4 Goofy, Memorable Birthday Party Ideas for Kids
Teach kids to approach even the most special days with a sense of humor. These quirky parties are fun to throw and easy to throw together. Now that's something to celebrate!
Tiny Party
The big idea here is that it's a small world after all.
Hint at the charm of all things Lilliputian by sending an itsy-bitsy invitation of mostly envelopes -- each opens to reveal one a size smaller, with the last one holding colorful confetti and a wee card.
Guests sip strawberry Tom Thumb milkshakes from cordial glasses and snack on gherkins and mini grilled-cheese sandwiches -- cut bread into quarters to make four servings.
A party banner is 1 1/2-inch-high cardstock triangles taped to thread, with a message spelled out in letter stickers.
Proving that good things do indeed come in small packages, everyone leaves with munchkin toys and mini art and school supplies in palm-size favor bags embellished with pretty flowers.
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Polka-Dot Party
What little girl doesn't have a soft spot for polka dots? They're colorful and playful -- and most of all, they're fun! With that in mind, celebrate a birthday by having everyone see spots. Using dots as decorations and inspiration for games is inexpensive and easy to do. Just round up the essentials from an office-supply or crafts store -- circle punches, colorful paper, dot stickers -- and start thinking circular.
Set out supplies so partygoers can make their own dot creations; kids can dress up notebooks with stickers, and turn pretty paper into jewels for dangling on necklaces.
Party Checklist
Basic Supplies
Colorful paper
Colored dot stickers (various sizes)
Circle craft punches
For the Food
Birthday candles
Polka-dot wrapping paper
Jam
For the Invitations and Activities
CD envelopes
Bubble gum
Alphabet stamp kit
Mini grommets and grommet kit
Embroidery floss or string
Small notebooks
Bingo game
Poster board
Invitation How-To
The party's invitations -- construction paper sprinkled with stickers and tucked into CD envelopes -- promise well-rounded activities.
Favor Bag How-To
Guests will look like "pop" stars with these shimmery bubble-purse favors packed with all the dots a girl needs; foil-coated padded envelopes are quickly transformed into purses by punching two holes at either end of each opening and tying polka-dot ribbons for handles. Fill the envelopes with polka-dot ribbon candy dots, gumdrops, gum balls or other round candies, rubber balls, yo-yos, paint sets, pots of lip gloss, or other round objects.
Necklace How-To
Before the party, put each kid's name on a circle so she can design her own necklace as an activity. With a circle punch, cut out a disc from construction or kraft paper. Punch a hole for embroidery floss or string; insert a mini grommet to reinforce the hole. Write the name or stamp it with an alphabet stamp kit. Kids can use round stickers and paper cutouts to create the rest of the necklaces' designs.
Jam Dot Glasses How-To
Seedless raspberry jam forms a temporary polka-dot design that can be prepared hours ahead. To make, use a clean paintbrush to paint jam circles on the insides of glasses. Let set at least 20 minutes before pouring in the smoothie. The dots will remain vibrant on the glass for about a half hour. If they dissolve into the smoothie, they'll just add to the flavor.
Polka-Dot Icing How-To
Write your sweet wish on a sheet of paper, with characters spaced well apart. Tape the paper to a work surface; tape parchment or waxed paper over it. Fill a pastry bag with royal icing; for each character, trace with icing, then pipe dots over the tracing. Let it dry for three hours or overnight. Peel the characters off the paper and place them on frosted cupcakes.
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Wacky Party
Invite a gaggle of girls (or boys) to celebrate silliness!
Every kid is a little bit silly. Salute those whimsical ways with a birthday party that's playful. In pink wigs and fuzzy mustaches, birthday guests can't keep straight faces.
Wacky Invitation How-To
For a mishmash invitation, glue the birthday child's face and some goofy details to pink paper, and photocopy. When guests arrive, hand out wild pink wigs and mustaches to wear for the party.
At the party, a mixed-up drawing activity gets the giggles going.
Wacky Food Ideas
For lunch, serve up a kooky cake. A slice reveals meat-loaf layers beneath mashed-potato "icing" decorated with peas and carrots. Then offer pizza for dessert. Ours is piecrust with strawberry preserves and sweet cream cheese. Guests can keep those getups along with funny favors: wax lips and gag glasses that you attach to card stock faces
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Messy Party
Preschoolers have a knack for getting dirty -- so why fight it?
Get the birthday boy to paint with abandon on card stock then cut into postcard invites. Rubber- stamped office labels wrap around the sides and highlight the theme.
The day before, make batches of play dough for the favors (how-to below). At the party, give each kid a tray with premeasured play-dough ingredients, cookie cutters, and a rolling pin, then tie on kid-size aprons and let them mix some up themselves.
Play Dough How-To
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup water tinted with 17 drops of food coloring
1. Pour flour, salt, and vegetable oil into a medium bowl, and stir with a wooden spoon.
2. Add colored water, and knead dough with hands until it feels smooth. If the dough is crumbly, add more oil; if it's sticky, add more flour.
3. Dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Messy Party Food
Later, guests dig into ooey-gooey banana-split cake made with alternating layers of vanilla cake, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, bananas sliced lengthwise, and chocolate syrup.
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