low-waste/affordable gifts for kid's classmates

[marie.brandt.colorado]

Hi! I'm new to posting here (though read vociferously!) but was pulled out of my lurking today to share my hack for kid's birthday parties. We have a 2 year old and 5 year old, and the birthday parties (classmates! neighbors! friends! it never ends!) are pretty numerous. Buying gifts for them is the bane of my existence and always ends up being a last minute dash where I spend way too much. More than that, the waste generated from birthday party presents not only in the gift wrap itself, but also all of the packaging is pretty astounding.

Anyhow, today I decided to pre-buy buy gifts for the year so we just have something ready for each party without having to think about it. We're putting together craft kits involving a wooden birdhouse, a set of paints, paintbrushes, and an apron. I ordered one dozen of everything from Oriental Trading Post (usually I'd avoid that place like the plague, but desperate times) and the total cost per present came out to $5.91. Plus, the gifts are low(ish) on plastic  and I'm going to try and wrap them in the apron or if that doesn't work in a reusable drawstring produce bag to cut down on wasteful wrapping.

Had to share my small victory here--hope it helps!

[MDfive21]

i feel your pain!  my dd is now 9 and about 3 years ago i stopped buying presents and started giving a set amount of money ($20 in my case, could be less or more) that i would have spent on a gift.  my dd writes a hand written note, and the giftee gets the note with $20 in it.  waaay easier on us, plus the kid gets cash to put toward whatever they or their parents want.

this comes after having parties for my own kid where she got 30 shitty last minute toy/doll/paint/etc that get opened, used for 1 day MAX and then relegated to under the bed or clutter piles.  i'm setting the precedent by doing this and i honestly don't care if anyone thinks i'm 'unthoughtful' for giving cash vs a gift.  those toys-r-us gifts are about as thoughtless as i can imagine imo.

the exception to this rule is when we actually know what the giftee wants, then we go out and get something thoughtful.

[Aelias]

I've noticed a welcome shift in my cohort of "no gifts, please" kids' parties.  Sometimes kids bring handmade cards to those, which I think is sweet.  I also had someone bring some fun socks for each of my kids.  Not technically in keeping with the "no gifts" policy, but dammit we always seem to need more socks! So I was glad to get them.

Maybe you could adapt the "coupon" gift idea?  Like, a card with "One movie night at my house, you pick the movie!"  "Good for one sleepover or play date"?  The getting kid gets a fun activity to look forward to. The giving kid gets the valuable experience of planning something fun for someone else.  You have control over the cost and waste.

[Hula Hoop]

In our circles, parents usually band together to buy gifts.  Usually one parent asks the parents of the birthday kid what he or she is into or needs (lego, crafts, roller skates, clothes, books etc.) then 5 or so kids put in 5-7 euros each and the one parent goes and buys a big lego set, an item of clothing, roller skates or whatever else the parents said that the kid would be into.

[marie.brandt.colorado]

Thanks for all of the replies. Some great ideas here! I agree that "no gifts please!" would be so nice for all kid's birthday parties. Alas it doesn't seem to be catching on as much as I would hope, and it feels terrible to show up without something when all of the other kids have gift in hand.

[bogart]

This is a really great idea!

We've also at times gone with dominoes and have a couple of times been on the receiving end of a beach ball that's a globe, which for us has gotten a lot of play and interest, though made of plastic itself (or vinyl, or something similar) involves minimal packaging and takes little space (deflated).

[CloserToFree]

Stumbled upon this thread while searching for kid birthday party ideas and just wanted to say thanks for this excellent idea! I'm definitely going to look into this, as I regularly end up in the same boat, rushing around and overspending on stupid stuff before my kids' friends' parties. 

[lakemom]

One thing we've done for years is a bag of the child's favorite candy/snacks/treats.  Kids LOVE parents tolerate and its gone in a few days and won't need cared for/picked up for years to come.

