Wrap a toy for a local resource center of other charity. Ask guests to do the same -- instead of giving toys to each other.

8. Give of yourself, not just 'stuff.' Examples: A coupon book for future services (such as baby-sitting or an 'enchanted evening') or something baked, sewn, handmade, composed, etc. Consider more time for volunteering rather than entertainment. If you need to give cards, make your own.

9. Alternative gifts: If clothing or other gifts are called for, buy those from developing countries at alternative gift markets, not from commercial importers. This helps to assure that artisans receive a fair price for their work. Avoid mass produced knickknacks, novelties and toys. Avoid status symbols and other 'ritual displays of plenty.'

10. Choose simplicity. Avoid plastic and imported flowers and trimming, fancy papers and bows, and consumables (such as balloons and foam plates).

Source: Adapted from 'Birthdays' in Alternatives' Simply :60 eNews, May 18, 2007. Also see '10 Tips for Simpler, More Meaningful Celebrations | Christmas | Easter'

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