Kid's Party Blog Comics: Party Tips

Showing posts with label Party Tips. Show all posts

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Make a Splash with a Magical Mermaid Party!

Dive into enchantment with officially licensed Disney's The Little Mermaid (Live Action) designs! Whether your child dreams of undersea adventures or simply adores Ariel, a mermaid-themed party is a perfect way to celebrate their special day.

Everything You Need for a Mermaid-Themed Bash

From beautiful invitations to vibrant posters and whimsical wall decorations, our collection offers everything you need to transform your party into an underwater paradise. Discover magical, customizable products that bring Ariel’s world to life!

Customizable Mermaid Party Favors

Make your little one feel like a true ocean princess with our range of customizable party favors. Choose from greeting cards, stickers, and unique gifts that guests will treasure long after the party ends.

Mermaid Magic Beyond the Party

It doesn’t stop at birthdays! These officially licensed designs also make wonderful additions to your home décor, from playful posters to charming everyday essentials. Bring the ocean’s sparkle into your child’s room or surprise them with gifts that capture Ariel’s adventurous spirit.

Why Choose Our Mermaid Collection?

Because every children's party marks an important milestone in your little one's life, and we want to help you make those memories last forever! The mermaid theme is just one of many party ideas we share and support through our blog, helping parents craft unforgettable celebrations.

How We Bring the Magic to You

Our blog is proudly partnered with Zazzle, a trusted platform offering these enchanting Disney designs. As an affiliate, we may earn compensation from the sales generated through our links, and we sincerely appreciate your support! It helps us continue sharing magical party themes like this one.

Mermaids: A Theme for All Ages

Whether your guests are tiny sea explorers or lifelong Ariel fans, a mermaid-themed party brings everyone together in a world of fun, imagination, and under-the-sea magic. Perfect for birthdays, summer parties, or just-because celebrations!

Start Planning Your Mermaid Adventure Today!

Explore our latest posts for party planning tips, decoration ideas, and must-have mermaid essentials. Let the Kids Party Comics Blog help you create a celebration that’s sure to make a splash, because every child deserves a party as magical as the sea itself!

Monday, September 8, 2025

Kid's Disney Theme Party

Calling All Disney Fans!

Step into a world of enchantment with the Kids Party Comics Blog, where Disney dreams come to life! Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Mickey Mouse or just discovering the magic of Moana, our blog is your gateway to everything Disney. Explore our officially licensed collection featuring apparel, mugs, stationery, stickers, and more to make your everyday moments magical.

Magical Disney Merchandise for Every Fan

From Dory’s ocean adventures to Dopey’s silly charm, our shop highlights unique Disney treasures perfect for kids, collectors, and party planners. Each item is crafted with the beloved characters you adore—ideal for birthday gifts, party favors, or even your personal keepsakes.

Create Custom Disney Shirts for Your Trip

Planning a trip to Disney World? Design custom Disney shirts for the whole family! Personalize them with family names or your vacation dates to make your park adventure unforgettable—and your photos picture-perfect!

Transform Your Child’s Room into a Disney Wonderland

Bring Disney home with décor that dazzles! Discover pillows, lamps, and whimsical accents that turn any bedroom into a magical retreat. From princess palaces to pirate coves, we have something for every child’s dream theme.

Disney Wedding Invitations Fit for Royalty

Planning a fairy-tale wedding? Our Disney wedding invitation collection features Belle, Cinderella, and more. Complete your suite with matching RSVP cards, labels, and envelopes—perfect for a storybook celebration!

Plan the Perfect Disney-Themed Party

Is your little one’s birthday around the corner? From Tinker Bell to Elena of Avalor, Jake and the Neverland Pirates to Miles of Tomorrowland, we’ve got party décor, favors, and supplies to make your child’s big day magical.

Your One-Stop Disney Shop on Zazzle

With so many Disney delights in one place, our blog helps you find exactly what you need—whether for parties, vacations, weddings, or everyday fun. Zazzle is this blog's affiliate with a Disney collection that has it all, and that make exploring it easy!

Start Your Disney Journey Today!

Visit our latest posts and see how to add a sprinkle of pixie dust to every celebration. From timeless classics like Alice in Wonderland to Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, the magic of Disney awaits. Start planning your next adventure with the Kids Party Comics Blog!

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Backyard Olympics: Budget-Friendly Sports Day

Backyard Olympics: Budget-Friendly Sports Day

No expensive venue needed—your backyard is the perfect stadium for a kids’ Olympics!

Set up easy stations: hula hoop toss, three-legged race, beanbag throw, and even a “water balloon shot put.”

Kids love earning medals. Use paper circles with ribbons or even gold-painted pasta for a DIY award ceremony.

