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Many parents find it
difficult to organize a winter birthday party. Just because it is cold
outside does not mean you can't have fun. Take the winter wonderland
idea and use it to your advantage. You can create a memorable event for
your children with a little imagination.
First thing you
need to decide is whether you want to have a party at home or something
out of the house. Below you will find some great ideas for whatever you
decide.
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Snow
Tubing Party
What
better way to spend a winter birthday than snow tubing with your
friends. Since this will be a pricey party you should probably
set a limit to the number of guests. If your child is young you
may need to include parents as well.
Plan the
party in advance so that you give your guests plenty of notice.
Shop around via the internet to get the best deal.
Specifically, check with the parks for rates on pre-season and
group passes. You also want to find out if they have hourly, or
half day passes. The amount of time that you stay depends on
the age of the party goers and your budget. Get to the park when
it opens so that you can beat some of the crowds.
Send out
your invitations at least 3 weeks in advance to give your guests
plenty of notice. Be creative with your invitations to get your
guests excited about the event.
Depending
on how far you are from the snow park you may need to organize
car pooling or renting a vehicle large enough to take everyone.
Food can
be purchased at the lodge but it is more economical for you to
bring your own. Be sure to stake out a table in advance and
have someone stay to guard it. Italian and turkey hoagies with a
few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches should satisfy all. A
themed birthday cake for dessert. You may want to consider
hot chocolate and pretzels for your
ride home if you are there for a while.
I am sure
that you will find this to be a wonderful experience for your
child and their friends.
For more
information see All Star Activities section on
snow tubing
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Snowman Party
This is a
themed at-home party unless of course you would like to rent a
hall or recreation center.
Decorations
need
to include lots of snowmen all different sizes. Pull out
whatever you have from your holiday decorations and the kids
stuffed animals. Have the kids make a few life size snowmen to
put on the walls. Make snowflakes and hang them from doorways,
and ceilings. String white and light blue lights in the room.
In one corner place a top hat, carrot, scarf, corncob pipe, and
buttons on the floor to represent a melted snowman. Place
bunches of white balloons strategically in the room. Have
Frosty the Snowman
playing in the background as guests arrive. Be sure to add
a few sleds around the room.
Use white
napkins, and clear plates/cups.
Cut out paper snowflakes for placemats for each guests and place
a top hat upside down and fill with white flowers or "Styrofoam
snowballs" as a centerpiece. A second option for your
table decoration is to use a white tablecloth and
a scarf as a table runner,
place a black top hat , some large buttons and a carrot in the
middle of the table- so that it looks like a melted snowman.
Invitations
can be very straightforward. Use card stock and cut out a
snowman so the invitation opens at the bottom. Decorate with a
felt hat, tiny pompoms for buttons and a hand drawn face.
Print the
following on the inside of the invitation: Frosty the Snowman
will come to visit us this day with his corncob pipe, button
nose and lots of games to play! Date, Time. Hosted by (name) at
(address) Come to our Snowman party!
Fun Activities:
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Candy Ring
Drop a plastic table
cloth on the floor (preferably white). Cover it with
candy and trinkets such as toys, erasers, pencils etc
all to fit your snowman theme. Have the children stand
a distance from the table cloth and toss one or two
rings. Whatever their ring encompasses they get to
keep. Be sure to have goodie bags available. This game
has always been a great hit with the kids. |
Snowman Pudding
one 1-ounce box of
sugar free instant
vanilla pudding for every five children
1/2 cup of milk per child
1 small, resealable plastic bag per child
1/2 cup measuring cup
1 spoon per child.
Put tablespoon of pudding mix in sandwich bag and milk,
then close the baggy and have kids shake and squeeze,
then eat. |
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Snowball Race
Items Needed:
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Styrofoam balls
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Plastic spoons
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Set of mittens
How to play:
Play this game as you would any relay race. Divide into
teams. Each player takes turns putting on mittens and
balancing a "snowball" on a spoon while racing to the
other side of the room. Drop the snowball into a bucket,
return to the team, pass the mittens and go to the back
of the line. First team to complete the race wins! |
Snowman
Relay
Put together 2
boxes of items that a snowman would wear. Be sure to
include scarves, hats, gloves or mittens, boots, buttons
with double sided table on the back and brooms. In
addition, create a carrot nose using orange felt and
elastic so that the kids can put it around their heads
over their own noses.
Divide the
guests into two groups with each forming a line. Have
each girl run to the box put on all the snowman clothes,
hold the broom, and then perform a snowman dance then
take everything off and run back to tag the next person.
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Stuff the Snowman
This is a great game that I
played with my daughter's 4th grade class and they loved it.
What you need:
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Balloons (The exact number
depends on the number of groups you will be having)
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Extra large white sweat
suit or a large white tee shirt.
How to play:
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Inflate balloons in
advance.
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Divide kids into teams of
equal number of players. Have one of the group put on the
suit or tee shirt over their clothes.
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Teammates are given the
task of stuffing the suit with balloons. Set a timer for two
minutes and see how many balloons the team can stuff into
the outfit before the time is up.