[LaineyAZ]

Was thinking about this idea of tiny plastic "treasure" boxes for when my grandchild turns 3:

https://www.amazon.com/Connect-Cottage-connects-findings-Packages/dp/B011P5KJAE/ref=sr_1_49_sspa?hvadid=78615086638102&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvqmt=p&keywords=tiny+plastic+box&qid=1566762095&s=gateway&sr=8-49-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzSTY5V05CNVVHTUNaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODMyOTExMjZNVjQzTEVSVzAzQyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjkxODE1MkxEM0c4S0hYMktXRiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0Zl9uZXh0JmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[TVRodriguez]

i feel your pain!  my dd is now 9 and about 3 years ago i stopped buying presents and started giving a set amount of money ($20 in my case, could be less or more) that i would have spent on a gift.  my dd writes a hand written note, and the giftee gets the note with $20 in it.  waaay easier on us, plus the kid gets cash to put toward whatever they or their parents want.

this comes after having parties for my own kid where she got 30 shitty last minute toy/doll/paint/etc that get opened, used for 1 day MAX and then relegated to under the bed or clutter piles.  i'm setting the precedent by doing this and i honestly don't care if anyone thinks i'm 'unthoughtful' for giving cash vs a gift.  those toys-r-us gifts are about as thoughtless as i can imagine imo.

the exception to this rule is when we actually know what the giftee wants, then we go out and get something thoughtful.

Same.  $20 in a card, with "Happy Birthday" written by the kids whose friend is having the birthday.  Done and no shopping or storing things for months on end!

[ROF Expat]

When we have to give birthday gifts, it is usually bookstore gift cards.  You can buy them in advance and keep them for when they're needed.  Kids get to choose their own book/magazine.  I feel good about encouraging reading. 

With our own daughter, we do "no gift" birthday parties, but our child chooses a charity to support.  For the past few years, it has been a local animal shelter.  Kids are told not to bring gifts, but they can contribute pet food or supplies that our daughter then takes to the animal shelter.  Our daughter gets to take a big load of stuff to the shelter and learns the pleasure of giving.  We get to throw a big birthday party without filling our house with unnecessary plastic objects.  The animals at the shelter get useful supplies.  A win-win situation all around as far as I'm concerned.  Only family members give gifts, and we keep that separate from the party. 

[Jen]

I feel your pain.  My kids are 5 and 3.  We've always done "no gift" parties (and didn't start parties with friends until they turned 3).  The grandparents give them gifts but don't bring them to the party.  When their friends have parties, I take people seriously when they say "no gifts, please" and don't bring one.  I don't mind spending the money but the waste is just ridiculous.  Despite buying very few toys for our kids over the years, they have way, way, way too many.   I constantly purge and donate toys to daycare, etc. 

Love the charity idea.  We have also done a book exchange at our parties, where each kid brings a book, and then they all get to take a different book home. 

I honestly can't imagine why parents want more crap in their houses. 

[Jesstache]

I like to buy a pair of passes to the movie theater (~$17) from Costco and tape them to a couple boxes of their favorite candy from the dollar store.  We always ask for no gifts for any parties we throw.

[Mellow Mallow]

I once read an article about an eco-conscious parent who emailed all her kid's classmates' parents and suggested that they all just have one big party per term for all kids with a birthday in that term, and all kid guests put in $5 each to be divided amongst kid birthday-havers. Also cuts down on paper plates and whatnot - just one big bash at a local hall. Not sure how they handle rental costs. Maybe they split that too.

[TVRodriguez]

I once read an article about an eco-conscious parent who emailed all her kid's classmates' parents and suggested that they all just have one big party per term for all kids with a birthday in that term, and all kid guests put in $5 each to be divided amongst kid birthday-havers. Also cuts down on paper plates and whatnot - just one big bash at a local hall. Not sure how they handle rental costs. Maybe they split that too.

