Volunteer Project Birthday Parties

Green Celebrations

Green Birthday Celebrations

Green Celebrations

You can make a difference by helping your child have a happy, fun birthday celebration - without the excess. Consider planning a volunteer project, your child's birthday party will be unique and will reinforce the message that helping others is important.

Children taught to volunteer at a young age will be more likely to help others when they get older, according to an Independent Sector / Gallop Poll. Not only will your child's birthday party make a difference to the recipient of your volunteerism, your child and his or her guests will learn that doing good can be fun. It can be challenging to break the cycle of materialistic, indulgent parties. But, your child's birthday party can be the first step in creating healthy, non-materialistic birthday party attitudes in your neighborhood.

It's easy to plan a volunteer project to your child's birthday party. Here are a few children's birthday party ideas to consider:

Make a Service Project the Main Birthday Party Attraction

Instead of games or expensive outings, make a volunteerism project the main attraction of your child's birthday party. Talk to your child and choose a service project that is fun and fits his interests. For example:

Plant native trees: Give each child a seedling or a packet of seeds and a small shovel. Let the children plant the trees in a park or other public area (with permission, of course). Consider asking a park ranger to take the children on a nature walk.

Make cards for critically-ill children. Set up a table with bright coloured paper, stickers, glitter, crayons, and markers. Turn on the party music and let the children make personalized cards for hospitalized children.

Assemble supply kits for the needy. Before the party, purchase or collect supplies for people in need. During the party, let kids assemble eg baby supply kits.

Create teddy bears for children in need. Older partygoers can learn how to knit or crochet teddy bears, (the project may need to be completed at home). Younger children can stuff pre-sewn teddy bears. Donate the completed bears to hospitals, or charity organizations.

There are dozens of other volunteer birthday party ideas that can be completed at your party. Whatever volunteerism project you choose, be sure to make the party fun. Compliment the children for their hard work and let them know that they are making a big difference.

In Lieu of Gifts, Collect Toys, Food, or Clothes for Charity, or collect donations for your favourite eco group etc.

If you child's playroom is already full of expensive toys and games, consider requesting donations in lieu of presents. You may ask guests to donate a toy (new or old), bring a canned food donation, or donate a piece of clothing they no longer wear. Be sure to discuss this idea with your child ahead of time, and do give your child a special birthday present from the family. Let the birthday child choose the charity and take an active role in dropping off the donation.

Instead of Goodie Bags, Make a Charitable Donation in Guests' Names

Goodie bags are overrated. Most "loot bags" filled with bouncy balls and fancy pencils are forgotten the next day. But, if you still want to do something special for the children attending, consider making a charitable donation in guests' names.
Many local charitable organizations are happy to print personalized certificates with children's names. These can be presented to children as a birthday party favour. Alternatively, CharityGiftCertificates.org offers printable gift certificates that can be redeemed for donations to over 75 charities. The minimum donation ($5) costs about the same amount as a goodie bag.

When you plan service-oriented activities for your child's birthday party, you're giving your child and his or her friends the opportunity to make a difference. At the end of the celebration, your guests will go home with a smile in their hearts, happy memories, and the confidence that comes from helping others. That's worth more than anything money can buy.

Protect & preserve the remaining orangutan population and the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Financial donations can be made via any of the websites listed, and if you would like to donate actual items the BOS website contains a 'wish list' of all things the centre desperately needs but can't easily find there in Borneo. Items that many people have just lying around at home, such as baby bottles, nappies, first aid kits, torches, old mobile phones etc. Or for as little as Au $55 per year you could 'adopt' an orphan orangutan and contribute directly to the care of one of the many infants in need. You will recieve an adoption certificate, photos and regular updates. What a great birthday gift with a difference!

orangatan_280px WWF - World Wildlife Fund http://www.wwf.org.au/