How to Throw a Green Tween Birthday Party
Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Theme for 12-Year-Old Girls
Nov 5, 2008
Taking the time to teach your tween that the earth requires care like everything else is something she can take into adulthood. While you are at it, create a fun-filled "green" theme birthday party for your 12-year-old girl. It is guaranteed to be a great time for all.
"Green" birthday parties can be a lot of fun to plan. If you think about the last birthday party you attended, how many party changes can you think of that would have helped our environment? Probably quite a few. Nowadays, many people are thinking "green," even down to the items you might use in the party.
Get Your Tween's Input
You might be surprised to hear about how much your child already knows about living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Just by asking her what ideas she has for her party to create a "green" theme, you can use the time to discuss what makes something eco-friendly, and why it is so important to protect the Earth.
Make a "Green" Cake
As long as you are going "green," you might as well go healthy, too. No-sugar homemade birthday cakes are a great idea as a way to lower the amount of sugar that is always ingested at a party. There are lots of recipes for sugar-free cakes at Allrecipes.com. There are plenty of recipes for sugar-free icing, too. To give the cake a truly "green" theme, you can make the icing with green food coloring. One very simple version of a sugar-free icing recipe includes:
Ingredients:
- 1 package sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
- 1-3/4 cup milk
- 1 package of cream cheese (8 ounce)
- 1 container of light whipped cream topping (8 ounce)
- Green food coloring, optional
Directions:
Prepare pudding mix by stirring in the milk. If you want to make a "green" icing, this is the time to add in a few drops of green food coloring. Beat until there are no more lumps. Set aside to thicken. In another bowl, beat the cream cheese until softened. Add in the pudding mixture and continue to beat. Then fold in the whipped topping.
The Table Setting
Think about the plates and silverware you will use for the party. It is a good idea to choose plates and silverware that are reusable. One consideration would be to use good china. Girls who are 12-years-old are old enough to be careful with the pretty plates. Consider using real silverware, too. This will help make the birthday girl feel special, with the added benefit of not wasting money or our earth’s resources on paper or plastic plates or silverware. You might even put out fancy crystal glasses and serve sparkling grape juice.
"Green" Party Project
Ask each party guest that is bringing a gift to wrap it in some sort of fabric instead of traditional wrapping paper. Also request that they wear sneakers to the party for a special surprise. After your daughter opens all of the presents use the fabric to make designer sneaker laces for all the girls to take home. Here's how to do it:
- Cut the fabric into one-inch strips lengthwise and about six inches long.
- Mix up the fabrics and have each girl take two or three strips of cloth.
- Tie one piece of cloth around the center of the shoelaces on a pair of sneakers.
- Next tie another piece of fabric around the middle of the first strip and make a bow.
- Let each girl use a third strip of fabric to add to the design, if they desire.
These make really cute shoe accessories. And, each girl will probably wind up having her own ideas to make the laces fit her exact personality.
A "green" party theme is perfect for tween girls. This age group really does care about the environment, and has a passion to do their part to help. Having this type of party will only further that cause, and probably make each girl even more conscientious about making earth a better place to live. And, your daughter will have a blast knowing that eco-friendly can be fun.
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