Party Planning Q & A
We understand how important it is to make your child's birthday the best day of the year. However, planning the perfect party can be overwhelming without help. That's why we're here! If you have a party planning question, just ask our expert! Below are some of our favorite question and answers. If you have a party question for our experts, email us.
Questions & Answers
Outdoor Summer Party Games & ActivitiesQ: Can you give me some fun outdoor game ideas for 3- to 6-year-olds?
A: Of Course! Try summer favorites like a cooperative water balloon toss, a wet-and-wild summertime obstacle course, an ice cream cone relay race, an edible sand art activity, or a game of musical beach towels. For instructions and more great summer game and activity ideas, check out our Beach Party Ideas and Summer Party Ideas articles. In them, you'll also find crafts and activities like a seashell hunt, paper plate fish craft, a flip flop craft, hula hoop games, and more. Looking for a simple summer craft kit or coloring activity you can use to occupy your kids on a hot afternoon or to entertain young guests at a party? Check out these other fun activity ideas:
- Make necklaces with a tropical craft kit.
- Let your child color a summer coloring book personalized with his or her name.
- Entertain kids with a fishing game.
- Make dinner fun by setting out tropical activity mats.
- Kids will love making candy sand art that they can eat afterwards!
- For a low-key activity, give kids ice cream sticker books.
A: You should expect some, but not all, parents to stay for the party. I would greet the parents as they arrive and say something like, "You're welcome to stay, and we'd love to have you, but if it's easier for you to come back, we'll take good care of Jack!" If they say they'd like to return later, you could say, "The party should be starting to wind down around 3:45, so we'll see you then!" Some other considerations:
- If you have a preference that parents stay or leave, you may want to include it on the invitation. For instance, if you're hosting the party at a fun center, they may require that parents stay with younger children. Consider wording such as, "Parents are encouraged to stay", or wording that implies your preference, like, "Drop Off at 3:00. Pick Up at 5:00." See our Kid's Party Etiquette Guide for more tips on information to include on an invitation.
- If you think parents will be staying, make sure you have enough party supplies on hand to offer cake and refreshments to them as well. You might also prepare a few easy adult snacks such as cheese and crackers or fruit. If you want to save money, consider ordering some solid tableware that coordinates with your theme party supplies.
- Set up a seating area for parents to sit and chat with each other while keeping an eye on their kids.
- If you will have crafts and games that could benefit from having a few extra hands, feel free to ask a few parents to stay, either when they RSVP or as they arrive. Most parents are more than willing to help coordinate a game, hand out prizes, assist with a craft, serve cake, fill cups, or help a child who may not want to participate in a particular activity.
Q: Can you share some Disney Princess activity ideas for my daughter's 4th birthday?
A: We've rounded up some ideas for princess party games, activities and pretend play with a Disney Princess twist that we hope your little girl will enjoy! Pretend Play Every little girl loves to dress up and pretend to be a princess, so outfit your guests with tiaras or homemade princess hats when they arrive! If you opt for tiaras, consider letting the girls decorate their own with stick-on jewels using our Foam Tiara Craft Kit. To make complete princess outfits, check out our Fairy Princess Outfit instructions. If any young knights attend your party, give them inflatable swords and knight capes to wear. Once your little princesses are dressed, give them time to play in their very own Disney Princess castle. You can turn a playhouse into a castle by decorating it with pink, lavender and white balloons and streamers and other Disney Princess decorations as desired. Alternatively, you can decorate a large box (refrigerator boxes are perfect!) with a door cut out of one side and a princess cone hat placed at each corner to make turrets. Princess Coloring Activities Little princesses love coloring almost as much as they love pretend play! Encourage their creativity by letting them color copies of our Princess Coloring Page. For added fun, set out glitter glue, stick-on gems and Princess stickers in addition to crayons, markers and/or colored pencils. For a coloring keepsake, consider giving the girls Princess Personalized Coloring Books printed with their names, or let them color Disney Princess Jumbo Coloring Puzzles. Our Princess Coloring & Activity Books are another fun activity that doubles as a great princess party favor. Princess Party Games Traditional party games can easily be adapted for a Disney Princess theme. For instance, tell the girls to sit in a circle for a few rounds of Frog, Frog, Princess (i.e. Duck, Duck, Goose) or let them run around the yard in a game of Wicked Queen Freeze Tag. Send the girls on a scavenger hunt with our Cinderella's Slipper Search activity, or let them play a Tangled Pin Game and Kiss the Frog! You'll find these games and more in our Disney Princess Party Ideas article, but you can easily turn any game your child loves into a Disney Princess party game just by changing the name! Other Princess Crafts & Activities Help your little princesses make Tangled Paper Lanterns with our simple instructions, go on a hunt for hidden jewels, or find prizes in a Disney Princess pinata. For more Disney Princess fun, be sure to check out other complete party planning guides: Disney Princess Party Ideas
Q: My son is having his 3rd birthday in May... Can you suggest a theme?
