From the age of 4-6 years, when they are in primary school, your child may want a children’s party for his/her birthday. This seems like quite a job to organize, but it isn’t. Below are some simple ideas, but still very fun!
First of all
How many children do you invite? The general rule is to have as many children at the party (including your own child) as your child’s age; so 4 years = 4 children, 5 years = 5 children, etc.
In younger ages a party doesn’t have to last that long, somewhere between 2 and 3 hours is more than enough.
Keep the activities simple and leave them a bit free. Children of this age quickly enjoy themselves by playing together and you don’t have to keep them busy so much.
Petting zoo
If there is a petting zoo within walking distance of your house (think 5 minutes), you can visit it, bring something tasty and something to drink and let them play with the animals or in the playground. Once you get back home (or even before you go to the petting zoo), you can eat cake together and the birthday boy or girl can open the presents. This way your afternoon will quickly be filled.
Old Dutch games
These games are still popular with children, for example:
- cookie or candy snacks
- donkey prick
- sack race
- egg on spoon race (for safety, use a ping pong ball or hard-boiled egg instead of an egg)
- grab bag
You can also hand out prizes if you want to introduce a competition element. To avoid disappointment between the children, make sure there is a little something for everyone and pack them already. For example, let the child who won 1st place choose first, then the child in 2nd place, etc.
Decorating cupcakes
Prepare the cupcakes/muffins in advance (keep the frosting for the cakes aside!). Count on approximately 2 cakes per child. If there is no icing recipe for the cakes: mix icing sugar with a few drops of water and you’re done!
Place the cakes on the table and place all kinds of containers with icing and other decorations (edible) around them, such as:
- smarties
- raisins
- powdered sugar
- colored balls
Then let the children use the back of a spoon/teaspoon (but be sure to do so) to apply the icing to the cakes, and then: decorate and enjoy!
,Making jewelry
Sounds difficult, but it’s not! Prepare the following:
- rope (it doesn’t matter which one, as long as it is thin and preferably made of soft material)
- pair of scissors
- all kinds of sweets that have a hole in them for threading (licorice key, nibbits chips rings, etc.)
- possibly straws in all kinds of colors, cut into small pieces
Cut pieces of the string (depending on the length of the necklace/bracelet they are making) and let them string all kinds of treats on it if they want to make a candy necklace, but they can also use the straw pieces for a ,longer lasting, necklace.
Decorate T-shirts
Buy some cheap white t-shirts in the average children’s size depending on age. You also need markers, paint and glitter. Then let the kids decorate their own t-shirt!