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Birthday Party Activities,
children's birthday party planning, birthday games
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Children's
Birthday Party Planning - When and When Not to Have a Big Party
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only because
this birthday is
more for the parents than for the child. At age 1, a child
doesn't understand the concept of "Birthday Party." He or she is
getting a lot of attention---which is all a 1-year-old wants or
understands anyway. You should not go overboard on presents
because too much could scare or confuse a child. You should
consider getting specialty items such as a plate that says
"First Birthday," a 1-year-old candle, and possible a table
cover that everyone could sign with fabric paint to have as
keepsakes that can someday be shown (or given to) to your grown
child.
Age 2: 2-years-olds should have one or two playmates over for a
small Birthday Play Day. Again I suggest you keep a birthday
plate and other keepsakes for your 2-year-old.
Age 3: 3-year-olds should have three to four playmates over, and
at this age you
might have try a birthday game such as "Who can stack the blocks
the highest?" I do not recommend having a clown or playing any
games that require a blindfold over a child's eyes such key due
to the fact either can scare children at this age. Remember your
child has just turned 3, and the playmates are around that age.
They are still not able to understand fully structured games
very well. They only know if they do something good or better
than other children, everyone will give them attention. Again I
suggest you collect keepsakes.
Age 4: At 4, children should now be ready for a "real" party. I
suggest four or five playmates. 4-year-olds are ready now for
party decorations, but I suggest you do less and save your money
for the big number "5" birthday (or buy decorations that you can
put away and use again). Games such as Musical Chairs, and
carrying a hard boiled egg on a spoon to the finish line without
dropping it relay race can be appropriate, but remember that
games will be played and finished much sooner than you think.
Consider having a few of your child's favorite videos on hand.
Even if the kids have seen them 100 times, they will enjoy them.
After an hour or so, you will probably need a break and the
children might be cranky. A movie they are all spellbound by
will be a great way to relax the kids and you. You might want to
consider spreading a couple of blankets on the floor and have
some pillows handy for sleepyheads!
Age 5: 5-year-olds should have a big party, but remind them that
this is because they are the big "5," and either starting school
or just in school, and having a "big" party will not happen
every year. Explain to them that big parties are only for
special birthdays such as 5 because they have started or are
starting school, 10 because that is the first double-digit
number, and of course 16 ("Sweet 16" for girls and "Driving Age"
for boys). This will save you money in the long run. On the
fifth birthday, I suggest you first decide if you want to do it
yourself, rent a building or park area but still do it yourself,
or call local businesses (like McDonalds) to see what
party-planning packages they offer. I personally suggest renting
a park area if weather permits because the kids will be just as
happy playing on park equipment as they would if you spent a ton
of money on a professionally planned party. Have several
inexpensive disposable cameras on hand and let your Birthday Boy
or Girl take pictures of his or her first "big" party!
Great games for 5-year-olds whether inside or outside are:
1. Hitting a
 Piñata
that is full of candy.
2. Relay races, which can be held in a garage, carport, or
park.
3. Water balloon fights if weather permits
(and you have advised the parents that the children are
likely to get wet).
4. Dancing to music and "freezing" when the music is stopped
to see who looks the silliest
(this is a great game and everyone should win a party
favor).
5. Pin the tail on the donkey (consider a game that uses
Velcro instead of pins).
You can also do face painting and movie time. As with the
4-year-olds, you
need to over plan for games and activities and a movie is a
great back up (or a much-needed rest time). Another helpful hint
is to take enough large plastic trash bags to cover your kitchen
floor and lightly throw all colors of paint on them. Allow for
adequate drying time before the party. Then you can use these
bags to cover your kitchen floor before cake time to catch cake
droppings and milk or soda spills (which WILL happen).
Ages 6-9:Birthdays can be simple overnight parties ("slumber
parties" for girls and "all nighters" for boys) filled with
popcorn, junk food, movies, and video games. As long as you let
the kids stay up all night and sleep in half the next day, this
type of party can still be "cool"---what kid doesn't love the
idea of staying up all night (even if they don't make it all
night). If it is summer time, think about letting them sleep
outside in a tent or on a screened-in porch (just be sure to let
the parents know exactly where their children will be sleeping
and you should plan to check in on them a few times during the
night).
