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It's time to celebrate life. I gave this a thought. Until now most of the birthday celebrating that we were invited to, were far away from a real birthday celebration for the birthday child. Since when have dozens of Chinese-made toys that within a minute come apart, A party operator with loud music who treats your kids stupidly and the adults as ATM, piles of junk food and sweets become the ideal celebration for our kids ???
So what can you do to prepare a fun quality birthday that will also serve as an inspiration to the parents and to other children?
For a start- I recommend putting the child's preferences and loves in the center of the event along with examination of the examinations of the leading talents of his parents and his family. Even one small step on behalf of the Ecology is a good start.
Who? Small is beautiful! It's important that the guests we invite will be those that really there to celebrate with the birthday child. Within the family or with close friends tasks and activities can be divided among the participants and activities can become smaller but of higher quality.
What? Activity that brings congratulations and blessings - that is a birthday! Activities that are linked to the things your child really loves: crafts, animals, sports games, puzzles? Any one of these issues, you will probably find that you or your nearby company has talent (aunt, friend, grandmother). Share your ideas and ask for their help. You will discover that this is great fun and your child will really be exited. Include the child in your planning:preparing invitations, making a list of equipment, distribution of tasks etc. Concentrate the activity around your child (examples for activities are shown in the end)
What to eat? Plan the time of the celebration to an hour that does not clash with a main meal. You can serve fruits and cookies (it is recommended to prepare the refreshments with the birthday child or with the guests)What to drink? Fill jars (if you have) with concentrated juice or use reusable plastic bottles. I guess, neither child nor parent will complain there's non of that "black bubbly" drink. And of cause - a respectable chocolate cake - This is a must!
What do we eat with? Avoid disposable containers - use paper napkins and if you have to use dishes - use washable plastic dishes and prepare a washing station for the children. 1. Organic garbage can. 2. A soap [tab] 3. A rinsing tab. 4. drying station (a towel will do). You will be surprised how much children enjoy washing their own dishes.
Where? How are we having a birthday party and not destroying the house? That are exactly what the neighborhood park and club designated For. Important rule: When you use public places do so with respect and leave the place spotless once you are done. (See the section about the end and evacuation)
Gifts? How to avoid useless gifts to a children's room with no place for storage? Good question! Request in advance two things: First congratulations and blessings. Second: One or two significant gifts that is jointly organized and bought together. In my experience this works great. Not only is the gift accepted as a very unique present, my child did not let go of the blessing card he received all week. You can also ask for a valuable gift of quality time with friends. : An invitation to spend an afternoon with a friend, a special screening of a film they love, a walk with the dog etc... This can still come wrapped in beautiful paper OR envelope (A bit like a Spa invitation grownups receive for birthdays)
How to end the party? Ending the party is a great opportunity for kids' activities and a summery. Separate them into groups – one group collects paper, one group plastic bottles and one group non-recycled garbage. You will be surprised how quickly the place will be cleaned and at the same time the children have learned about taking responsibility and separating garbage. Of course it is important to prepare in advance a site into which the garbage will be cleared - preferably - a separated site.
What about the surprise packets? Prepare with your child the surprise packets - you can use colorful magazines (like an envelope or a cone) you can fill it with a reasonable amount of candies or dry fruits. It will surely not fill with the analogical amount of candies. Instead you can invest a surprise bag of something with green value -like a small plant.
So what was the benefit gained by your child, yourself and the environment? Strengthening the child's "self ", sharing with family and friends the party preparations, highlighting a unique and fun gift and cake, entertainment that is not based only on material matters, minimum trash, taking responsibility for the garbage we produce and much lower costs of a great event.
Let this be a green birthday and have one also next year!
Samples :( depending of course on the age and company)
1. A wishing tree - preparing the wishes and hanging them on the tree. The child's picks the greeting and guesses who wished him that wish.
2. Pass the parcel - a musical game - The one that gets the parcel greets the birthday child.
3. A ball game - delivering a ball and the child receiving the ball greats.
4. Creativity - preparing the greetings to the child by drawing or gluing (magazine cuttings, corks , packaging)
Familiarizing the guest with the birthday child
1) Writing a story about the child and reading it to the friends. In pantomime or Pass the Package game - which is the most, loved animal/ color/ profession/ hero or hobby by the child.