Keep teams balanced by mixing ages—let younger kids pair up with older ones for fair play.

undefined
by ToyStory

Snacks? Think “athlete fuel”: orange slices, granola bites, and water bottles with fun labels.

Encourage cheering sections! Parents and siblings can wave handmade flags or pom-poms from paper bags.

Music helps create an energetic vibe—play upbeat tracks during races and a “victory anthem” at the end.

Rainy day? Move the games indoors with beanbags, jump ropes, or even a sock toss challenge.

This party promotes teamwork and activity without expensive rentals.

Thursday, September 4, 2025

DIY Treasure Hunt Adventures

DIY Treasure Hunt Adventures

Planning a party that sparks curiosity doesn’t have to break the bank. A treasure hunt is a timeless classic that kids adore—and best of all, it’s incredibly affordable! All you need are a few household items, some paper, and a dash of imagination.

Start with a simple map. Draw your backyard, living room, or even a nearby park, marking “X” where the treasure lies. Kids love the thrill of hunting for something mysterious, so keep clues playful but not too tricky for ages 4–10.

Clues can be riddles, picture hints, or even little drawings leading from one spot to the next. For younger kids, use visual cues—like a drawing of a couch or a toy box. For older ones, short rhymes or riddles add excitement.

The treasure doesn’t need to be extravagant. A small bag of stickers, colorful pencils, or homemade cookies works perfectly. The key is the adventure, not the prize.

To make it more engaging, create teams with colorful bandanas or paper badges. This helps manage the group and adds a sense of camaraderie.

Parents can join the fun by playing “clue master,” reading hints in a pirate or explorer voice. Adding a bit of drama goes a long way in making kids feel they’re part of a story.

If you want to stretch the activity, include small challenges between clues—like hopping on one foot or singing a silly song before getting the next hint.

For decorations, you can make cardboard treasure chests or repurpose shoe boxes wrapped in gold paper. Even tea-stained paper adds a vintage, pirate-map effect.

This party theme works indoors or outdoors, making it perfect for any season. And because it’s low-cost, you can save your budget for a fun snack table or a simple cake.

undefined
by Moana

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Kid's Party Ideas

Decorating for a child’s birthday party can be an exciting and creative experience, especially when combined with a visit to a local zoo or farm. The natural backdrop of animals and lush greenery offers an engaging atmosphere for kids to explore and learn while celebrating. If you’re planning a zoo party, take advantage of the environment and embrace an animal-themed decoration scheme. From jungle-inspired accents to farmyard motifs, you can match the decorations to the setting, adding a layer of fun and excitement to the day.

A simple yet impactful way to set the tone for the party is by designing a lively entrance. Balloons are always a hit with children, and using them to create a statement arch or layered piece at the entrance will grab attention right away. Choose latex or foil balloons in vibrant colors that match your theme—whether it's a jungle, safari, or barnyard animal setting. Combine these with streamers and a foil fringe curtain to create a whimsical, colorful portal that will make the birthday child and guests feel like they’re entering a magical world.

If the zoo or farm allows, you can add picnic tables with brightly colored tablecloths and centerpieces to enhance the natural surroundings. Incorporating animal figurines, plush toys, or small paper crafts that represent different creatures can tie the theme together. DIY accents like hand-drawn animal faces on party hats or paper plate masks can be fun to create with the kids, doubling as an activity and decoration. These personalized touches will leave a lasting impression and can make the event feel extra special.

Since animals are a central part of the party, you could also organize games and activities that reflect the theme. Animal-themed scavenger hunts or “pin the tail on the donkey” are great ways to keep the kids engaged while being surrounded by the real-life animals they love. For extra decoration, place cutouts of animals around the venue or create a mini petting zoo corner using stuffed animals. These little details can immerse children into the experience, heightening their excitement throughout the event.

When it’s time for cake and snacks, setting up a colorful, kid-friendly dining area is a must. Use tableware that aligns with the theme, such as plates and cups with animal prints or bright, nature-inspired colors. Hanging paper lanterns shaped like animals or tropical leaves over the eating area can add a festive vibe. If you’re looking to get creative, you could also craft simple animal party favors, like small treat bags shaped like lion faces or monkey tails.

Balloons should remain a key decoration element, but don’t stop at the entrance. Scatter clusters of balloons throughout the picnic or party area in colors that match the theme. You could even create a balloon garland featuring animals made of balloons, such as a lion’s face or a snake. Balloons shaped like jungle animals or barnyard creatures will add an extra level of detail to the celebration, making it a hit among the kids.

If you're hosting the party at home or in a hired venue, consider decorating an activity corner with nature-themed crafts. Provide paper, markers, and stickers for the kids to create their favorite animals or nature scenes. Display their artwork on a board or along the walls to further enhance the space while keeping the kids entertained. This not only adds to the decor but allows the children to contribute to the atmosphere of the party.

