Parties

Questions to Ask When Hiring Entertainers

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:12:00 GMT

Knowing what to expect from an entertainer in advance will help avoid any surprises on party day. Once you book your performer, be sure to ask for a written confirmation that clearly itemizes all the details and the cost. The following are some questions to ask:

1. How much do you charge?

Don't let hidden costs for extra children, materials, leave behind gifts, etc. ruin the party. Be very clear about what the fee does and does not cover.

2. How far in advance should I book?

Children's entertainers book up quickly - especially on weekends. When calling, have two or three dates in mind, just in case your preferred date is taken. Ask how much advance time is required to confirm the date.

3. What is your minimum and maximum audience?

Make sure you know the minimum and maximum numbers a performer can accommodate and understand the ramifications of going below or above their limits (it's usually an extra cost). Also confirm whether they require a specific adult to child ratio.

4. What is your method of payment? What is your cancellation policy?

Be clear about payment details in advance. Clarify whether deposits are refundable and be clear on the cancellation policy.

5. What can I expect from the performance?

Be clear on what you can expect from the performer. Make sure their performance is suitable for the age group. Ask about their experience performing for a particular age. Confirm the length of the performance.

6. How much space do you need?

Be clear on the amount and type of space required. Can they perform inside or out? Make sure you can accommodate these requirements

7. What perks do you offer?

Gifts, autographed photos, balloon animals, etc. are great as loot bags and many performers offer them. Make sure you aware of any additional costs.

8. What equipment/materials do you supply? What do I supply?

An itemized list, with notes about who is responsible for what (ie the stereo, materials for crafts etc.) can help avoid missing items.

By Rochelle Strauss

Princes, Pirates and Pajamas, Oh My!: Party Ideas and Themes

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:09:00 GMT

Here are a few party themes to keep on hand as your child's big day approaches.

1. Pajama Party

Just because your preschooler isn't old enough for a slumber party, doesn't mean he or she can't have a pajama party. Invite guests to wear their pj's and bring their favourite stuffed animal and bedtime book. Throw an inflatable mattress on the floor and serve them milk and cookies in bed. Then have them snuggle up for bedtime stories.

2. The Great Treasure Hunt

For fans of Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer, why not organize a giant treasure hunt at home or in a park. Children work as a team figuring out the clues (hint: make your clues using pictures not words). Each clue takes them to a new location, which may have another clue or the final treasure. Prizes can be awarded to the first child to find a clue. The treasure itself can be treats for all the kids, a performer, or even the birthday cake.

3. Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses

Turn your house into a castle fit for your little king or queen. Hang pictures of kings, queens, princes, princess, knights and dragons (images from fairy tales work great). Build a giant castle out of cardboard boxes, complete with towers and a drawbridge, or rent a bouncy castle for you royal subjects. Play games like Pin the Tail on the Dragon, Musical Thrones (Musical Chairs), The King or Queen Says (Simon Says), and Horse, Horse, Unicorn (Duck, Duck, Goose). You can even make a castle birthday cake by cutting a castle out of a square cake and decorating it with lots of candy baubles and colourful icing.

By Rochelle Strauss

Party Games

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:59:00 GMT

Keep the parties hopping with some of these great party games.

Piñata

Buy a piñata at a party shop or easily make your own filling it with lots of small goodies. Blindfold guests and give them a stick (an old broom works well). Spin guests three times on the spot and let them have three swings at the piñata. Guests take turns until the piñata is cracked open, freeing the loot. (Note: to avoid misshapes, younger children need not be blindfolded.)

Pin the Face on the Potato Head

Draw an outline of Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head onto a large piece of poster board. Trace, decorate and cut out multiple variations of legs, arms, mouths, eyes, ears, noses, as well as any other accessories (hats, glasses, etc.). Blindfolded guests take turns sticking (with tape) a part onto the potato head. When you have a complete face, start again using a different combination of parts.

Pass the Package

Wrap a small gift in fancy gift paper. Then add more layers (using newsprint, construction paper, fabric, etc.), so that there are 10 - 12 layers covering the package. Children sit in a circle passing the package around while music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the package unwraps one layer. The person who unwraps the final layer keeps the gift.

(I know one mother who also puts a little gift - a piece of gum, stickers, etc. - within each layer. Instead of music, all the guests take a turn unwrapping. This way every child gets a goody.)

By Rochelle Strauss

Nature Party Ideas and Themes

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:55:00 GMT

Here are a couple of party themes inspired by the outdoor elements to keep on hand as your child's big day approaches.

