October 20, 2008

Give It Up

Echoage Birthday Invites

Teaching kids that it’s better to give than receive on their birthday sounds about as fun as breaking the news that Santa doesn’t exist.

Echoage makes the lesson easy. The online party planning service shows youngsters how to value social responsibility and environmental awareness while still having a blast.

Here’s how: Choose an invitation. Let Junior pick a cause. E-mail the invites to your guests. An R.S.V.P. tracker tallies responses and contributions (instead of presents).

Once everyone’s ponied up, you split the amount and buy one special gift requested by the honoree and donate the rest. Keep up the good work by sending paperless thank-yous.

Your little darling’s ultimate reward: a permanent spot on the nice list.

Available online at echoage.com.

DO
Decorate Your Own Tote
What: Toddlers trick out canvas treat bags with stamps and paint for Halloween.
Why: Sack it to me.
When: Sun., noon-3 p.m.
Where: Harper Lane, 2665 Main St., ste. d, b/t Ocean Park Blvd. & Hill St., Santa Monica (310-314-2233‎).

CONSULT
Clocky the Mystical Oracle
What: Hear what the future holds for your spawn according to artist Mason Brown’s omniscient timepiece. Afternoon tea, cookies for decorating, and cartoons to boot.
Why: Destiny’s children.
When: Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Royal/T, 8910 Washington Blvd., b/t Higuera & Landmark Sts., Culver City (310-559-6300). R.S.V.P. to rsvp@royal-t.org.

MAKE
P Is for Potato and Prints
What: Chop spuds into artistic stamps to create original prints for sharing.
Why: Taters for tots.
When: Sat., 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., b/t S. Curson & S. Stanley Aves. (323-937-4230).