Honestly, this strikes me as a not-great idea if the goal is to reduce costs and waste.  I doubt it would stop most people from wanting to have their own party for their kid, so if anything it would just add to the number of parties and, therefore, the cost involved.  I mean, it might be nice for the kids, who usually like a party, but it's not going to cut down on much for most parents.

[ROF Expat]

I once read an article about an eco-conscious parent who emailed all her kid's classmates' parents and suggested that they all just have one big party per term for all kids with a birthday in that term, and all kid guests put in $5 each to be divided amongst kid birthday-havers. Also cuts down on paper plates and whatnot - just one big bash at a local hall. Not sure how they handle rental costs. Maybe they split that too.

That's an interesting idea, but not one I'd be interested in.  A birthday party is supposed to be a "special" day for a kid, and combining with so many others would seem to defeat the purpose.  Also, although I don't like a lot of the conventions around birthday parties, I do like entertaining, and birthday parties are a good way to introduce that to my child. 

[LaineyAZ]

I think the difference is whether it's a classroom party or an at-home party.
 
Personally I'm not a fan of birthday celebrations in schools, so I favor keeping the time and fuss down to a minimum with group celebrations either every month or every quarter.  Most kids would be happy to have cupcakes or similar treats even if they have to combine it with several other kids.  The specialness can come later from their own family celebration outside of school time.

[KBCB]

Hi! I'm new to posting here (though read vociferously!) but was pulled out of my lurking today to share my hack for kid's birthday parties. We have a 2 year old and 5 year old, and the birthday parties (classmates! neighbors! friends! it never ends!) are pretty numerous. Buying gifts for them is the bane of my existence and always ends up being a last minute dash where I spend way too much. More than that, the waste generated from birthday party presents not only in the gift wrap itself, but also all of the packaging is pretty astounding.

Anyhow, today I decided to pre-buy buy gifts for the year so we just have something ready for each party without having to think about it. We're putting together craft kits involving a wooden birdhouse, a set of paints, paintbrushes, and an apron. I ordered one dozen of everything from Oriental Trading Post (usually I'd avoid that place like the plague, but desperate times) and the total cost per present came out to $5.91. Plus, the gifts are low(ish) on plastic  and I'm going to try and wrap them in the apron or if that doesn't work in a reusable drawstring produce bag to cut down on wasteful wrapping.

Had to share my small victory here--hope it helps!

This is awesome!!

[LaineyAZ]

Hi! I'm new to posting here (though read vociferously!) but was pulled out of my lurking today to share my hack for kid's birthday parties. We have a 2 year old and 5 year old, and the birthday parties (classmates! neighbors! friends! it never ends!) are pretty numerous. Buying gifts for them is the bane of my existence and always ends up being a last minute dash where I spend way too much. More than that, the waste generated from birthday party presents not only in the gift wrap itself, but also all of the packaging is pretty astounding.

Anyhow, today I decided to pre-buy buy gifts for the year so we just have something ready for each party without having to think about it. We're putting together craft kits involving a wooden birdhouse, a set of paints, paintbrushes, and an apron. I ordered one dozen of everything from Oriental Trading Post (usually I'd avoid that place like the plague, but desperate times) and the total cost per present came out to $5.91. Plus, the gifts are low(ish) on plastic  and I'm going to try and wrap them in the apron or if that doesn't work in a reusable drawstring produce bag to cut down on wasteful wrapping.

Had to share my small victory here--hope it helps!

This is awesome!!

Agree with this idea.  I gave my SO's 7 yr old grandson an unpainted wooden "castle" (bought at Michael's with a 40% off coupon) plus some paints and brushes I had so he could paint it, and that was the gift he was most excited about from his birthday gifts.

[A440]

My husband has stocked up on Lego sets for all the birthday parties we go to.  They are of course still plastic, with some packaging, but my kids are playing with my brother's 30+ year old Legos, so I feel like they less likely to end up in the landfill anytime soon.  My husband is always on the look out for clearance sets for about 40-50% off MSRP, which happens fairly regularly.