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The next team of Snowman
stuffers must try to top the previous record.
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Snowman Freeze Dance
This is
the traditional freeze dance that all kids love with a
twist. Give each child a string of bells then put on
some kid friendly music. The kids can dance and make
music with their bells while the music is playing. Once
the music stops the children must freeze and yell
"Frosty the Snowman."
Build a Snowman
Make edible clay by mixing
powdered sugar into marshmallow creme until it is the
consistency of Playdoh. Create a ball of clay for each
guest. Include small bowls of pretzel sticks (arms), raisins
(eyes), red string licorice (mouth), M&Ms (buttons), a long
orange sprinkle (nose), large gum drops (hat) and a slice of
fruit rollup (scarf). Have the kids make three balls from their
clay and secure the balls with a piece of uncooked
spaghetti. Then its time to use their creativity and decorate
their snowman.
Fun Snow
Games
Fill a
spray bottle with colored water and write or draw in the
snow
Play snow
golf -- carve out holes in the snow -- and start the
game.
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Food Ideas
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Create snowballs
freeze round scoops of vanilla icing for at least 2 hours,
then rolling them in coconut, white chocolate shavings or
white sprinkles. Note: most kids do not like coconut.
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Use
snowman or snowflake cookie cutters to create fun P B &J,
chicken salad, and turkey sandwiches on white bread.
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Carrot noses and
ranch dressing for snowman dip .
- Chocolate Covered
Snowman Pretzels
Ingredients
Needed:
Bag of Pretzel Rods
1 cup white chocolate chips
Mini chocolate chips or white melting chocolate
Orange decorators' gel
Fruit roll ups (various colors)
Gummy rings
Gumdrops
Wax Paper
Melt 1 cup of
white chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler or
microwave.
One at a time, dip one end of an 8-inch pretzel rod in
the melted chocolate and use a plastic spoon or knife to
spread the chocolate two thirds of the way down the rod.
Set the pretzels on a sheet of waxed paper and press on
mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons. Use orange
decorators' gel to add a carrot nose.
When the chocolate has hardened, stand the pretzels in a
mug or glass and tie on strips of fruit roll up for
scarves. For each hat, stretch a gummy ring over the
narrow end of a gumdrop and secure it on the pretzel rod
with a dab of melted chocolate.
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Ice Skating
Party
Ice Skating is something that everyone
loves to do so why not make it a birthday party for your child.
If
your child is young you may need to include parents as well.
Send out your invitations at least 3
weeks in advance to give your guests plenty of notice. Be creative with
your invitations to get your guests excited about the event.
Plan the party in advance to secure
your date and check local rinks for group rates vs. their birthday
party package. You will also want to find out if rentals are
included or if they offer discounts for a group. Get to the rink early
to get everyone fitted for skates.
If you opt for the group rates and not
the party package consider having pizza and cake at your house before
going to the rink. A themed birthday cake would be great.
Why not have the
kids make a craft that they can wear at the rink.
Fleece Scarves
Compliments of Family
Fun
Craft Materials
7 by 60 inch
rectangle of colored fleece
Scraps of fleece in contrasting colors for decorations
Scissors and pinking shears
Needle
Embroidery floss in assorted colors
1. Have each person
choose a motif -- perhaps one shown here -- or a brand-new design you've
thought up together.
2. Cut out the shapes you'll need to create it from the scraps of
fleece. For example, a night scene might consist of several stars and a
crescent moon. Or you can use 2 circles for a snowman's body and head
and then add a hat and other distinguishing details.
3. Experiment with where to place your cutouts on the scarf (we
decorated a 12-inch portion just above a lower edge). Use the needle and
floss to attach the pieces with single stitches knotted by hand. One
stitch should be enough to hold smaller pieces (such as a flower or
snowflake).
4. Larger pieces (such as the crescent moon) may take 2 or more. Trim
the ends above each knot to the length you desire.
5. Fringed Finale: For fringe, make a series of 4-inch snips in
the scarf bottom. Then tie an overhand knot at the top of each strip.
Lucky enough to have a frozen pond on
your property then here are a few great game ideas. These games
can be played with or without ice skates.
Ice Bowling: In advance,
fill 10 plastic quart bottles with water, add food coloring, shake them
to mix and freeze. Use a variety of colors to make it interesting.
These are your ice bowling pins. For a bowling ball you have the option
of using a real bowling ball or you can fill a few gallon jugs with
water, food coloring and then freeze. Create a lane on the
ice using small rocks and set up the pins. Each bowler must back
up approximately 10 feet from the pins and then try his/her luck.
Snow Dog Races: In
advance add a rope to your sleds. Create teams of two players for each
sled. One player gets into the sled and the other is the snow dog
who will pull the sled. The object is to be the around the ice
rink or from point A to point B the fastest.
Hockey Player
in the Middle: Have the kids all bring their hockey sticks
with them. Place them in a circle and ask for a volunteer (s) to
go into the middle. This is a take off of Monkey in the Middle.