Age 10: This should be done about the same as age 5 in terms of
it being a "special
age" (and reminding your child that "big parties" like this will
not be done every year. Ten is a good age to consider renting a
facility such as:
1. Pool parties: most local pools offer after-hour times when
you can
rent the pool for birthday parties.
2. Roller- or ice-skating parties.
3. Local arcades or pizza parlors often have special birthday
packages.
4. A day at the Zoo for your child and their friends.
Hint: To save money, check with the place where you plan to hold
the party to see if you
can decorate, bring in the cake, and other party favors instead
of buying the
supplies from them.
Ages 11-15
do the same as ages 6-9
with a simple overnight party.
At 16, if they even agree to let you have a "party," then
consider yourself lucky. If they do, then you need to let the
teenager decide what kind of party it should be. Remember kids
at that age are very "into" who is popular and who is not. Don't
push your child into inviting everyone you might think they
should (because they might be afraid of being made fun of for
having a party at home with their parents.) They know who to
they can invite and who they can't without fear of peer
pressure. My best suggestion for this age is either a pizza
party at home or at a pizza parlor or a pool party, depending on
the teenager's interest.
Any party
that you give should be "Fun" for your child. Expect that your
only reward will be the memories you create for yourself. If you
happen to get a hug and a kiss from a very happy child at the
end of the day, then it will be a bonus to remember!
Written by
Kimberly Hargis
Birthdays @ Mom's Break at
http://birthdays.momsbreak.com for free printable
invitations and more.
© Copyright 2001 All rights reserved.
Successful Children's
Birthday Party Activities
~ lots of fun, cheap, creative and even bilingual! ~
by Stephanie Olsen
Having now somewhat recovered from Emily's seventh birthday
party, I thought I'd share a couple of the more popular games
and activities, used by a group of children between the ages of
4 and 10.
Bilingual Vocabulary Picture Bingo
As a unilingual home schooling American in Europe, I've got a
fairly singular set of conditions to work under when creating
activities. This bingo game was a hit with lots of repeat
requests.
Materials needed
the square piece of construction or other sturdy paper
and one Magic Marker for each child
9 bingo chips such as buttons or M&Ms or bubble gum per
child
prepared list(s) of 18 objects to be called, plus a copy
of each list cut up per word into 18 small cards
a large bowl/hat to pull the words from when calling
one translator for any other linguistically-challenged
expatriatesMethod:
Hand out the papers, markers and bingo chips. I had the kids
spread out all over the floor.
Instruct the children to make a 9 square grid; two horizontal
lines and two bisecting vertical lines (you can show your sample
bingo card or demonstrate on a child's blackboard).
I actually used the phrases "nine square grid",
"horizontal lines" and "bisecting vertical": it exposes the
children to mathematical terms in a friendly environment and,
because sounds very impressive, there's a true sense of
accomplishment when the kids complete the task.
Using your list of (let's say) animals, tell the children
to draw - in any square they wish - the picture of EITHER an
elephant OR a lion. Stress that the card they are creating
should be unique to make the game more fun.
If you are working on a second language, or just happen to
be living in a foreign non-English-speaking country, repeat the
animal name in the applicable language.
Once the first box is completed and using the second pair
of objects on your list, tell the kids to draw - in any square -
a picture of EITHER a snake or a monkey.
This particular party having a jungle theme, it helped the
younger children for me to point out relevant wall decorations
(very simple animal cut-outs I had made the night before).
When all cards are completed, explain that the aim of the
game is to shout BINGO! whenever a child gets three markers in a
row - in any direction. Here the terms horizontal, vertical and
diagonal can be used and understood without explanation as you
draw lines on the board.
NOTE: when you start the game, remember to call out the
words in both languages. After a couple of rounds, you can make
it more interesting by calling them out in the target language
only - the kids will automatically translate out loud thereby
helping ones not sure of the translation.
We played until the cards were full, so that everyone got
to shout BINGO! several times - there were no prizes given out,
just lots of "wow!"s and "again?!s" and "that's incredible!"s
from an appreciative bingo caller.
