This is it, the last installment of the Birthday Chronicles 🙂 I’m sure some of you are sick of hearing about Princess’s party by now.
Seeing as this party was for 3-5 year olds, I didn’t feel the need for complex party games. I’ve been to parties that had very structured games for children this age, and it always felt like they were trying to force them to have fun. Even at a party for older kids, you probably only need one or two organized activities-otherwise you spend too much time trying to force them to move on to the next thing. So in the interest of letting kids be kids and just play-here is what we did.
#1 a decorating station for the party favor bags. Each child got a brown paper lunchbag and a pack of crayons (bought in a 4pk at the dollar store). There was one communal bag of foam sticker backed shapes and a couple of rolls of stickers (total cost $3 at, you guessed it, the dollar store) Each child got creative when they felt like it. Most of the kids really got into this one (and a few of the parents) It really kept them occupied for a while-they particuarly liked the foam stickers from the dollar store. The bag was used to keep the crayons in and to put their booty from the pinata. A couple of the kids weren’t interested in decorating, so I just wrote their name on the bag.
#2 Pinata. Hey, it’s a decoration! It’s a game! It’s a party favor! What more could you ask for? (quick tip-dh took his pocket knife and cut a long slit in one side to make it easier for the kids to break. We decided not to use a blindfold. Even so each kid got at least 2 turns to hit at it [3 whacks each] before someone finally broke it!)
#3 Making Macaroni Necklaces-I died $1.50 worth of pasta from the dollar store, cut legnths of yarn from my stash, tied a knot in one end and stabilized the other with tape. Tada-kiddo craft. Not all of them did it, but that was fine to.
#4 Balloons. Not helium, plain old regular balloons blown up (hey, all this hot air has to be good for something). They threw them, they batted them, one kid stomped on hers. . . . fun was had by all.
Other than that they got to use the indoor slide (since the party was held at the preschool), Princess opened presents, they ate cake and icecream, and they played that universal childhood game “run around chasing each other while screaming”. It was a blast!
It sounds like everyone had a great time! Sometimes I wonder about these fancy-shmancy parties. Kids just wanna have fun. I think the expensive stuff is really for the parents!
We used to decorate our goody bags at the birthday parties my mom had for us. Another idea if you do the Princess thing again next year is to let them decorate princess crowns cut from large pieces of construction paper.
~wink~Can I come to your house on my next birthday??!!
I remember those “little” birthday parties! My children are 25, 23, and 14…so those parties are a thing of the past…..but oh how fun. The first big party I planned for my daughter was at age 5–her all-time favorite cartoon character was Strawberry Shortcake. Her dance instructor did birthday parties…..dressed as Strawberry Shortcake so I made the arrangements. 10 little 5 year olds…..anxiously awaited her arrival. She came into the decorated living room…and my daughter began screaming in terror! She was afraid of Strawberry Shortcake…and wouldn’t go anywhere near her the entire afternoon. So, I have darling photos of the other 9 party girls with Strawberry—and my daughter sitting off to the side of the room with red eyes and a running nose! 🙂
Diane
Sure, you are all invited next year! Just bring your earplugs as protection against the high pitched screams of joy that the little girls make 🙂
Jenn, you want to talk high-pitched screams of joy? Wait until Princess has her first sleepover, LOL! You’ll need earplugs just to get any sleep.
My girlfriend likes doing those type of craft things. She’s an art major. 🙂 Sounds like it was fun. Great blog by the way. First time visitor.
Good ideas, thanks. I got my son a bag of balloons to put in his Easter basket. That’s something I know he’ll enjoy, as most kids, I’m sure.
Thanks everyone.
Tim-come back often, and have your girlfriend check in too 🙂