Families London SW Mar-Apr 2020

Reducing waste at parties: think reusable
party kits! By Roving mum Irene Bausas
PARTIES
We go to a lot of birthday parties and the
amount of rubbish we generate after every
party is enormous. Parties are a great way to
teach the children about sustainability and
what we can all do to help reduce waste.
Reusable party kits are growing fast all over the
UK. Party kits usually contain reusable plastic
plates and cups for about 30 children. Some
do it for free/charity, some run it as a business
with washing up service, birthday party themes,
all the same fun but a lot less disposables. If
there’s none in your area, maybe you and your
friends can consider starting one for your
community/school. www.partykitnetwork.uk
Do also look at Greentail.co.uk You can hire a
full set of re-usables , eco-friendly and good
looking party tableware made of bamboo. They
have an affordable door to door delivery and
collection service.
Some unusual, and plastic-lite,
party bag ideas By Jude Fellowes
As a mum of three, I know that opinion on
whether party bags are an essential
component of a children’s party is almost as
divided as on whether it’s really necessary to
invite the whole of your child’s class to their
party.
I like to think of myself as a good parent (most
of the time), but I confess I do my very best to
avoid party bags! I loathe looking round for
suitable tat to put in them and feel guilty about
the fact that most of what I’m buying will end
up in landfill or down the back of my fellow
parents’ sofas.
Having said this, I would NEVER let my
daughter know what I think of party bags
because she LOVES them. She also enjoys the
excitement of giving them to her friends.
So, love them or loathe them, if you are going
to “do” party bags, then here are some budget
friendly suggestions:
Books
You can get hold of reasonable quality
children’s books from discount book stores a
little as £1 or £2 a book – and at least this is a
gift that’s educational.
Personalised biscuits/cupcakes
Buy or bake some gingerbread men or
cupcakes and ice with the name of each party
guest for them to take home. This is something
your child will also enjoy helping with.
Flowerpot with a packets of seeds
Why not get the children to decorate the pot
and plant the seeds as a party activity.
Bumper packs of sweets
Buy several large bulk packets of sweets, divide
into small portions and wrap in cellophane for
each guest. Tie with a pretty ribbon.
Go traditional
Party blowers, balloons and bubbles always
bring a smile to childrens’ faces almost
regardless of age, and most supermarkets tend
to have a good selection of these party staples
on special offer.
Sock puppets
Younger children love sock puppets, so get
them to make their own. Buy some cheap
socks and colourful craft materials with which
to decorate them and you have a fun party
activity and another
memento for their
party bag.
The Little Gym parties
Little Gym offers private, fully supervised parties
where you can enjoy exclusive use of the whole
gym. The party is led by two qualified
gymnastics instructors—children will have one
hour to explore the gym during which the
instructors will facilitate age-appropriate games
and physical activity. Trust us, they’ll be busy!
Little Gym use special gymnastics equipment as
well as their parachute, balls and hoops. After
an hour of fun and games in the gym, it’s time
for birthday cake in the special decorated party
area. The party is private so your child and
birthday guest will have 100% of the team’s
attention. The best bit? They handle all the
details and clean all the mess—you just show
up with the children.
£360 for members, £410 non-members, for 12
children; maximum 24 children and any
additional child pays £12.
The Little Gym Wandsworth and Fulham,
Compass House, Riverside West, SW18 1DB
thelittlegym.com; 020 8874 6567;
wandsworth_fulham@thelittlegym.eu
PARTIES! Wonderfully fun musical parties
for your under-5’s! Guitar-accompanied songs
with actions, joining in, jumping and dancing,
instruments, puppet and parachute!
The perfect party for little ones.
Call 020 8677 6871
info@blueberryplaysongs.co.uk www.blueberryplaysongs.co.uk
familiesonline.co.uk March/April 2020 • Families South West 47
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