Birthdays

Celebrate Green with eco-games for gala green birthdays

Lots of ideas from an interview Corey did with ParentMap magazine.

(Scroll down for additional birthday ideas) 

Be sure there is adequate adult supervision for all activities and try to ensure those you choose are age appropriate.

• See a great list in Kiwi magazine

• Explorer Divide the group into teams. The task is to create a map or list or take photos of what you discover in a designated area. If you're at a park, for example, you might ask the children to find as many different plants as possible. They can drawn them, photograph them or if they know the names, list them. Set a time limit, call the kids back together and share their discoveries.

• Eco-scavenger hunt Divide into teams. Give everyone gloves and a bag. Set a time limit. See how much trash each team can collect in a short period of time. The twist is that one member of the team should write down a description of everything that goes into the bag. When they're done, you can give prizes for the most collected (weigh each bag), the most unusual item discovered, the team with the most of one item like plastic bottles, the grossest item (kids love that), etc.

• Make up (Not what you think.) Collect a bunch of natural objects, i.e. stones, leaves, sticks, fruit and veggies, seeds etc. Divide the children into groups with two to four in each. Give each group a bunch of the objects (don't have to be the same in each group). Challenge each group to come up with a game using any or all of the objects. Set a time limit. When the time is up, have the entire group play each game.

• How about teaching some games like Hacky Sack or Lynn's all time favorite Maori stick games like this or this

• A crafty group of kids might love doing a solar art project

• For a rainy day, choose from a variety of fun and educational board games at www.PristinePlanet.com

Have other ideas for eco games? Email us.

If you're looking for a great eco-birthday how-to, read the story of one mom's effort to pull off a fabulously eco-friendly 4th birthday tea

And the greening efforts for a 10-year-old's party.

More great green birthday party ideas from Good Girl Gone Green. You'll love the menu!

A fab first birthday celebration with the theme of the 100 mile diet.

Here's a birthday suggestion from Kit Bennett, founder of AmazingMoms.com, New York: Hold off on using all paper products for birthday parties. Understanding that paper is easier for clean-up just purchase the plates and cups but try to use eco friendly items for the rest of table items. Such as using matching fabric cut with pinking shears for napkins and a white sheet as a table cloth. Spills can easily be washed out of the sheet and the same sheet can be used for every birthday party. Use your cake as a centerpiece and scatter candy around the table for extra color. Fabric can be used for other decorations as well…drape it on furniture, hang it from the ceiling, windows etc. Then the fabric can be used again to make bedroom curtains or pillow cases for the birthday child's room.

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