Overall, decorating for a child’s birthday party using a zoo or farm visit as the setting gives you endless possibilities to create a magical, animal-filled adventure. By incorporating balloons, paper crafts, and thoughtful DIY accents, you can turn any location into a playful and vibrant celebration space. Whether it's a safari in the jungle or a day on the farm, the combination of colorful decorations and fun activities is sure to leave every guest smiling.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

For the Party Planner

Are you planning a fun party for your kids? The Kid's Party Blog has everything you need! We have amazing coloring and activity books that kids will love. These books are filled with fun pictures to color and exciting activities to enjoy. They are perfect for keeping kids entertained at parties or any time.

We also have a great selection of party supplies just for kids! From colorful balloons to cute party hats, our supplies make it easy for moms and dads to plan a fantastic party. You can find everything you need in one place, making party planning simple and fun.

At the Kid's Party Blog, planning a party can be a lot of work. That's why our party supplies are here to help! We have everything you need to make your child's party special. So, whether you need games, decorations, or fun activities, we’ve got you covered!

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Charlie Brown, Peanuts theme birthday part

Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts comic strip gang are the stars of this post for their birthday party decorating possibilities! The entire wholesome, lovable cast of characters is featured on these Peanut comic strip invitations, posters, and banners for your next birthday party celebration.

Charlie Brown & Friends

You'll find greeting cards, invitations, Peanut comic strip party plates, luggage tags, and t-shirts everything you need to decorate and invite Charlie Brown, Peanuts comic strip style. Treat your party guest to images of Lucy and her 5 cent Psychiatry booth, the little dirt magnet Pig Pen, or Linus and his fateful security blanket. All of your favorite Peanuts character images are featured independently and in a group on dozens of different birthday party decorating ideas.

For a little boy that has been known of since the late 1940's when his name was first mentioned in a super early Schulz comic strip, title Lil' Folks, finally making his debut in a Peanuts comic strip in 1950, Charlie Brown, and his Peanut's Comic Strip pals have become an American favorite, loved by many different generations of kids. So, it should come as no surprise that so many different people still want to party with any and all of these recognizable characters.

Charlie Brown has matured a little over the years from the first age I ever saw listed for him, (4 years old). Over the decades I believe Charlie Brown has reached the age of 8. His dog Snoopy and the rest of the Peanut's Gang are ready to generate smiles on the faces of the guest of honor and party guest. Just about all of the Peanuts comic strip items you will see from my Zazzle affiliate party location can be customized with a name, personal message, or your organization's name/logo.

So, if you're thinking about party planning, or it's your job to come up with this year's party decoration ideas; think about decorating your party with one of America's most lovable blockheads and the rest of his Peanuts comic strip friends.

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Hosting a Virtual Birthday Party for Kids

A virtual birthday party celebration for your little one is the perfect way to share their special day celebration with friends and family near and far. Due to Covid-19 celebrating a birthday party for your child in the traditional way carries some safety concerns for your child and others. So I say if you have such concerns why not use today's technology and still make your child's special day an extra day to remember?

Friendship cards
by Weddings_Forever

Since there are more than a few different video-calling platforms available start by picking the video-calling platform you like and feel comfortable with. The different face-time providers have different participant limits some as low as 8 participants (Facebook Messenger) and others like Face Time allow up to 32 participants. Explore video chat apps like Bunch, Air Time, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger Rooms, whoever you choose do a little research on them (google it) even give the platform you choose a test drive by trying out the virtual provider yourself.

Once that's done it's time to start thinking about sending out invitations to the names on your guest list. Use e-invites to reach the parents of the children on your electronic invitation list and do your best to explain the virtual concept to anyone not totally clear about a virtual birthday party idea.

Choose a theme, if that idea appeals to you, decide on party decorations, and set up a loose schedule. Choose a craft or activity that can be completed by virtual party guests while video chatting. Be sure to give the other parents a heads-up about what supplies will be needed in advance. Depending on the size of the virtual part crowd you're expecting you can also safely hand-deliver or send out party crafts or supplies to each virtual attendee.

Since many of your child's favorite superheroes, fairy tale creatures, and princesses have turned to technology to keep them safe, and active, during these shelter-in-place days. And, also have access to the internet in their kingdoms and secret hideouts. Given enough warning, (and a costume if needed) it is totally possible to have your child's favorite character make a virtual appearance in your virtual party setting, on your child's special day. Decide on a gift, and for goodness sake don't forget to sing happy birthday!

Another good virtual activity is sharing favorite YouTube videos or watching a movie as a group. Of course, the guest of honor gets to choose the movie on a streaming platform like Netflix Party all of the virtual party goers will be able to enjoy a motion picture together and at the end, after the credit roll, chat with each other about their favorite parts of the movie. Consider dropping off small packages filled with a juice box, popcorn, or another fun movie snack if the attendees live close enough to where you are or suggest these items when letting the other parents know what will be needed beforehand.