When the theme chosen has run its course, you can refresh
the game by drawing new cards on the back of the old ones, with
whatever objects fit your interests or fancy: pieces of fruit,
holiday or fairy tale characters (ie., Santa, Easter Bunny,
Pilgrim, tooth fairy, angel etc.), Sesame Street cast, buildings
or monuments (house, pyramid, igloo), etc.
Balloon Decoration
Once the balloons were inflated, dizziness and hyperventilation
receding to acceptable levels, we strung them together with
thread and hung them, cascading from windows, as an
out-of-the-way decoration. When they were needed, we freed the
balloons and let the girls choose a favorite color.
The gang gathered round a large table covered by a cheap
disposable plastic tablecloth, and started working with a
variety of decorating materials including:
glitter glue squeezable tubes
glitter glue pots with applicator stick
clear liquid glue with applicator stick (for the real
professionals)
glue sticks
paint brushes
washable paint
crepe paper strips
confetti
colorful cotton balls
small pom-poms
markers
ribbons
feathers
Easter grass
colored sand
glitter
macaroni (different shapes and sizes)
seeds
rice
all of the foregoing items neatly organized in old egg cartons.
This activity kept everyone busy for a solid 30 minutes, and
some of their creations were real works of art. To dry one side
at a time, tie a ribbon to the knot of the balloon and tape up
on the wall or window.
Once in a while, there'd be a loud explosion and some
screams. No one ever got very upset about the destruction of
their masterpiece, but the added tension seemed to keep interest
high.
Although it sounds like an awful mess, it's actually a
quick and easy clean-up: just grab the brushes and markers and
any other salvageable items, then wrap up the rest in the
tablecloth and toss. Since the activity was held in a playroom
with a hardwood floor, one quick sweep finished the job off.
Take Home Memories
When parents came collecting, the kids happily flaunted their
personalized bingo cards and balloon projects, which of course
they took home as party favors, chocolate stained with ribbons
trailing.
About the Author:
Stephanie Olsen, published writer, homeschooling mother of two
and ESL teacher currently residing in Europe, is also owner of
the expatriate site,
Family Life Abroad - the expat place where you'll find
humorous and informative articles by experienced expatriates on
all aspects of living abroad, with lots of links and travel
tips.
Birthday Games
Pop the Balloon!
Before the party, blow up enough large-sized balloons so that
there will be one per child. Do not blow up the balloons
completely, leave them a little “soft.” When it is time to play
the game, explain to the children that they are going to have a
race to see who can pop their balloon first by just sitting on
it. Make sure they understand that they can’t bounce up and down
on the balloon, or stand up all the way and sit down again, they
just have to sit on it, and sit hard. You might even have
the Birthday Boy or Girl demonstrate the rules. Then have the
children sit on the floor and give each of them a balloon. When
you say “Go!” have the children see who can pop their balloon
first. The first one to pop the balloon wins a party prize.
Balloon Hunt
Before the party, blow up a number of balloons half way so that
they are small and not likely to pop easily. You might want to
blow up three times the number of children expected to attend
(that is, if you invite 10 children, then blow up 30 balloons).
Then hide the balloons (like you would Easter eggs). When it is
time to play games, have the children hunt for the balloons
(give them grocery bags to collect the balloons). The one who
finds the most wins a party prize. You can also play the game by
hiding small toys or party favors, or candy. If you hide candy,
be sure to make notes for yourself about all the hiding places
and check after the party to make sure all the candy has been
“found.”
Bubble Catch
Blow bubbles and have the children try to catch them without
bursting the bubbles. The first child to catch a bubble and
return it to you without busting their bubble wins. You might
want to have plenty of party favors so that each child can “win”
at this game!
Balloon Relay Race
Have the children break up into two equal groups. If you have an
unequal number of children, have the Birthday Boy or Girl sit
the game out. (For a young child, you might want to explain this
to him/her before the party so that there won’t be any tears
during the party!) Set a starting line and turn-around point for
the race. Give each group a balloon. Children are to carry the
balloon between their knees down to the turn-around point and
back to the starting line where the child passes the balloon to
the next team member. The first team to finish wins. Game works
best if balloons are not fully blown up. Have extra balloons on
hand in case someone breaks the balloon. For very young
children, you might change the game so that they are simply
carrying the balloon, since short little legs might not be able
to toddle along with a squishy balloon between their knees!