1. Shifty Seasons

A summer party in February? Something wintery in July? It's easy enough to do. Create a summery feel in the heart of winter by decorating your house with fresh flowers and cutouts of fish, palm trees and suns. Ask guests to wear shorts and t-shirts (you may need to turn up the heat). Be brave - barbeque hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch and serve popsicles and an ice cream cake for desert. As for winter in July...book a skating party at an indoor rink.

3. Nature Party

Take the kids to a local park or ravine to explore the nature that surrounds them. Go online to look for activities and crafts kids can do as part of their outdoor adventure (such as making birdhouses or pine cone bird feeders). Buy magnifying glasses, bug boxes and plastic pith helmets for everyone to use - these can also double as their loot bags.

By Rochelle Strauss

More Party Games

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:52:00 GMT

More activities to liven up and party!

Dress-up Relay

Pile some old clothes at the starting line and then divide guests into two or three groups. Place groups so that the first player from each group stands at the starting line, and all subsequent players stand 5 metres apart behind him or her. At "go", the first player has to put on 5 items from the pile and then race to the second player on the team. The first player then removes the clothes. The second player puts them on and races to the third player, etc. The last player has to run back to the start and remove the clothes. First team to finish is the winner.

Barnyard Bedlam

Secretly assign each child to be a farm animal (pig, sheep, cow, etc.). Depending on the size of the group there should be 2-3 children for each animal. No one is allowed to tell what animal they've been assigned. At your signal (yelling Barnyard Bedlam), each child has to make the sound of the animal they've been assigned and then try to find the other children who've been given the same animal, using only their animal sounds. The first group to find each other is the winner.

Musical Hats

Collect a bunch of different hats - from neighbours, relatives, used clothing stores or a dollar store - and place them on the floor, in a circle. Children walk in a circle around the hats while music plays putting on a hat when it stops. The child left without a hat is out of the game. Remove one hat from the circle. Continue playing until there is only one hat left. The first one to grab the last hat is the winner.

By Rochelle Strauss

Make Your Own Loot Bags

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:49:00 GMT

Loot bags. You can't live with them...and your child's guests can't live without them. What should you buy? And how much should you spend? Ease the loot bag crisis by creating your own loot.

If your child is old enough, have him/her make personal gifts, such as edible treats or friendship bracelets. Fridge magnets are also great party favours and easy to make.
Make your own play dough, in variety of colours, and package them in small plastic containers or re-sealable plastic bags. Decorate the containers and send each guest home with 2-3 different colours.
Have a bubble party and make your own bubble solution. Send kids home with a small container of solution and a bubble wand.

By Rochelle Strauss

Halloween Party Activities

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:43:00 GMT

Whether your preschooler is too young to appreciate the door-to-door trick or treating of Halloween or you're looking for ways to make the holiday even more festive, hosting a Halloween party is sure to be a hit at your house!

Activities

Here are a few great activities to try during your Halloween party.

Best Costume. Judge costumes and award prizes.
Pumpkin Painting. Purchase small pumpkins so that each guest can decorate his or her own pumpkin. Use paints, markers, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, etc. to decorate.
Gore ‘n Guts. Blindfold guests and have them stick their hands inside bowls filled with everyday things. For example, peeled grapes in cold water with ice. Tell guests they are touching eyeballs. Or overcook some spaghetti noodles and add them to Jell-O to make guts. A bowl of gore is easily made with a mixture of fresh chopped tomatoes and tomato paste.
Apple Bob and Dangle. Place apples in a container of water and have guests try to fish them out without using their hands. Add plastic and rubber insects, spiders and snakes to make things a little creepier. You can also hang apples from a string and have guests try to take a bite without using their hands.
Trick or Treat. Make twelve small cardboard ghosts labeling 10 of them "trick" and 2 of them "treat". For each "trick" ghost, also write a silly trick (such as howl like a werewolf, cackle like a witch, etc). Place ghosts in a large plastic pumpkin. Guests take turns pulling them from the pumpkin. If they get "trick" then they must perform the trick to earn a prize. If they get "treat", they get a prize.

Goodies

No party is complete without snacks, so here are a couple of goodies to serve at your party.

