Birthday parties for kids are always a hassle with balloons, cake, fast food, kids running around, the mountain of presents, decorations and the single use plastic filled party bags.
No one can deny the amount of plastic which is accumulated during birthday parties and how much financial strain parties put on parents, this is why the Kids Party Pact was created.
Charlotte Mason created the Kids Party Pact in January of 2025 after she decided to host a toy swap for local parents. Due to the positive response from parents swapping unwanted Christmas gifts, it became clear that most people wanted to save money and avoid buying unwanted and unsustainable gifts for other people’s children.
Social norms have stopped people from being more sustainable and spending less money. This can feel really hard to do if you feel like the only one trying to achieve these goals.
The Kids Party Pact was created to make it easier for parents to buy sustainable and second-hand gifts or party bag contents without feeling guilty. If enough parents agree to make kids' parties kinder to the finances and the environment, then hopefully the culture can shift to fun and joyful experiences for both little ones and adults.
Inspired by the Kids Party Pact, I thought we could look into sustainable options for party bags for your little ones. Most of these options you can make yourself or get second-hand.
1. Coloured Pencils & Chunky Chalk
Both tend to come in cardboard packaging and are pretty easy to split between the little ones. Coloured pencils can be split and put together by tying them with string or ribbon.
Chunky chalk can be put into cones created from old paper or FCS paper cups
Both options are cheap, quick and easy to organise and are something that will be used for colouring either the floor or a colouring sheet.
2. A Slice of Cake
Everyone likes cake on a birthday, and it can very easily distract from little ones not receiving a ‘party bag’. It makes you feel like you got something at the end of the gathering and won’t be to much excess money.
3. Second-Hand Books
Buy multiple second-hand books that you think the little ones may like to read, and let them choose a second-hand book to take home. This is one of the more expensive options, but it does give you a chance to have a look around your local charity shops.
4. Crayons
Create unique and interesting crayons, melt crayons and pour the mixture into silicone moulds of your choosing, this could be butterfly-shaped, triangles or cupcake cases. Let them cool, and you’ve created a unique and interesting party bag gift.
5. Homemade Playdough
Playdough is quick and easy, and very simple and cheap to make.
Homemade playdough includes plain flour, salt, water, vegetable oil and food colouring.
Click Here for the recipe from CBeebies.
Once you’ve made the playdough, you can put it in some collected jars or a recyclable wrap for a fun and sensory party bag gift.
Thank you for having a little look at how you can be more sustainable when hosting your little one's birthday parties.
If you’d like to know more or sign up to the Kids Party Pact, Click Here.