With the wealth of toys, branded junk foods and advertisements flooding the market, kids are inundated with the message that more is better, and plenty is not enough. Birthday parties are ripe for celebrations of consumer goods, but if you dread competitive gift-giving or just too many toys on the living room floor, consider a present-free birthday party. Instead of gifts, party guests bring money or goods, which are then donated to a charity of the birthday child’s choosing. This cuts down on the spending and the sense of being inundated by a tide of unnecessary junk, and will let you focus on other important birthday issues, like just how much sugar your child is ingesting.
Discussing Present-Free Parties with Your Child
Many kids will be pleased to have the chance to make a difference and will be enthusiastic about the idea. For those who balk, explain that charity isn’t about not getting any presents, but about sharing what you have with the less fortunate. Children for Children (www.childrenforchildren.org), which helps children donate to underserved schools, offers tips on discussing donations with your child: Reassure your child that he or she will receive birthday presents from family members. And of course, there will still be a party.
Make it Personal
Let your child choose a suitable charity. For younger children, research charities that reflect your child’s interests and hobbies and suggest some options. For instance, if your daughter loves elephants, a non-profit like The Elephant Sanctuary (www.elephants.com) may be a good match. If your son likes to draw, propose a donation to a local art program. Encourage older children to look into causes that appeal to them. Donations to local organizations are always a good idea, since they often foster a rewarding sense of community involvement and responsibility. And sites like Charity Navigator (www.CharityNavigator.org), GuideStar (www.GuideStar.org) and Charity Watch (www.CharityWatch.org) evaluate various non-profits, providing expense reports and efficiency ratings on thousands of charities. Charity Navigator allows you to find an appropriate charity based on location, rating, or categories such as the Environment, Arts, Culture and Humanities, and Human Services. Users can even make a donation via sister site Network for Good (www.NetworkforGood.org). Once your child has chosen a charity, contact the organization to find out if the charity supplies thank you cards or gifts to donors; these make great party favors.
Get the Word Out
When the invitations go out, note that in lieu of gifts, your child plans to donate to a particular charity. Include basic information about the charity, including contact information and a web address, if available.
Guests should be encouraged to give in any way they choose, be it a check made out to the charity and given to the birthday child; cash in an envelope; or a donation directly to the charity made in the birthday child’s name.
More Options
In addition to financial gifts, there are other ways to nurture charitable impulses:
- Book swaps: Have guests bring one or more books they’re ready to pass along, then distribute the wrapped books in a grab bag.
- Food Drives: Canned goods are easy to transport, and your local food pantry can advise you on the most needed items.
- Regifting: Another option is to have your child donate the gifts he or she receives. After choosing one or two favorites to keep, the birthday child can give the majority of the presents to needy children via a local shelter. This can be tricky, however, since once children (particularly younger ones) set eyes on the goods, they’re unlikely to relinquish them without a fight.
There are lots of ways for your child to give back, and any one of them will help make your child’s birthday a wonderful (and slightly less cluttered) occasion.