A: For something fresh and appropriate for spring, look at our preppy patterns: Turtle Party and Preppy Blue Ocean. For a more classic toddler party, try our Little Trucks Party, Fire Engine Party, Thomas Party, Sock Monkey or Monkey Around patterns. I'd select a party theme that appeals to your style and your son's interests, and that will work well for a spring party date and the location you're considering. We'll also have some adorable new themes coming in April, like an Elmo polka dot theme and a not-so-scary Shark party. I hope you have a blast planning the party! Tangled Party Ideas
Q: We're hosting a Tangled party for our daughter's 6th birthday. Do you have ideas for Tangled decorations and activities?
A: Tangled is such fun theme, we've dedicated a party guide to Rapunzel party ideas! Get started by setting your table with Tangled partyware, then try one of these ideas to create Rapunzel's long hair to add to your door, table or walkway:
- Braid thick strands of yellow yarn and tie with a pink or lavender ribbon. Add more color by tucking silk flowers into the braid.
- A yellow table cover with a flower-laden braid draped along it makes an enchanting walkway! If you make the braid long enough, you can use it to lead guests to the party table.
- Create kid-friendly lanterns using paper and flameless tea-lights.
- Braid little girls' hair and tuck in tiny silk flowers with bobby pins or clips.
- Play a couple rounds of Hair Rope Tug-O-Ware using your preferred faux-hair material or braided yellow rope.
- Give the kids their own Princess Personalized Coloring Books to color at the party and take home as keepsakes.
Q: Getting my kids to write thank you notes is like pulling teeth at my house. Any ideas?
A: Here's a mom-friendly thank you note plan that won't make it seem like a chore! A few clicks, a few pix, and you and your children can have your thank you notes in the mail in no time!
- Send your kids on a photograph safari. Hand them a checklist of the toys and gifts that were received. Ask them to photograph each other or family members enjoying the new toys and gadgets.
- Fold construction paper or order personalized thank you notes to use as backgrounds for the pictures.
- Gather old magazines, scissors, glue, pens and tape.
- Set up an assembly line and get ready to have some fun with thank-you notes!
- Affix the photos to thank you cards. Cut out words from old magazine pages to create messages and ask children to glue them in place (i.e., "Wow", "Thanks", "Awesome"). You can even add stickers or other decorations. When each card is complete, ask the appropriate person to sign it before placing it in an envelope. Add the recipient's name to the outside and move it back into the assembly process for addressing (a great job for dads!).
Q: Winter weather has my kids stuck inside. Can you suggest any good in-home activities?
A: Don't let the bad weather get you down, because there are loads of fun things to do indoors! Try these ideas with just your kids or use them as party activities: Nurture little artists with a tissue paper flower craft, jewelry making or painting. Encourage imagination with dress-up and pretend play. Bolster your little baker with a cooking activity. Engage active kids with a few rounds of 10-pin bowling or a carnival game like a bean bag toss. Or, quiet down a rowdy crowd with a puzzle or coloring activity. For other ideas, check out our Indoor Games & Activities article and the links below. Craft & Activity Kits Games to Buy Free Crafts & Games Coloring Puzzles Personalized Coloring Books Free Printable Coloring Pages & Activities Cooking Kits & Activities
Q: I can't find many party themes for twins. Any ideas?
A: There are specific twin patterns like our Twins' 1st Birthday one, but almost any "regular" party idea can become a creative twin birthday theme that's double the fun! Consider famous duos like Mickey and Minnie or matching pairs like a cowboy and cowgirl. Using a classic idea, how about a circus party with two ringmasters or clowns, or a Monkey Around theme with a "barrel of monkeys"? You could also host an ice cream sundae party with invites that say, "Sugar and Spice Are Twice as Nice!"
