You might consider taking this party outside. Cover your patio floor in plastic. Round up as many art easels (the ones from Little Tikes are great) from friends as possible. Put out finger paint. Hang some paper and let the kids loose on creating their special masterpiece. You could also have a few small tables set up with more in-depth crafts for older children with materials such as glue, glitter (yikes!), macaroni, yarn, and foam decorating pieces.

Tips and ideas to make this party a success:

• $ Cover the kids in plastic trash bags. Cut out space for head and arms
• $$ Give each child a white t-shirt. Let them paint ON the shirt and take home as their party favor.
• Ask for extra adult helpers. Usually parents stay depending on age of the children.
• Set up cleaning stations: water & towels.
• $-$$ Have 1 special keepsake item for the kids to decorate that the BIRTHDAY CHILD gets to keep. Ideas include decorating a pillow case (get handprints and names), signing a matte for a picture frame, putting handprints on quilt squares for a loved one to sew together later. The sky’s the limit!
• Party favor ideas: Take home artwork (nearly free!), a bag with 1 watercolor set & paintbrushes, apology note for the paint on their shoes (ha!).
• Order cookies in the shape of art utensils from Cookie Cutter & Co. (Danielle Greene, 835.BAKE) instead of having cake. You are already making a big enough mess!

Birthday Parties for Kids Archive