Description:
By age three, a party with a theme can be a great idea because children now understand the concept.
Choose a cartoon character or subject theme and carry it through the whole party - from invitations to games to food. Most classic party games can be easily adapted in this way, as can typical party food.
Instead of lots of little favors that are easily lost and broken, consider giving just one, that can be worn by the guests to add to the fun.
Step-by-Step:
Here are two examples of theme parties perfect for this age:
Creepy Crawly Party
Send out invitations in the shape of your child's favorite insect.
Hang paper spiders and ladybugs everywhere.
Take kids on a "bug hunt" by hiding large plastic insects around the house or yard.
For lunch, serve jelly and other types of sandwiches cut into bug shapes.
Instead of a cake, put candles in a pail of "dirt." Crush chocolate wafers, place in a bucket, and add gummy worms coming out of the "earth." Serve up with a shovel.
For favors, give each child a pair of novelty antennae (the kind that bounce around).
Play "Pin the Wings on the Dragonfly" by drawing a dragonfly on a large piece of cardboard and coloring it in. Mount the cardboard to a wall or garage door at a three-year-old's height. Stick a large piece of Velcro on the dragonfly's back. Make a set of wings and secure the corresponding piece of Velcro to the back. Blindfold each child and tell him or her to pin the wings on the correct part of the dragonfly.
Princess Tea Party
Send out invitations that are "royal proclamations" rolled up and secured with ribbon. (Mail in tubes.)
Decorate the house with lots of gold foil and purple decorations.
Take girls on a "jewel" hunt by scattering plastic bangles and necklaces around the house or yard.
For lunch, serve lemonade "tea" in real, inexpensive tea cups, and sandwiches cut into butterfly, teapot, and flower shapes.
Days in advance of the party, take a photo of your child wearing a play tiara or paper crown. Mount the photo on cardboard and place in the center of the cake. The icing should read "Happy Birthday Princess (Your Daughter's Name)."
Play "Princess (Child's Name) Says." Be sure to give each girl a turn to be the princess.
Give favors of tiaras or paper crowns, magic wand "scepters" and other accessories at the beginning of the party, so that the girls feel like princesses from the start!
Materials:
Invitations
Decorations
Food
Cake
Games
Party favor
