Birthday Party Waste

**inneedofhope** · 10-07-2005, 11:05 PM

I was shopping with my son for his birthday party supplies, and I was just thinking about how wasteful it is to buy all the paper and plastic stuff to use once and toss, plus all the little party favors that will probably end up being tossed or broken.
Has anyone hosted a child's birthday party without all this stuff??

I did avoid the character theme stuff and got him excited about a general Halloween/ costume party theme, and we are making the pinata ourselves.

**Valerie in WA** · 10-08-2005, 04:15 PM

I don't do party favors; instead I've had the kids make a craft (which gives them something non-rowdy to do to fill time). I have used paper cups & plates, but my own silverware. There is no reason why the guests can't eat off of your regular dishes - except convenience.

Here's what I think: just because other people do things doesn't mean that I need to. I hate all that waste, and lest someone think I'm 'cheap' (rather than frugal), I can always cite environmental reasons. But, truly, for me, it's both.

**forestdale** · 10-08-2005, 04:23 PM

I've done the craft thing too. It's popular with boys and girls. I've also done a painting party and if I had kids now I'd probably have a digital photo party, I'd let the kids take photos of each other, them in groups and partnered with the birthday person. I'd let them view their photos on the computer and print out a couple of photos each to take home. It would probable cost as much as the party favours but it would be less waste.

**Valerie in WA** · 10-08-2005, 07:39 PM

You're right Rhonda, AND...

a photo would be a better thing to take home than some piece of plastic that is either:

a) going to get chewed by the dog, OR
b) going to get stepped on by Dad in the middle of the night, causing him to howl words unsuitable for childrens' ears, OR
c) be noisy and obnoxious all day, causing Mother to howl words unsuitable for childrens' ears.

**psjkmom** · 10-08-2005, 11:06 PM

I bought about 30 very cheap and colorful plastic plates last year at Wal-Mart. A lot of stores carry picnic type plates/bowls/matching cups etc during the summer months. I used those for my ds's 6th birthday party. I simply instructed the children to put their plates in the large bin provided when they were finished. I also asked them to put pop cans in another bin to be recycled. We didn't do gift bags, but we always have a pinata that they break and take the candy home in plain brown bags. Not necessarily cheap or less wasteful, but a tradition here none-the-less! The plastic plates are dish-washer safe and I've used them since, for several other gatherings. They are cheery and can be used for any theme party for years to come.

I agree that children's birthday parties have gotten out of hand. I feel sort of guilty for not buying each child an elaborate gift bag, but good grief, it gets expensive. My sons both asked all the children in their classes to their birthday parties last year and it would have been mind-boggling if I had bought that many goody bags to give away. We have requested on our invitations that no one bring gifts. That sounds sort of scrooge-ish, however, my children have grandparents who indulge them. Their friends come to the party, have a great time, my kids have a great time and I don't have to find a place for twenty more toys they'll never play with.

**hollyhill** · 10-09-2005, 02:23 AM

I have collected "party" dishes over the years. An assortment of colourful non-breakable dishes. I have at least a doz. tupperware cups that have been given to me or I purchased used for 10 cents each. I have a giant "chip" bowl and cake plates with colourful patterns, plastic plates, all were picked up used. This year I picked up new from superstore at their end of the summer clearance 8 bright flower shaped plates for $2 that our party guests loved.
I started collecting "partyware" for ecological and economical reasons but also because we have to take garbage to the dump our selves and pay each time we do. So there is a huge incentive to reduce waste.
As a homeschooler our birthdays often have "educational" themes.
This year my youngest wanted a "little house on the prairie" party. The children came in "old fashioned" clothes. Made yarn dolls, played old fashioned games and had homemade cake and lemonade.
Decorations were fresh flowers from the garden and candles (no balloons).
Goodie bags were brown paper bags tied with twine and contained some old fashioned candy, paper dolls and the yarn dolls.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and had alot of fun and it was very, very inexpensive.

**Early Bird** · 10-09-2005, 08:33 AM

One year we had a 'tea party' for both girls' birthdays -- They're 2 years and 4 days apart.

I spent $15 at Goodwill for pretty, though mismatched, china with pink rose patterns: plates, cups, saucers, teapots. [After the party was over, I let the kids play with it for a few weeks. ThenI donated it back!]

I had some big pieces of old lacy tablecloths; spread them over old coffee tables and picnic tables.

All the girls wore fancy dresses.

I bought a bunch of bakery treats for the feast itself: tiny cakes, cookies, and SUGAR CUBES. I think I served milk in the teapots.

The girls had their tea party birthday out on the sunporch.

It worked very well.

**Mamaw** · 10-09-2005, 10:33 AM

I agree kids birthday parties have gotten out of hand. In my area the norm is parties at skating rinks, movies, indoor swimming parks and the likes. It is alot of fun but rather expensive in my opinion. My children are all grown but we used to get the inexpensive white paper plates, cups and napkins for the crew. If I had to do it again, I would get the plastic plates that you can wash and reuse. Gift bags usually contained candy and maybe bubbles or jump ropes. It was not really inepensive but at least the bags were not plastic that got throwed out anyway. My niece always has the children make a craft for birthdays. It gives them something to do and lets them take home something too.

**slowtypinwoman** · 10-09-2005, 10:52 AM

Alex has a bithday party next week. For OUR convienence it will be held at the skiting rink in a nearby town. There will be no favors. We explained to her that this party is costing way more then we would normally spend. We are not getting her as much for her gift as normal as a result of the cost of the party. I asked her which she would rather do and she wanted the party. All her gifts are from my gift closet stock. I have been lucky that going to the art shows I have been able to do lots of "trades" with other artist. I also had purchased a few of the Girls of Many Lands on clearance from American Girl last year. She will be getting one of those as her big gift. Which BTW cost me a total of $10.

**inneedofhope** · 10-09-2005, 10:37 PM

i really like the idea if building a collection of party ware to just have and use, I think I'll start looking around for interesting plates for parties at yard sales.
A lot of the kids have been having their parties at the bowling alley, but my son always wants to invite people to his house, and some of his classmates have asked me if they can come here, so I figured why not just do a simple party at home. I really hope we get a warm day so they can be outside mostly!! I'm planning on about 2 hours, we so the first hour I will need to fill with games or activities, then we'll have Homemade cupcakes and ice cream, let him open his gifts (I'm not buying him anything, his dad and I are putting up bunk beds in his room tomarrow, grandparents saved from when dad was a kid, we just bought mattresses) and then do the pinata we're making. Then the kids can just play till they go home. I usually let him go ahead and open any toys he's received and play with them with his friends at the party.
we're going to make up some invites this week. We may just print them from the computer. I have alot of card stock sitting around.

**bamamomto4** · 10-10-2005, 12:06 AM

I buy the plastic plates,cups,forks (or sometimes use my own) in a color theme. For Jayme's 1st bday I did pink . I also wash and reuse everything. I'm not throwing it away lol

Gift bags are usually candy,and/or small items from the dollar store.

3 of 4 have summer bdays and we have swimming parties.