How about throwing a Ladybug Party and dressing your girls in matching ladybug wings and head boppers? Treat your boys to a swashbuckling pirate party adventure, and dress them up with matching pirate hats. You can also plan a party around an idea as simple as bubbles or a box of Q: I thought it would be fun to have the whole family play some games together before Thanksgiving dinner. Do you have any suggestions that adults and kids would enjoy?
A: Thanksgiving dinner isn't just about enjoying a great meal; it's a time for family to come together! That's why we love the idea of playing a few family games while the turkey's in the oven. Here are some party games that you can print and play for free:
Q: What are some creative ways I can use balloons to decorate my indoor party?
A: Here are some balloon decorating ideas that will make your party room pop!
Q: My family hosts a themed pool party every summer for all the kids in the neighborhood. Last year, we had a luau theme but we want to do something more creative this year. Do you have any theme ideas that will wow our guests?
A: Instead of decorating with a tropical theme, maybe this year you can ask your guests to walk the plank at a pirate party! Here are some ways to live the pirate's life at your pool party.
Q: My daughter decided on a polka dot themed birthday party this year. Do you have any game ideas or suggestions for the type of food I could serve?
A:The key to throwing a successful polka dot party is to think in circles! A lot of yummy food is circular or can be sliced into circles with a round cookie cutter. Here are some other food suggestions:
Q: My 6-year old daughter wants to invite about 30 children to our house for her birthday party but I'm a single mom! How can I handle that many children without losing my mind?
A:Even ten children can be overwhelming at a birthday party so I understand your concern. However, here are some ways your daughter can have the party she wants without creating too much stress for you.
Q: What should I do when a guest asks if they can bring their older sibling to the party? All of my games are planned around 3-year olds and I'm worried the older child will get bored.
A: This happens more often than not; an older sibling is forced to tag along and then feels out of place or bored. This child may or may not choose to participate in the activities you have planned. If they don't participate they can still join in by judging a game or helping the children with a craft activity. Additionally, they can help you in the kitchen if they enjoy cooking or worst case scenario, watch a movie or play a video game in another room.
Pinata Tips
Q: I'm thinking of having a pinata at my child's next birthday party but I have never used one before. Can you provide some useful tips?
A: Pinatas are almost always a "hit," but here are a few ideas for making them more successful:
Q: My 8-year-old son is having his first sleepover party and has invited 6 of his friends. What are some cool ideas to keep the boys entertained?
A: For food, set up a pizza and dessert bar and ask the boys to make their own mini pizzas and sundaes. For an indoor activity, let the boys turn the sleepover area into a fort using boxes, chairs, sheets, and piles of books. How about a Matchbox car race? Give each guest a car to place at the starting line. The boys have to blow their cars across the floor and over the finish line. No hands! You might also consider a balloon stomp, flashlight tag, and capture the flag. At the end of the night, settle them down with popcorn and a great movie and then send them off to the fort. Have fun!
Q: What are some creative ways to use the leftover party items such as paper products and favors?
A: Other than using leftover partyware for every day meals, here are a few suggestions for creative activities and ways to surprise your child:
Q: My nephew will be celebrating his first birthday this month. What activities can small children participate in?
A: Although children aged one or two are usually content to play with toys or in a sandbox, you could plan one or two participation activities. Games in which children sit in their parents' laps work well for this age group. Here are a few ideas:
If you need an activity to entertain younger children, consider printing copies of our Thanksgiving Coloring Page and/or Fall Coloring Page for little ones to decorate with crayons, colored pencils, markers, or even stickers and glitter glue!
Balloon Decorations
For more creative decorating ideas view our guide on Birthday Party Decorating.
Pool Party Theme Ideas
Polka Dot Party
For game ideas, get inspired by round toys you may already have such as hula hoops, balls, and Frisbees. Here are some specific games and crafts for your polka dot party:
For more Polka Dot themed party ideas, check out our Polka Dot party guide.
30 Kids!
Older Sibling Tagalongs
No matter what type you choose, pinatas are a fun activity and double as a great theme decoration!
Sleepover Solutions
First Birthday Games
For more suggestions, make sure to check out our First Birthday Party Guide.