Most of these party games call for
balloons. You might want to purchase a one-time use
balloon-inflating tank.
Written
by Kimberly Hargis
Visit Birthdays @ Mom's Break at
http://birthdays.momsbreak.com for free printable
invitations, iron-ons transfers, games and more. © Copyright
2001 All rights reserved.
Other Recommended Birthday Card Sites on the Net
Abraham's Birthday
Cards
Singing Birthday Cards
Doozy Cards Cardtoons
Prairie Frontier Beautiful Ecards
123 Birthday Day
Cards
Candid
Cards
Awesome Birthday
Cards
Postcards Online
We Got Cards Greeting Cards
A Card Yard
Ecard Mania
Washington Square Birthday
Greeting Cards
Diabetic Birthday Cake
2 c. sifted cake flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 tbsp. softened margarine
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 c. sugar
1 egg
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar-free strawberry jam
1 c. nondairy whipped topping
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 8 inch round cake pans
with parchment paper or waxed paper. Sift together the flour,
baking powder and salt. With an electric mixer at medium speed,
cream together margarine, vanilla and almond extract until
fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating constantly. Add egg; beat
until mixture is fluffy. Then, stirring with a spoon, add the
dry ingredients alternately with milk, stirring after each
addition until batter is smooth. Turn into the prepared pans.
Bake 25-30 minutes or until done. When cool spread the
strawberry jam between the layers. Spread whipped topping on the
top. Store in refrigerator until just before serving. If you
want you can add a drop of red food coloring to the whipped
topping before putting it on top of cake.
Old Fashioned Birthday Cake
2 c. all purpose flour
1-1/2 c. sugar
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1 c. milk
1 tsp. almond extract
3 eggs
Soften butter (can use margarine, but butter is delicious). Mix
in sugar, add eggs, almond extract, then dry ingredients
alternating with milk. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
Grease and flour 8 or 9 inch round pans (x 2) or 13 x 9 x 2 inch
pan.
Easy Birthday Cake
1 Duncan Hines chocolate fudge cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 c. oil
1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
Mix together and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
Birthday Buttercream Icing
1/2 c. softened butter
1/2 c. solid Crisco
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
5 c. sifted powdered sugar
5 tbsp. milk
Cream butter and Crisco with electric mixer. Add vanilla and
almond extract. Gradually add sugar one cup at a time along with
the milk alternately. Beat well on medium-high speed until light
and fluffy. Keep icing covered with damp cloth until ready to
use. Thicker for piping, add more milk as needed for spreading
consistency.
Chocolate Birthday Cake
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 well-beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 (1 oz.) sq. unsweetened chocolate,
melted
1/2 c. hot water
2 c. cake flour
1/4 tsp. soda
2/3 c. sweet milk
Thoroughly cream shortening and sugar; add eggs and vanilla and
beat well until fluffy. Melt chocolate in hot water over low
heat. Blend thoroughly and cool slightly. Gradually add to
creamed mixture. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with
milk. After each addition, mix until just smooth. Pour into
waxed paper-lined 8-inch round layer cake pans. Bake at 350
degrees for 25 minutes.
FILLING:
3 tbsp. butter
5 1/2 tbsp. flour
1 c. milk
1 c. brown sugar
2 egg yolks, beaten
Boil in double boiler until thick; add nuts and vanilla. Spread
between cake layers or if making a loaf cake, spread on and top
with chocolate frosting.
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1-1/2 c. sugar
1-1/2 sq. chocolate
1/3 c. shortening
1/2 c. milk
Stir constantly over medium heat until it comes to a rolling
boil. Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from fire and
beat. Spread on cake and eat!
Spite and Sherbet Birthday
Punch
2-1/2 gal. Sprite
2-1/2 gal. sherbet (lemon, lime & orange)
1 qt. fruit punch
Scoop sherbet into punch bowl. Pour Sprite over sherbet. Add
fruit punch.
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