Eco-Fab and Frugal Kids Birthday Parties

Keep the Green in Your Pocket
Kids birthday parties don’t have to be expensive to be a hit!! Have an “eco-friendly” kids party – it will leave you with more green in your pocket!  By creatively reusing items you already have and focusing on earth friendly activities, you can save money, teach valuable lessons and – most importantly – HAVE FUN!

No Need To Print Invitations
Just use Evite to save paper … and money!

Create A Recycled Craft Center
Create your own recycled craft center, and let the kids’ imaginations run wild.  Gather up cardboard paper towel rolls, old milk cartons and paper shopping bags – with some crayons and glue and stickers (you probably have these laying around the house) you’ll be amazed at how quickly your recycling bin can be turned into light sabers, toy houses and silly costumes.  And the children can take their creations home, so it can also be their party favor!

You Can Plant a Party Favor
Why not invest in some inexpensive plants (less than 50 cents a piece) and cardboard cups.  The kids can decorate the “planters” and then re-plant the plants – a lesson in green living that is also so much fun!  And the kids can take home their plant as their party favor, and continue to watch it grow.

Turn Your Backyard into an Obstacle Course
The answer to a great party activity might be right in your backyard – literally.  As I looked around my own boring backyard, I saw how it (or the park) could be transformed into a full on adventure course!  For example: Run to the tree, do 5 jumping jacks, hop through a hula hoop maze, try to make a basket – while standing backwards – draw a chalk picture on the patio, and run around the picnic table before crossing the finish line.  Bonus: the kids will be exhausted by the end of the party!

Decorate Your Own Dessert
For a fun and tasty activity, bake cookies or cupcakes and then have the kids decorate their own dessert with frosting and sprinkles!

Talented Friends to the Rescue
If you can’t afford to hire entertainers, look to your own friends!  So many of us have talented pals who would be happy to come play guitar for a half hour, or dress up and entertain the kids!  Just because Uncle Joe isn’t a professional actor, doesn’t mean the kids won’t find him entirely captivating as one of the Pirates of the Caribbean!

All you need is a lot of creativity – not a lot of cash – to leave a smile on your kid’s face and money in your pocket!