My favorite is a game of virtual Bingo Tabletopia is a platform that offers over 800 different board games to choose from. It's a good idea to choose, or have your child choose a few games in advance to avoid spending a large part of your virtual time browsing all of the available options.

Bring out the birthday cake, encourage your child to make a wish, and blow out the candles. Keep an eye on the clock and do your best to stick to your virtual birthday party agenda. The Goal as always is to make sure your little birthday bundle of joy feels special and safe.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Can Shelter in place and Kid's Party Mix?

All over the United States, and I'm sure in other nations too, kids are continuing to grow, develop and look forward to their birthday celebration. The problem has become how to maintain this form of normalcy when covid must be considered? So I started thinking about how to make a shelter-in-place birthday party still take place and do it safely?

How do you successfully remove the social aspect from the idea of a birthday party when the very word "party" screams social contact? Due to the seriousness of covid, many usual social gathering places for kids, like daycare and schools, are either restricted access or changed from the classroom to online learning, with kid's parents, lucky enough to have a job, being asked to work at home.

Normally party planning concerns are limited to choosing a nice location, if not at home, putting together a guest list, and planning some social activities to keep everyone smiling while your little superhero or princess enjoys their special day. For me, covid has changed all of that. With all the uncertainty in most family's economic situation, in a lot of cases mixed with the stress of many family members confined in close quarters, it could be awful tricky to pull off a birthday party under the current covid living conditions at home or a separate location.

The good news is that under the CDC guidelines, a party/celebration can still be enjoyed if you follow the CDC guidelines. So if at home or a separate location for a party is no problem start by reducing your party group to as few people as possible, something that might be impossible in my family given all of the multi-age range family members. The CDC does say that provided the weather is on your side, planning your party for the outdoors offers a much lower risk of spreading coronavirus or even the common cold, especially when wearing a mask is insisted upon.

If the weather is not on your side, and you end up partying inside, make sure there is a window open, have your guest wear a mask, and make it easy for them to wash their hands frequently. Encourage some social distancing six-feet apart would be great, yoga pads or spaces marked on the floor or kid's chairs set apart from each other will work for kids. Keep in mind that under covid circumstances it would be okay to suggest your guest bring their own food and drink and whether they provide their own snacks, or even if you do, make plans to keep all common surfaces clean even with the party in progress.

If you can buy everyone a laptop computer you can do a Zoom party---just kidding! Zoom would be an excellent way to social-distance-gather but only if it's practical for you, and with Zoom, masks would be optional. The idea is to keep your little superhero's special-day special and in spite of these depressing covid times, a day to remember so that their future self will look back and say I survived the covid times with memories of a really great birthday party.

There's one more way you can add to your child's special day, there is nothing a little superhero love more than hearing from their favorite superhero on their special day so don't be afraid to contact the Avengers or maybe someone with your child's favorite superhero or princess costume. Have them give your child a video call for a little superhero to superhero bonding. Covid may get in the way of a birthday celebration, but thanks to the CDC and with a little careful planning on your part the virus doesn't get to stop the birthday celebration.

Keep in mind also that my party suggestions are usually based on a healthy person and a healthy situation. If your little superhero suffers from any underlying health problems or doctor's limitations covid concerns could, and actually should indeed win when it comes to your party planning. A medical degree is not part of my writer's kit so whatever your party celebrating plan, do it safely.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Your Party Invitation

In most cases, the invitation to your party is the first glimpse into your celebration for your guests. For this reason, your invitations should match the occasion in both style and theme. Your invitation is meant to invite and inform your guests about your event by giving them a small glimpse into what is to come, at your party.

You will want to send out your invitations at least four weeks before a smaller party, and exactly eight weeks prior to a larger celebration event like a wedding. You will also want to make sure that your party or event is not held over a holiday weekend where many of your friends and family may already have other plans, or who may not want to deal with holiday travel.

The wording that you put on your invitation should be done in a very standard way. What I mean by this is your invitation should include the following:

* All phrasing should always be in the third person style

* Punctuation is never used at the ends of lines on an invitation, only on names and addresses which require them

* Try not to use any abbreviations on your invitations. Spell out names, addresses, etc… fully. The one exception to this is the use of Mr. And Mrs. Both of these abbreviations are appropriate for an invitation.

* Days, dates, and times should all be spelled out completely.

* If you have a husband and wife who you will be inviting who happen to both be doctors, you can simply address your invitation to “The Doctors “Last Name” and it will be correct

* It is always socially unacceptable to write “no children” or refer to gifts, or even no gifts, on any invitations.