2) Trivia about the child: divide the guests into two groups that compete in saying the right answers.
3) Animal games - each child chooses an animal that characterizes the child and presents it theatrically to the quests.
So what can you do to prepare a fun quality birthday that will also serve as an inspiration to the parents and to other children?
For a start- I recommend putting the child's preferences and loves in the center of the event along with examination of the examinations of the leading talents of his parents and his family. Even one small step on behalf of the Ecology is a good start.
Who? Small is beautiful! It's important that the guests we invite will be those that really there to celebrate with the birthday child. Within the family or with close friends tasks and activities can be divided among the participants and activities can become smaller but of higher quality.
What? Activity that brings congratulations and blessings - that is a birthday! Activities that are linked to the things your child really loves: crafts, animals, sports games, puzzles? Any one of these issues, you will probably find that you or your nearby company has talent (aunt, friend, grandmother). Share your ideas and ask for their help. You will discover that this is great fun and your child will really be exited. Include the child in your planning:preparing invitations, making a list of equipment, distribution of tasks etc. Concentrate the activity around your child (examples for activities are shown in the end)
What to eat? Plan the time of the celebration to an hour that does not clash with a main meal. You can serve fruits and cookies (it is recommended to prepare the refreshments with the birthday child or with the guests)What to drink? Fill jars (if you have) with concentrated juice or use reusable plastic bottles. I guess, neither child nor parent will complain there's non of that "black bubbly" drink. And of cause - a respectable chocolate cake - This is a must!
What do we eat with? Avoid disposable containers - use paper napkins and if you have to use dishes - use washable plastic dishes and prepare a washing station for the children. 1. Organic garbage can. 2. A soap [tab] 3. A rinsing tab. 4. drying station (a towel will do). You will be surprised how much children enjoy washing their own dishes.
Where? How are we having a birthday party and not destroying the house? That are exactly what the neighborhood park and club designated For. Important rule: When you use public places do so with respect and leave the place spotless once you are done. (See the section about the end and evacuation)
Gifts? How to avoid useless gifts to a children's room with no place for storage? Good question! Request in advance two things: First congratulations and blessings. Second: One or two significant gifts that is jointly organized and bought together. In my experience this works great. Not only is the gift accepted as a very unique present, my child did not let go of the blessing card he received all week. You can also ask for a valuable gift of quality time with friends. : An invitation to spend an afternoon with a friend, a special screening of a film they love, a walk with the dog etc... This can still come wrapped in beautiful paper OR envelope (A bit like a Spa invitation grownups receive for birthdays)
How to end the party? Ending the party is a great opportunity for kids' activities and a summery. Separate them into groups – one group collects paper, one group plastic bottles and one group non-recycled garbage. You will be surprised how quickly the place will be cleaned and at the same time the children have learned about taking responsibility and separating garbage. Of course it is important to prepare in advance a site into which the garbage will be cleared - preferably - a separated site.
What about the surprise packets? Prepare with your child the surprise packets - you can use colorful magazines (like an envelope or a cone) you can fill it with a reasonable amount of candies or dry fruits. It will surely not fill with the analogical amount of candies. Instead you can invest a surprise bag of something with green value -like a small plant.
So what was the benefit gained by your child, yourself and the environment? Strengthening the child's "self ", sharing with family and friends the party preparations, highlighting a unique and fun gift and cake, entertainment that is not based only on material matters, minimum trash, taking responsibility for the garbage we produce and much lower costs of a great event.
Let this be a green birthday and have one also next year!
Samples :( depending of course on the age and company)
1. A wishing tree - preparing the wishes and hanging them on the tree. The child's picks the greeting and guesses who wished him that wish.
2. Pass the parcel - a musical game - The one that gets the parcel greets the birthday child.
3. A ball game - delivering a ball and the child receiving the ball greats.
4. Creativity - preparing the greetings to the child by drawing or gluing (magazine cuttings, corks , packaging)
Familiarizing the guest with the birthday child
1) Writing a story about the child and reading it to the friends. In pantomime or Pass the Package game - which is the most, loved animal/ color/ profession/ hero or hobby by the child.
2) Trivia about the child: divide the guests into two groups that compete in saying the right answers.
3) Animal games - each child chooses an animal that characterizes the child and presents it theatrically to the quests.