Fun Kids Parties

Colorful cupcakes in reusable wrappers are great finger food desserts instead of a big cake. You could also have picture cookies, with the image of the guest of honor. Kids love color, balloons, food and activities. Putting together a kid’s party isn’t al that hard to do, and you will be the “go to” place that they will want to come back to.

Don’t spend a lot of time cooking. Kids are usually easy to please. Just have a lot of finger foods. Don’t plan on too many sweets unless you have a lot of help rounding up all the hyperactive ones after a sugar rush. Have hot dogs and/or hamburgers and let them put their own condiments on them (don’t forget the pickles!). Chips and dip, cut fruit, mini muffins, cheese are good. You may as well forget the vegetables unless you can disguise them, since kids will leave them alone if they get the chance. 

Have colorful plates, plastic cutlery and cups/drinkware, and straws. Don’t bother with personalized things, kids just ignore them. They usually run to the seat they want, so place settings are also unnecessary. Tie a balloon to the back of their chair and after they have chosen their own seats, use a magic marker and personalize the balloon at their chair.

Start with a game at the table while the food is being served. Keep it calm and simple, but it keeps them in their seats. Ask each child to tell the others what their favorite toy or foot, or their favorite place to go on vacation. It will get the other kids talking and keep the conversation going.

Games should be interactive and age appropriate. A pinata is always fun, and Mystery Gift Pass and Gift Grab are also fun ideas. You can make the gift inside fit to the age group of the party.

Mystery Gift Pass  

This game is like musical chairs, but instead of needing lots of chairs you have to have a gift for the winner inside the box, and wrap the box in several layers of gift wrap. Play music and when the music stops the child holding the package unwraps one layer. Then start the music again and repeat until the box is unwrapped. The last child to unwrap the box gets the gift inside.

Gift Bag Grab

This allows everyone at the party to pick their own gift out of the a big box, and everyone gets a gift to take home. Let them pick a number to decide who goes first (the numbers correspond to the number of children at the party). The first child takes a wrapped gift out of the box, and this is repeated until all the gifts are taken out. (Don’t let anyone open theirs until everyone has picked). You can get small gifts at the dollar stores.

For older children the game show “Minute to Win It” has some great ideas you can modify to fit your yard or home, and the ages of the children (Note: These are great ideas for adult parties as well).

Edible or party favors in a bag for each attendee are also fun ideas. Other party gift ideas: Bubble Gum Machines, Personalized Water Bottles with their school name, Compacts and lipgloss for little girl parties.