Toasted pumpkin seeds. Let seeds from your pumpkin dry overnight. Next, spread seeds in a single layer onto a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt (or other seasoning) and roast at 250 degrees for about an hour, mixing occasionally. Let cool and serve.
Caramel apples. Insert Popsicle sticks into the stem end of the apples. Melt caramels on a medium-low heat or in a microwave (as per directions on the package). Dip apples into caramel. Drain off excess caramel and place apples on wax paper. Place in the fridge to set. You can also try rolling the apples in nuts while the caramel is still warm.

By Rochelle Strauss

Great Party Games for Groups

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:39:00 GMT

Great group activities for your child's special day.

Catch a Dragon by the Tail

Divide party goers into two groups and have each group stand in a line, holding the waist of the person in front of them. The front person is the dragon's head, the last person, its tail. Tuck or tape a bandana (or scarf) onto the person who is the tail. The head of the dragon must catch the tail of the other dragon, while all players in the dragon stay linked. The team to catch the other team's tail first wins. This game can also be played with just one dragon - with the head chasing its own tail.

Centipede Obstacle Run

Design a simple obstacle course - something to climb over, hula-hoops to hop into, a line of pylons to weave through, etc. Divide guests into groups of at least four or more. Line up the groups so that each player is holding the waist of the player in front of him/her. The players must then race through the obstacle course to the finish without taking their hands off the person in front of them. If the chain is broken, all players must return to the beginning and start again. The first team to successfully complete the course is the winner.

By Rochelle Strauss

Green Birthday Party Ideas: Entertaining and the Environment

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:36:00 GMT

Gifts, as well as the wrapping they come in, balloons, streamers, paper plates and cups, party favours and loot bags can overwhelm our pocket book and waste bins.

Here are a few easy and creative ways to make your party more socially and environmentally responsible without losing an ounce of the party fun...

Invitations and Gifts

Create your own invitations. Cut them out from paper or cardboard and decorate them with stickers, crayons and paint to give them a unique flair - no envelope necessary!
Ask for toy donations instead of gifts. Most presents end up collecting dust or sitting broken in a corner after a short time so why not teach your child the value of giving by asking guests to donate a toy to a children's charity instead.

Packaging

Ask party goers to bring gifts in bags, which can be recycled over and over again, or to use reusable fabric, wool or string instead of wrapping paper.

Loot Bags

Turn brown paper bags into paper bag puppet loot bags. Get creative - make each bag a different character or have your child personalize them.
Make creating the loot bag part of your party planning. Activities such a decorating cookies, making bead necklaces and bracelets or painting ceramic pots are not only great party features, they offer built-in loot bags!
Or...lose the loot. Even if the contents of the loot bag come from a dollar store, the costs quickly adds up. Donate the money to a charity instead giving party- goers a hand designed note explaining the donation.

Decorating

Use ribbons instead of streamers. Adding beads, charms, hockey cards or small toys gives the décor some added dimension. These items can then be saved for future art projects or given out as loot for your guests.

Miscellaneous

Dollar stores are a great place to purchase heavy duty plastic cutlery, cups and plates for reusable durability.

By Rochelle Strauss

Crafty Loot Bags

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:10:00 GMT

Loot bags. You can't live with them...and your child's guests can't live without them. What should you buy? And how much should you spend? Consider planning a party with a craft activity so that your guests' creations become the loot!

Buy balsa wood airplanes for everyone to decorate and race. Using markers, crayons, stickers and glitter, each child personalizes their very own plane. Or, make your own planes.
If jewelry is your child's thing, buy all the fixings for a bead party - beads, charms, clasps, fishing wire, etc. Guests can make their own necklaces or bracelets.
Hit a high note with guests - have them make their own musical instruments. With so many different ones to make, your party will become an orchestra in no time!
Create memories by inviting guests to make their own picture frames. Decorate simple wooden frames (available at Ikea) or invite kids to make their own. Instant party pictures (Polaroid or digital) provide lasting memories to fill the frames.
Making finger puppets not only provides a great craft activity, it's a built in performance too! Guests make their own finger puppets. When complete, take turns putting on plays.
Make a batch of cookies (sugar or shortbread) and provide kids a table full of goodies - icing, sprinkles, little candies, etc. to decorate them.

When all else fails, you can always purchase goodies at your local dollar store for a reasonably priced loot bag.

By Rochelle Strauss

Choosing the Right Birthday Entertainer for You

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:06:00 GMT

If you find yourself panicking at the prospective of entertaining preschoolers for an afternoon party, you may want to consider hiring a children's entertainer.

The two most important things to consider before choosing a performer are: the age group and your child's interests. Some younger children love clowns, others are afraid of them. Older preschoolers might like magic, younger ones likely won't understand it.