The object is for those in the circle to pass the hockey puck without
the player in the middle intercepting it. Be sure to set rules so
the kids do not get carried away with their passes. For instance
all sticks must be kept close to the ice and the puck must stay on the
ground at all times.
Skating Obstacle Course:
Create a fun obstacle course on the ice using whatever you have on hand
m (hockey sticks, boots, cardboard boxes, limbo stick etc...) to keep
the skaters moving, twisting, jumping and bending. Set up things
to step over, skater under, and pass through.
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Igloo
Spa Sleepover Party
Create
a snow globe invitation:
Items
needed:
Baby food jars
Plastic winter figures that can be found in craft or hobby
stores
White rocks, or decorative glass pieces
Water
Blue food coloring
White metallic confetti
Glue gun
Ribbon
Use card stock to make small snowflake invitations with party
details
What to do:
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Wash and dry
baby food jar. Create a nice scene by gluing plastic
winter figures and rocks/glass pieces to jar lid using glue
gun.
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Fill jar with
cold water to within a 1/3 inch of the top. Add a drop
of blue food coloring and 2 tablespoons of confetti.
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Put a ring of
hot glue around the inside rim of the lid and immediately
seal the jar with the lid.
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Punch a hole in
the snowflake card and secure the ribbon. Tie the
ribbon around the jar.
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Deliver to your
guests.
Decorate
with winter in mind. Use
lots
of white balloons, white Christmas lights, and snowmen
decorations. You can
hang blue, white or silver
streamers, and use
canned snow to decorate the windows. Cover tables with white or
silver tablecloths and use stuffed animals
like penguins and polar bears as table decorations. Set out ice
skates, and sleds around the room.
Once all the guest have
arrived you can send them to the Spa and explain that at each
station they will get a special treatment . Nails, massage, hair, and a photo shoot
are some suggestions for stations.
Consider having teenage
siblings/neighbors/friends available to give you a helping hand. The girls will
love the attention of the older kids and it will be a big help for you.
Have some activities for
the girls who aren't at a station.
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Karaoke is always
fun -- the kids love to sing.
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Twister
is a fun game for kids of all ages
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Have
them decorate gloves with fabric paint and ribbons
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Have them
make their own snack like chocolate covered pretzels to save
for later
Nail Station:
They have the option of a
manicure or pedicure.
Items needed:
Bucket/dish to soak hands/
feet
Cool color nail polish ( You may want to stick to the theme and
use white, silver, and blue)
Nail jewels/decals
Nail polish remover
Cotton balls
Nail tools
Lotion
Callus Scrubber
Toe separators
A battery operated nail dryer would be helpful
Massage Station:
Make this a cozy space
with dim lights and comfy pillows. Give each girl a
back/neck massage using either your hands or an electric
massager.
Hair Station:
Be sure to have someone at
this station that is good with hair. You may want to
contact your local beauty school to see if there are any
students that you can hire to handle this station. Have lots of
hair glitter, barrettes, head bands and ribbons available.
Limit the hairstyles to 2 or 3 selections.
Photo Shoot:
Have a cool backdrop and
get them to give you their best glamorous pose. Get the
pictures printed and put them in a frame to give to them to take
home.
Once Spa treatments are
finished it is time for dinner. Set the table with china
and cloth napkins. Serve fruit kebobs, salad, grilled chicken and
french fries. Virgin drinks like Pina Coladas in wine
glasses or an arctic punch is great for a beverage. Artic
Punch: freeze
blue Kool-Aid
in ice cube trays; pour ginger ale into a punch bowl and float
the blue “ice caps” on top. Dessert should include a
themed cake and snowballs. Ice cream made into balls and
rolled in coconut, white jimmies or white chocolate.
As the night
goes on have some movies available to help settle the kids down.
Click here for our
movie section
and get some great suggestions.
Make breakfast easy and
kid friendly. Muffins, individual cereal boxes, bagels,
yogurt, microwaveable pancakes, apple/orange juice, and
milk. |
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Sledding
Party
Do
you live in an area that gets a lot of snow? Why not take
advantage of it and have a sledding party.
Create a cool
invitation and send it out about 3 weeks early to give plenty of
advance notice to your guests. Be
sure to add to the invitation that each child should bring their
own sled. Have a few extra sleds available in case someone
forgets to bring one.
Since
the majority of the party will be outdoors don't worry about
decorating the house.
You may want to start
indoors and have the kids create fleece scarves (see directions
under ice skating
party) so they have something to wear while sledding.
Build a bonfire and use it to
keep warm and to roast hotdogs. Keept the food table close
to the fire so that all will stay warm. Have the kids make smores
and serve hot chocolate.
Great Games to Play in the
Snow
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Have a
contest to see who can make the largest snowball in a set
time period
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Fill a
spray bottle with colored water and write or draw in the
snow
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Play snow
golf -- carve out holes in the snow -- and start the
game.
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Build an
igloo
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Create a
snowman
For more
information check out All Star Activities
sleepover ideas ,
tips for great kids parities
and
winter fun section. |
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