Each invitation should have the following information contained on it:

* The name of the host or hosts

* The purpose of the event

* The name of the guest of honor

* The day, date and time of the event

* The location of the event

* The address of the event with the street address only, never the zip code as this is considered tacky

When you feel your invitation is completed, then it is time to get a friend to read over what you have written for you, and let you know if you have any mistakes in your text. This is very important because the last thing you want to do is send out all of your invitations with the wrong date or time on them. It is so much easier to catch and fix mistakes before the invitations are ever sent out.

When it comes to your budget you might be surprised to learn that these days invitations can be printed at a very reasonable cost online. In addition, if you have a good graphics program and a printer, you can do them yourself. For a small event, it is perfectly acceptable to purchase a package of the hand-written invitations from your local store and simply write in the information on them.

If you will be having a very informal party, you can have some fun and informal invitations. If you are planning a much more formal party or event such as a wedding, then you are best to stick to professionally printed invitations.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Preparation for hosting a party at your home

When it's time to host a party at your house, you will find that it always seems like no matter how much you clean, or how much you organize; there is always more which you could do. The key to effectively preparing your home to host a party is the cleaning and de-cluttering some very vital areas. You should understand that as long as those areas are clean and clutter-free, your guests will feel comfortable and welcome in your home.

Before I get to that though let me say that planning a party in your home can be lots of fun. Just keep in mind that even the most seasoned hostess can be intimidated by trying to prepare their home for guests. So, for that reason, here are some tips from professional cleaners and organizers on how you can best prepare your home to host your party:

1 – Do a quick sweep, take a look around your home and decide what you need to do. Take along a pen and paper and make notes for each room of your home. You will want a closet for your guests to hang their coats in and a place to store personal belongings like a women’s purses. While you are doing your home walk-through decide where these two locations will be and write them down.

2 – The first place you will want to start tidying up and cleaning is the entry area of your home, and then work from there cleaning the living room, bathroom, and kitchen areas. In addition, if there are other areas in your home where your guests will be, perhaps a game room or similar, that area will need a good cleaning and de-cluttering as well.

3 - While everyone has some clutter which they treasure; understand that clutter can give an even spotless home the appearance of being messy and unclean. You want your guests to be able to move freely in your home and not be knocking things off of tables or shelves. When you are cleaning for a party be brutal and get rid of as much clutter as you can bear – even if you just simply box it and place it in the garage for the night.

4 – If you have a spouse and family, now is the time to enlist them to help you with cleaning and de-cluttering your home. You can easily assign a room to each person and have them be responsible for cleaning and removing anything in the room that does not absolutely need to be there for the party.

5 - If you have children with messy rooms, but are having an all-adult party, it is fine to simply close your children’s bedroom doors and not make a big deal about them cleaning their rooms for the party. This can help relieve some of your pre-party stress. In essence, stick to cleaning rooms which you absolutely must clean because guests will be in them.

6 - If your party is informal, consider using casual serving dishes and casual eatery as well. You may even want to purchase some good quality paper plates for the event if it will be a pot-luck or BBQ type event, rather than a sit-down meal.

7 - It is important for you to know that where there are people with food and drinks, there will be spills and stains. The easiest way to deal with these issues is to be completely prepared to deal with them before they ever happen. Have a small box with cleaning supplies that you can use to clean up any messes that might occur during the party.

8 – Once your home is clean and clutter-free, go around your home and add back some small, personal touches you feel will make your home feel more inviting for your guests. Flowers, photographs of your family, candles, or anything you feel will add that welcoming touch. To deal with any musty odors your home may have, you can burn candles, or simmer some cinnamon and cloves on the stove. If only there was a candle that smelled like fresh-baked bread, or even better fresh-baked cookies!

9 – Once your home has been prepared and you have a back-up plan to deal with any unforeseen stains or spills, and what you need to deal with any unpleasant odors, if any, then it's time for you as the hostess to sit back and enjoy the smiles on the faces of the party guest at the party that you planned.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

A Guide to Children's Parties

Party Planner’s Guide to Children’s Parties

Planning a birthday party for children is always fun; children have such an amazing sense of fun and imagination that they are both fun and easy to plan a party for. If you are the one in charge of planning a birthday party for your child, take the opportunity to have some fun with party ideas, and plan the best fun-filled party experience you can. You can bet that your child, and all of their friends, will love you for making the extra effort.

The number one consideration for any child’s birthday party is to understand that the goal of the entire day, and the event itself, is to make your child feel like they are king or queen for the day. On that day it's all about them feeling special and nothing more. The most successful child’s party is one where the child is happy, their friends and family are happy, and no one ends up crying.

