Planning a Birthday Party
Jun 10, 2011 |
There's no shortage of Dora the Explorer plates and Backyardigans napkins at the big box stores, but if you're looking to be a bit more creative with your children's birthday parties you might as well start here.
Whether they're turning 1 or 10, planning a party can be a lot of work. It most certainly helps if you have a theme to work from, but how do you even choose the theme?! Going off your children's likes and interests is a great place to start, but it's fun to take it a bit father too.
Here's some great birthday party theme's we're loving right now.
Along the hunt there can be clues that lead to game stations, friendly contests, crafts or similar activities. Have each child come dressed as detectives and ready to search out their clues!
This is a favorite among us girls! Whether at your home, a park or a nearby tea house, any girl will love getting her friends together for an afternoon filled with girl talk, tea, cookies and all things "girl". For entertainment, try playing the Tea Party Game, doing a simple craft (such as paint a ceramic tea pot and cups) or decorating t-shirts. Older girls might even love having tea tasting stations filled with different flavored teas. (Play a matching game and have the attendants guess what flavor of tea they are sampling!)
Check and see if any family restaurants in your area will host a cooking party (smaller, independently owned restaurants are more apt to offer this than large chains). The kids can enjoy a tour of the kitchen, refrigerators, etc. and then practice being a chef as they make their own pizzas or dress hamburgers in the restaurant kitchen.
If there is not a restaurant in your area that offers services such as those, no worries you can turn your own kitchen into a restaurant for the day! Have different stations set up so kids can make their own appetizers, meal and dessert. For example: have kids mix a dip or dressing for a fruit salad, or veggies, have them roll out dough (previously made) for pizzas and then top it, and finish it up with them icing their own cupcakes or cookies. While everything is cooking have food-related games ready for the kids to play. (Such as memory, Jeopardy, decorate their own place-mat or melamine plate)
Gather the girls together for an afternoon (or evening) of nail painting, hair do's, makeup, and pedicures! The girls will love performing the services on each other, while watching a favorite movie or listening to their favorite songs. Send each girl home with a manicure set- nail polish, oil, nail file and a yummy scented lotion. If you dare, you could even allow the girls to have a sleep over and enjoy a delicious breakfast with them in the morning!
The boys will love this! Set up a tent in your backyard or a nearby campground and listen to the boys tell ghost stories all night long! Roast hot dogs and marshmallows, sing camp songs, teach the boys how to build a fire or how to set up a tent. Before it gets too dark have fun outdoor games ready such as a 3-legged race, water balloons (weather permitting), and capture the flag.
- The Girls at Itty Bitty Bella
Whether they're turning 1 or 10, planning a party can be a lot of work. It most certainly helps if you have a theme to work from, but how do you even choose the theme?! Going off your children's likes and interests is a great place to start, but it's fun to take it a bit father too.
Here's some great birthday party theme's we're loving right now.
Scavenger Hunt
For older kids, plan a scavenger hunt that takes them around the neighborhood, and for younger kids plan a hunt that takes them around your home, yard or local park. Consider having the clues relate to a favorite interest of birthday boy/girl and the end prize be the "treat bags" that each child will take home.Along the hunt there can be clues that lead to game stations, friendly contests, crafts or similar activities. Have each child come dressed as detectives and ready to search out their clues!
Tea Party
This is a favorite among us girls! Whether at your home, a park or a nearby tea house, any girl will love getting her friends together for an afternoon filled with girl talk, tea, cookies and all things "girl". For entertainment, try playing the Tea Party Game, doing a simple craft (such as paint a ceramic tea pot and cups) or decorating t-shirts. Older girls might even love having tea tasting stations filled with different flavored teas. (Play a matching game and have the attendants guess what flavor of tea they are sampling!)
Chefs for a Day
Check and see if any family restaurants in your area will host a cooking party (smaller, independently owned restaurants are more apt to offer this than large chains). The kids can enjoy a tour of the kitchen, refrigerators, etc. and then practice being a chef as they make their own pizzas or dress hamburgers in the restaurant kitchen.
If there is not a restaurant in your area that offers services such as those, no worries you can turn your own kitchen into a restaurant for the day! Have different stations set up so kids can make their own appetizers, meal and dessert. For example: have kids mix a dip or dressing for a fruit salad, or veggies, have them roll out dough (previously made) for pizzas and then top it, and finish it up with them icing their own cupcakes or cookies. While everything is cooking have food-related games ready for the kids to play. (Such as memory, Jeopardy, decorate their own place-mat or melamine plate)
Spa Party
Gather the girls together for an afternoon (or evening) of nail painting, hair do's, makeup, and pedicures! The girls will love performing the services on each other, while watching a favorite movie or listening to their favorite songs. Send each girl home with a manicure set- nail polish, oil, nail file and a yummy scented lotion. If you dare, you could even allow the girls to have a sleep over and enjoy a delicious breakfast with them in the morning!
Camp-out Party
The boys will love this! Set up a tent in your backyard or a nearby campground and listen to the boys tell ghost stories all night long! Roast hot dogs and marshmallows, sing camp songs, teach the boys how to build a fire or how to set up a tent. Before it gets too dark have fun outdoor games ready such as a 3-legged race, water balloons (weather permitting), and capture the flag.
- The Girls at Itty Bitty Bella