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How to host an eco-friendly kids’ party

Plastic goody bags. Gorgeous-but-glittery wrapping paper. Single-use cutlery. Throwing a party for your little ones can get a little “disposable”, so we chatted to Sooby from @standingbythewall_ on how to through an eco-friendly party that even Mother Earth can enjoy!

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What are three easy tips for parents wanting to throw more eco-friendly parties for their children?

Have a birthday box of neutral party things you can use over and over for every celebration. There’s something lovely about the “party stuff” coming out for celebrations, and I don’t think my kids would even want plastic character plates, cups and tablecloths now.

Design your invite and WhatsApp or email it to the guests. Using a website like Canva makes this super easy to do.

Make sure you have a recycling bin and food waste bin available for guests at the party to access. Kids are particularly brilliant and separating their rubbish and it’ll stop the wrong things going to landfill.

How can parents reduce waste from kids’ parties?

Collect party items slowly and only things you love. Go for fun patterns that work all year round and can be personalised with a paper name tag or small character toy from their toy box.

Instead of helium balloons, use biodegradable balloons and make a balloon arch, or better still, use less than normal and just put them around the room to play with!

Consider using fabric party hats or birthday crowns and keeping them as forever family items.

What are some of your go-to party themes?

All parties here have the same basic items and then if one of the kids is into a specific character or animal or theme that year, we use toys they have to put on top of the cake. We’ve had Frozen, princesses, Harry Potter and Lego as consistent themes over the years.

Do you have any must-have party essentials?

We have the most amazing leather bunting, linen crowns, and party hats that we’ve got from small businesses.

We also have a big painted white branch that we decorate with home made and specially selected and loved decorations for Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Christmas.

Fabric refillable crackers work at every occasion. I fill them with sweets and they’re so beautiful on the table.

Adding light makes any party magic, so candles, fairy lights and we have a small set of disco lights that live in the party box. Once they come out, it’s party time!

What’s the first thing you do when planning an eco-friendly party? What are your planning essentials?

After 10 years of collecting our favourite pieces, all we need to do now is take down the basket and everything is there.

We love eco-friendly balloons, and dried flowers as confetti for decoration, and making paper chains to go along with the bunting.

What are your top tips for making sure a children’s party is fun for kids and stress free for parents?

I think letting them be involved in setting the table, making the shopping list for the cake ingredients and even letting them decorate it. This has taken me a long time to realise, but not worrying about perfection is key. I used to worry about everything having to be Pinterest perfect, but that was just for me....kids just want to turn up the music, dance about and have fun with you. No point in getting stressed. Loads of colour, a delicious cake and letting them have fun and get messy! My main tip is not to wait for an occasion to have a party. Take out the decorations, have cake for tea, and party cause it’s a weekday - why not!