The second consideration for a child’s birthday party is what the child wants to have as a theme. If you sit down with your child and ask them you might be pleasantly surprised at the simple wishes they give you. A lot of children want only very basic things such as a particular color or special food choice. Take your queues from your child and try to develop a party around their wishes which fits into your ability and budget.

If the party you are planning includes little guest that are very young, you will need more adults present to help you. You cannot be everyplace at once, and by having other people at the party things will go much smoother and with much less stress. If the parents ask if they can stay for the party you want to invite them to do just that. You will need the extra help and you might even make some new friends in the process!

If you will be inviting the children your child goes to school with, you need to either invite the entire class or plan on distributing your invitations outside of school. This rule is meant to keep from hurting children’s feelings and is generally in effect at most schools.

Before the party discuss manners with your child and explain to them about duplicate or unwanted gifts. Tell them to just say thank you if they receive more than one particular gift. If the gift is accompanied by a recipe it can be returned for something your child likes. Instruct them on the need at other times when it is appropriate to use good manners. Also, insist, gently, that guests use their best manners as well while they are in your home. This will make the day a lot better for everyone.

Planning crafts or games for a young child’s party is essential. There is nothing worse than ten young kids with nothing to do. By keeping their active imaginations and party time excitement channeled/occupied everyone will have a much better time. However, it is always good to plan extra activities just in case something doesn’t as planned. This way, you can switch to doing something else without too much hassle or complaint.

It is also important to remember that a child’s birthday party doesn’t have to last all afternoon. A simple party that lasts a couple of hours or so is plenty long enough so that by the time the little guests are likely to be getting cranky and restless, you can send them on their way home.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Special Considerations Party Planning

Entertaining the Disabled

Whether you are a veteran of the Galactic Empire or an everyday earthling like myself there are people who are disabled, in one way or the other, in just about everyone’s circle of friends and acquaintances. In my own immediate family, I have one person who must use a wheelchair and another who is allergically challenged when it comes to peanuts.

Whenever I entertain with a party that involves either of those relatives, I know I must consider both of their special needs, and I’m okay with that. I realize that for many people, this is a very daunting proposition which they usually answer by simply not inviting their disabled friends and relatives, or simply by choosing not entertaining with a party at all. How completely sad is that?

It is very important to remember, in my opinion, that as you move through your daily life you understand the fact that disabled people are just like you and me when it comes to social gatherings and parties. While they have additional challenges in their lives, they still enjoy many of the same things you and I do, and a good party is no exception! I think it's important when you plan your party not to forget about those who are either temporarily disabled wearing a cast or forced to move around with crutches, or permanently disabled. You might be surprised at the smile generating power a party invitation can have on someone often overlooked by so many others because of a disability.

The first thing you can do when you're planning a party is to plan on inviting your disabled friends and family to the party. Don’t let their differences scare you away from having them to your home or event. However, you should also not be shy about asking these friends and relatives if there is anything you can do to help them navigate your chosen party venue, or if there are any dietary restrictions they have which you can plan ahead for. Simply asking these two questions, will make disabled friends and family feel appreciated and included in your plan. In addition, they will have respect for the fact that you asked the questions that many in their alliances don’t bother to.

The next thing you can do is to take a moment to view your home or other party location as other people will who attend your party. Try sitting down in a chair, or sitting on the floor, and have a good look around. Look at obstacles like clutter and see if it would be necessary for you to move some things out of the way for the party time. This is especially important in tighter spaces such as bathrooms and hallways. Look for tripping hazards like stairs and see if you can highlight them better to make sure that even your visually impaired granny can see them and be able to navigate them without falling.

If you would like to invite someone to your party with a more physical disability, ask them if there is someone they would like to bring along as their caregiver? Most people would be happy that you were considerate of the fact that they may need someone available to help them. Some people need help in places like the restroom and would prefer to have someone there they can feel more comfortable with.

If your invitee has never been to your home before, you can simply ask if they would like to come over before the event and the two of you can work on any accessibility issues together. This can be a great help and make both you and your guests feel as comfortable as possible.

One of the best things you can ever do when entertaining is to invite those around you with disabilities. Especially during the holiday season, people can be very lonely, and it only takes a nice gesture such as an invitation to a party to start to feel better about yourself and the world around you. If you feel uncomfortable about the person’s disability, then try talking to them about what challenges they face and what things you can do to make their stay nicer at your home. Through some simple communication, both you and your disabled friends and relatives can have some great party memories to share.

GKD Gift Store Star Wars Collectibles

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Little Princess Party

If you would like your little girl to feel like a princess for a day, why not throw her a princess party? This party is excellent for little girls aged pre-school through about fourth grade, depending upon the maturity of your child and their friends who will be in attendance.

A princess party is a perfect time where your child can enjoy being treated like royalty and for you to indulge her in her every wish, within reason of course. A princess party is one she is sure to treasure and remember for the rest of her life.
The first thing you will want to do before the party is to decide on the decorations, activities, and food that will compliment your princess party theme.

