Eco-Friendly Kids Birthday Party Ideas

from Kiwi Magazine
Looking for some inspiration when planning a theme or activities for your child's birthday party?  Consider the list below—the ideas are either eco, healthy or socially responsible.




Kids in the Kitchen: Go to a cooking school, or have an instructor over to your home to teach kids how to prepare a healthy dish that they can eat at the party or take with them as party favors.

Out in the Field: Take a tour of an organic farm, a dairy farm or an orchard. 

Color Their World: Tie-dye organic cotton T-shirts with natural dyes.

How Their Garden Grows: Provide seeds, pots and soil, and have kids plant their own flowers, herbs or veggies. For treats, make fruit flowers and healthy “dirt pots” (deep bowls or pots filled with layers of yogurt, fruit and cookie crumbs).

Totally Tokyo: Hold a Japanese tea ceremony and teach kids how to roll fruit and veggie sushi.
Click here for tea ceremony instructions.

Spa Divas: Girls can get makeovers with natural mineral makeup, then top off their looks with manicures and pedicures using nontoxic nail polish.

“Come As You Are” Party: Surprise your guests with an early-morning pickup while they are still in the pajamas (only their parents will know the start time). Serve a healthy breakfast, putting candles in muffins instead of cake.

Eco-Adventure: Create a rainforest scene, have everyone dress up as their favorite African animal (you can even make masks at the party) and watch Tarzan. Adopt an animal from the National Zoo (about $50) and look through the adoption photos and materials with the kids.

Bookworms: Have each kid bring a new or gently used book for a book exchange. Then have everyone sit a circle and contribute to making up a story. Write their tale down on recycled paper, and let the kids decorate it with green paints, soy crayons and markers.

Support the Community: Call your local fire or police station and ask for a tour. Perhaps in lieu of gifts, the families could donate money to the station.

Birthday Olympics: Set up a series of fun activities including relay races, jump rope and kickball. For treats, hand out organic cookie “medals” or energy bars for kids such as Clif Zbar.

Backyard Eco-camping: Start the party at dusk. Set up tents in the backyard, tell spooky stories, gaze at the stars and identify constellations. For treats, have kids make their own organic s’mores and trail mix. Older kids can have a sleepover in the tents.

Finger Paintin’ Fun: Use eco friendly paints and recycled paper to let the kids create their own masterpieces. The kids can take these home as favors or you could hang them up in your child’s room.

Around the World: Make the party internationally themed. Each child could represent a different country.

Calling all Super Kids: Let each kid create their own Eco Super Hero. Let them make pieces of their costumes with old clothes.

The Big Dipper: Heat up a range of bees or soy waxes and have kids dip their own candles.

Fashionistas: Take old clothing apart and create new ones; works especially well with T-shirts.

The Mystery Escapade: Stage a scavenger hunt at a local park. 

Musical Masters: Teach the kids how to play the cowbell, triangle, among other more simple instruments. Play along to some of the kids’ favorite songs.

Kids Got Talent: Have kids create a talent—whether it’s singing, dancing, yodeling, etc. Have them make their own awards out of recyclable materials.

Shining Star: Let the kids dress up as their favorite eco conscience celeb. Check out www.ecorazzi.com for the greenest Hollywood stars. Perhaps have the kids write emails (cut down on paper!) to their celebrity and attach their dress-up photos.

Ocean Adventure: Live near the coast? Take the kids to the ocean and explain about the ocean life and tides. Let the kids collect seashells for their goodie bags.

Bowling for Dollars: Take kids bowling, set up teams and the winning teams get money to donate to a favorite local kids charity or children’s hospital.

Who-Dun-it: Set up a mystery party (Clue-like)...only the theme is to find the person who didn’t recycle or who wasn’t eating healthy. Provide hints and costumes for the characters.

Kids Birthday Party Idea - Eco-crafting: show kids how to make eco-crafts out of things lying around the house. As part of the invitation ask them to bring some things that you need for the crafts. They’ll be surprised to see what you make of them!

Muscular Dystrophy Carnival: Have a carnival for the neighborhood and raise money for muscular dystrophy. Get your friends involved in the planning and celebrate your birthday with a fun carnival that helps others! For more details, visit www.mdacarnivals.com.

Mini Van-Goghs: Take kids to your local art museum or art garden. After the visit, have the children make their own art sculptures from recyclable objects.

Scrapbooking: Share memories and make new ones. Create scrapbooks from supermarket brown bags. Hole punch the bags and tie with ribbon. In the invitation ask children to bring some of their favorite photos. As a favor, give each child a box camera to take photos throughout party for their scrapbook.

Mexican Fiesta: Have kids make their own burritos with healthy beans, salsa, brown rice, guacamole and cheese. In advance, make a piñata with the birthday boy or girl; it’s a great way to reuse old newspaper. Fill the piñata with healthy snacks. For project directions go to www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pinata.

Picnic Power: Take children on a picnic. Have them make their own sandwiches and help pack the picnic basket. Take a few blankets and spread them out in your backyard or at a park. Talk about nature, go on a scavenger hunt and collect items from nature. Tell stories and sing songs.
If none of these kids birthday party ideas spring out at you, brainstorm with your child. Their ideas may surprise you.