With Peanut’s birthday around the corner (less than 3 months EEK!) I have already started planning. I love to plan parties… I have several I am working on at the moment!
There is one thing we do for EVERY birthday party for our children. We choose something to do … in Lieu of Gifts! Everyone has read your ‘presence is the best present’ on invitations, well that isn’t enough. We tried this for Munchkin’s first party and found out that people were still super kind and brought her gifts.
So instead we each year since we have picked a place to donate or an item to bring for something else. I decided to come up with a list of options in case you are searching for something to do … in lieu of gifts!
- Donations to the Local Zoo in the Child’s name
- Bring ‘x’ number of items for a food pantry (the child’s age works)
- Bring donations for a local animal shelter (we did this for Munchkin’s 3rd Birthday!)
- The Pajama Program ( A program to donate books and pajama’s for children in need)
- Operation Christmas Child
- Stuffed Animals for Emergencies
- Project Smile
- Operation Gratitude Battle Buddies (supports the children of deployed troops)
Now I know people might think, gifts are a part of birthday’s and what is Mae doing? Well I want the girls to grow up understanding that there are people who want and need for things in the world. I want them to understand about giving to their community.
For Munchkin’s 2nd birthday we asked for donations to the Zoo near our house. We are members and frequent the zoo often. She walked around for a good year saying the Giraffe was hers because her Aunt bought food for it for her birthday. Last year we donated bones and food to the local animal shelter. I can’t explain how big her smile was when we brought them her birthday loot! At her young age she gets it!
There are a bunch of options, I am sure there are tons more. These are just a few of the ones we have done in the past with Munchkin and some I have learned about from friends. Feel free to leave suggestions of other places in the comments below!
Mae's Got This 