Take out a pen and a sheet of paper and start taking brainstorming ideas, go over your notes to decide which of your little princess party ideas meet your own home and specific needs. This will help you to create a shopping list for your party and a timeline to get everything accomplished.

As for décor, just about anything goes to decorate your castle, also known as your home. Using lots of pink and purple is always a good choice for a princess party. You can use pastel pink and purple streamers and balloons along with a matching tablecloth and napkins.

For a nice added touch you can use complementary colored plates and cups, and also tie your napkins with a nice fancy ribbon which is only fit for a princess and her castle. If you have pink or purple fabric on hand, you might want to cover your party room chairs with it and tie it into big bows at the back. If you do not have any fabric, check your local thrift stores for a sheet in the right color which you can cut up and use for the day.

For your princess party invitations, you will want to ask your guests to come dressed in their best outfits and ready to be pampered for the party. Or, simply let them come in their everyday clothing and add to their outfit when they arrive. You can purchase inexpensive feather boas which the girls can wear around their shoulders for the party and then take home afterward. Also, readily available are simple tulle skirts that can transform their outfit into one fit for a princess. A good idea is to have each guest in pink while the guest of honor is in purple or vice versa.

Once your guests arrive you can have them decorate their own princess cone party hats with such items as gems, confetti, and feathers which you have purchased from the local dollar or discount store for that purpose. Once their hats are decorated, then you can staple on streamers or ribbons to the top of the hat so that they flow out when the party guest move or twirl.

A fun game to play is “Princess May I?” which is a version of the old traditional game “Mother May I?” Have the guest of honor be the princess and allow her to play the role of the mother in the more traditional game. Once your craft project and game are done, then it is time to seat your princess on her own thrown to enjoy a nice tea party. The best foods to serve are sandwiches cut into hearts or stars with cookie cutters.

The beverage of choice could be a pink lemonade served in either fancy plastic glasses or in teacups. Your cake design can be either a princess, or a castle, both options are fairly easy to make, or they can be purchased. If your local stores carry piñatas, you can fill one with candy such as gold chocolate coins, ring lollypops, and candy necklaces to help round out the party theme and give the girls something fun to do. They can take home the candy from the piñata in their very own princess goodie bags.

GKD Gift Store

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Planning a Preschool Birthday Party

Usually, around the time that children get to be in preschool, they discover that there is a whole new world of birthday parties out there which can be just for them. It usually starts with one child having a party and inviting her entire class. From there the party invitations start to come in by the droves for the rest of the preschool year. When it's your child’s turn, there is no need to panic; you can plan a fantastic preschool party even on a low budget or without a lot of time commitment on your part.

The best way to start to plan your preschooler’s party is to ask them what kind of party they want to have? This is important because he may want, or not want, a party similar to the one which they have attended. By asking them what they want, you are on your way to being able to start your planning. You don't need to be fearful that if you ask what your child wants that she will tell you they want expensive options; most children have pretty simple wants such as a specific theme or color scheme they desire.

The next decision you need to make is the location of the birthday party. For young children, who are prone to being messy, you might want to have their party at a local fast-food restaurant or similar venue. This can have the effect of the kids having some fun, and you not having a large mess to clean up after the party has finished. Another good option, if the weather in your area permits, is a local park.

If you dread the idea of spending hours with a pack of preschoolers on your weekend, you might choose to have the party in the evening or for just an hour or two on a Saturday afternoon. Preschoolers can only have a limited amount of fun before they become stressed out and start whining and crying. You can use this to your advantage by planning a relatively short but fun party.

If you plan to have more than a couple other children at the party you will need other adults to help you. Because preschoolers need lots of help and attention, you should have an adult for every three or four children in attendance. This will be a great help when children need help using the bathroom and other things as the party goes along.

When you are distributing invitations to your partiers, it is very important to remember that if you will be sending them to preschool to be passed out, you must invite each child in the class. To do otherwise is prohibited by most schools and just simply rude as well. Nothing is more hurtful than a group of preschoolers all taunting another child for not being invited to a party.

On the day of the party, you will want to have as much for your partiers to do as possible. While you do not want to overwhelm the children, it is important to keep them busy and occupied the entire time they are there with you. This will keep them out of trouble and having fun.

It is very important that you insist on good manners from your birthday party guests as well as your own birthday boy or girl. Everyone should use the words “please” and “thank you” as well as being courteous to others. In addition, you should go over how your child will handle opening presents and what is, and is not, appropriate to say to other people about gifts.

For more party planning ideas see some of the party planning choices offered on my Pinterest boards.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Some of my Sweeter Memories

These days there is a lot of posts about how to eat healthier, losing weight and getting in shape. I'm not trying to knock these articles and posts, but sometimes when you're doing the party planning it’s fun to think back to when you were a kid.