For the under three crowd, keep it simple. Attention spans are short, so musical performers are a great option. Try to find a performer that brings instruments for the kids to play (cymbals, bells, shakers).

Younger children may also enjoy visits from their favourite TV characters. But remember, in person, these characters will be considerably larger than they are on television and can be intimidating. Before booking, find out what kind of party involvement you can expect from them.

Older children (4+) will enjoy more "sophisticated" entertainers, as well as visits from favourite characters. Magicians make great impressions, especially if they incorporate comedy into their routine. Complex magic shows won't yet appeal to this group so confirm that the magician offers a suitable show.

With longer attention spans, this is a great age to invite in artists to run art activities (painting, pottery, sculptures, collages), as well as puppet shows, caricature artists and science "labs" (where kids can make anything from rockets to slime and rock candy).

A note regarding animals at parties: make sure you know what you're getting into before committing to one. Do any party goers have allergies? Are they afraid of certain animals? What happens in the event of an animal biting a guest or damaging property? Finally, only hire a well-known, reputable animal ‘handlers'.

By Rochelle Strauss

Birthday Party Places: Movie Theatres, Bowling Allies and More

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:04:00 GMT

Looking for a special way to celebrate your child's birthday? These unique venue options add a little extra fun to your child's special day. Prices and attendance requirements will vary.

1. Movie Theatres

Most movie theatres offer birthday party packages. For a fixed fee (ranging from $12.00 to $20.00 depending on the theatre), you get the movie, munchies and reserved seating. Additional items may include a gift for the birthday child, party favours and invitations.

2. Bowling Parties

Recommended for children ages 3+ and for small or large groups, bowling parties can be a lot of fun. Packages usually include one hour of bowling (10 or 5 pin), rental shoes, party room, party favours and lunch. You bring the cake and ice cream.

3. Play Centres

These indoor play areas are great venues for active children, offering lots to climb and space to run. Parties are about two hours long and include play time, party room, munchies and cake.

4. Ceramic Studios

Perfect for creative children, many of the paint-your-own pottery studios also host parties. Most packages are about two hours in length - an hour for art and an hour for munchies, games and/or presents. Most studios offer private party rooms and staff to help the children. Pottery is fired after the party and parents are contacted to pick-up the finished work.

5. Community Centres

Many community centres have meeting rooms or gyms that can be rented for a nominal fee. Perfect for parents who want to host their own party, the rental usually includes kitchen access, tables and chairs, and it's all yours to decorate. The open spaces also lend themselves to active games or performances. Many community centres also have drop-in centres, so you may even be able to borrow their toys and gear for your party.

By Rochelle Strauss

Carnival Madness!: Make Your Own Carnival at Home

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:45:00 GMT

All you need to host your own carnival is your backyard (or local park), tickets and a few prizes from the dollar store. A barbecue, homemade carnival treats and ice cream round out the fun.

Gone Fishin'

Make a fishing rod by attaching a long piece of string to a stick. Tie a magnet to the end of the line. Glue large paper clips to some lightweight plastic aquatic animals. Mark each animal with a permanent marker - a green dot means a prize, a red dot means try again. Now, fill a kiddy-pool and float the animals in the water. One ticket gives players 30 seconds to try to catch a fish and win a prize.

Bean Bag Chuck

Paint a clown face onto a large cardboard box. Cut out a hole in the mouth. Place the box on the ground or a table. Mark a throw line about 5 metres from the clown. For one ticket, players get three bean bags to chuck into the clown's mouth. Getting in two out of three wins a prize.

Hole in One

Grab an old putter, a few golf balls and a plastic cup and make a putting green. For one ticket, players have three chances to put a golf ball into an overturned cup. Do it in just one stroke to win a prize.

Round and Round

Make a giant spinning wheel out of poster board. Divide the board into segments labeling a couple of segments "winner" and the remaining segments "try again". Make a cardboard spinner and attach it to the centre of the wheel using a brass paper fastener. For each ticket, children get one spin to try to win a prize.

Marble Toss

For this game, you need 3 different prizes, ranked small, medium and large. Mark the bottom of 12 paper or plastic cups as follows: three cups should have an S (for small prize), two an M (medium), one an L (large). The remaining cups should have the words "sorry". Next, arrange the cups on a low table. Mark a throw line. For one ticket, children get three marbles, which they try to toss into a cup. Whatever cup their marble lands in denotes whether or not they win a prize, and the type of prize they win.

By Rochelle Strauss