Remember all the games you used to play? Board games like Monopoly, Life, and Scrabble? From my childhood days, I can even remember playing Tag, hide n’ seek and pin the tail on the donkey.

There seemed to always be running around, riding bikes, skating, rolling down grassy hills. Anyway, I hope you can see where I'm going with all this, let’s have a little fun. What I remember best about my birthday, and my sibling's birthdays is the candy!

What was your favorite candy when you were a kid? Some of mine were Licorice, Chocolate, and good old Laffy Taffy?

I remember the delight of the days I was old enough to go to the store to buy candy without my parent's supervision. No mom there to tell me I couldn’t have what I could afford to buy. Lemon heads were always one of my favorites.

I'll admit that my younger brothers and I no doubt spent way too much of our allowances on candy, but it was SO much fun! We’d hide it so that our mother wouldn’t find it, and call it our midnight snack making sure to throw the wrappers straight into the trash after eating the candy. My mother laughed about that to me once a couple years ago, my brothers and I could not believe that she had known of our candy hiding secret, but she did. We all laugh about it now but the candy had been eaten after all; she couldn’t undo that, so what did it matter if she knew then?

Halloween was, of course, the best. As we got older we got to be the kids that went around the neighborhood later than just about anyone else, so the people who didn’t want to have leftover candy would just dump their excess on us. No worries back then about poison.

Another funny memory is that just like the squirrels that used to frequent our neighborhood hiding food for the wintertime my brothers and I were always trying to find the best places to hide each individual piece. Of course, that meant that every here and there we’d find a piece that had clearly been hidden for a year or more... yuck! When our house was destroyed we move a few times before settling into a new house my parents had built. I can't help but smile thinking about the people who moved into the houses we had once lived in when they came across pieces of candy we had hidden as kids.

Despite my best resolutions these days, I still love candy. Cinnamon candies are my main weakness now, but I know how to be pretty good about it, buying a small quantity once in a while so that I get the taste without the feeling of OD-ing (Over Dosing) on Cinnamon candies. But then come those days when I have to get into my old favorites, Lemon heads still feel good on a sore throat.

Yes, it does pay to eat healthily. But everything in moderation, and that includes moderation. Sometimes you just have to revisit a few old memories in your party planning. When my own kids were still small it seemed like everything candy-wise was a gummy this or a sour that, and while I was able to migrate my taste buds somewhat to the more contemporary candy flavors nothing can match my favorite candies from the time I spent as a kid.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Monster Party

Custom Retro Monster Postcard
by My_Favorite_Things

Party with Monsters at your very own monster party! And feed them some of the best monster food in the world, chocolate party favors! All monsters love chocolate, in America alone, Monsters (both large and small) eat 10-12 pounds of chocolate every year. You will also see that, as you near the end of this post, consuming that much chocolate is really not all that bad for the human body. So take it from a big chocolate-eating-monster (me) chocolate can make the perfect party favor.

Chocolate is considered a food that promotes relaxation and because of the cocoa mixed into it has a calming effect; something I could appreciate when planning a birthday party for my own hyper-active little chocolate-eating-monsters when they were small. Chocolate calms the nerves and can help you feel good, and celebrated, even when your name isn't on the birthday cake. Some consider chocolate a sinful indulgence but not me, chocolate is all about tasting good to me. Chocolate, at a fun party setting, should be enjoyed especially as a party favor guilty feelings.

Party favors are small gifts the host gives each guest to show their appreciation. It's a great way to say “thank you for being here.” In my opinion, chocolate is the most popular party favor ever.

Chocolate party favors can be further enhanced with personalization. Customized chocolates enable you to communicate a message to your guests. For example, if you are celebrating a birthday party you can include a message such as “Happy Birthday Joe.” You can have a date, the place of the party, or any other message printed on the chocolate wrapper.

Your personalized wrapper on your chocolate party favor can serve as a pleasant reminder and keepsake of a really nice birthday party, that add a little personal appeal in the form of a milk chocolate party favor.

Chocolate not only tastes great, but it may be good for your health to some. Research shows that chocolate may help your body use insulin more efficiently and lower your blood pressure. Chocolate includes essential minerals, such as magnesium and potassium. Vitamins B1, B2, D, and E are found in chocolate. Chocolate also includes antioxidants that can help protect against cancer and premature aging.

The history of chocolate dates back to the Maya civilization, and we still can’t live without it. According to recent surveys, chocolate is America's favorite party flavor with over 50% of adults favoring chocolate to other party flavors. Chocolate party favors are a great way to add to your party enjoyment, and to my surprise, with moderation, chocolate can even be part of a healthy diet.