Category: Birthday

Clapping games

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Clapping games have been a popular form of children’s parties for generations. Musical elements, such as melody, rhythm, meter and timbre, abound in children’s play. In some cases, these help to regulate the game but are secondary to its overall goal, such as the rhythmic chanting of counting out, or the song accompanying ball-bouncing or skipping.

In other cases, though, a musical performance is the aim of the game, such as a song and dance routine, or a hand-clapping game. It is this very performance aspect, with its accompanying physical, musical and verbal challenges, which makes such games appealing, and it seems that their popularity has been increasing from the mid-20th century on.

Clapping games are often played in pairs, although formations involving more players also take place. They are generally done on the spot, have a well-defined beginning and end, and emphasise rhythm, beat and coordination. The performers are very focused on their partners, striving to synchronise their movements with each other and with the song that accompanies the game.

‘A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea’ also illustrates the multimodal nature of clapping games, and the many ways in which they combine, for example, words, music, gesture, touch, and gaze.

In the UK ‘A Sailor Went to Sea’ is often one of the first games to be learnt. It can be clapped very simply using a ‘pat-a-cake’ style of clapping in which the thrice-repeated ‘sea, sea, sea’ coincides with three upright-handed claps with a partner (as in a ‘High 10’ gesture). Having mastered this, the challenge can be extended by replacing the patting with a gesture in which the hand taps three times against the player’s own forehead (in the manner of a salute).

Making your own traditions

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Nothing is more adorable than a baby’s first time doing just about anything, and what better occasion to start new traditions than their first birthday?

Unfortunately, with all of the charm and attention being poured into decorations, food, and organising, we often forget to relax and enjoy a few firsts with our little ones. Here are a few fun traditions new and old to help you make this day special for years to come.

The first year of your child’s life has undoubtedly been filled with very sweet and not so sweet stories. One tradition you may consider starting would be to share a few of your favourite stories from the past year. In the beginning, this may just mean you reminiscing with fellow parents, but as your little boy or girl gets older you can share these stories with their friends.

A memory box is a fun memorable way to collect the most sentimental pieces from your children’s parties and safely store them until you’re ready to share the memories. You could collect photos, cards, their first outfit, their special book and anything that brings back memories.

Parents dressing their little ones in the same (or similar) outfits every year for a single photograph has been going on longer than we may realize. Of course we take photos of our children nearly every day with our phones, but having an annual photo of your child wearing the same ensemble or pretty cotton dress is something special. It’s something they can look forward to each year (until their teens) and you can look forward to seeing how much they’ve grown and developed their personality.

This may be the time to have a Photographer take over; they have a knack for capturing those adorable poses.

Remember, the most beautiful moments in your child’s life are the ones they spend with friends and family, and the experiences you share together. So take the time to relive old traditions or create new ones, they make for the best memories.

A ‘girly’ sleepover party

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Girls just love to make things with their friends and that’s when lasting friendships are made. Get creative and make something really fun so your friends can remember your sleepover party for many months to come!

T-shirt painting is always a popular fun kids crafts activity and a great idea for a sleepover. Give them a blank white t-shirt and a bunch of fabric pens and paints, some sparkly bits and pieces to stick on and see what new fashion they can design. They can really let their imagination go wild with fabric painting.

Having a ‘girlie night in’ means only one thing- time to get your nails painted, create hairstyles, have fun putting on each other’s make-up and get all dressed up ready to show off your artistic expression ‘designed by yourself’ new T-Shirt.

Why not make your own Pizza? The kids will really enjoy making the pizza dough and then add lots of great toppings e.g. tomato, ham, pepper, pineapple, pepperoni, olives and lots of cheese. Children love to eat their own homemade dinner.

Every girl loves chocolate so why not melt some chocolate and get the kids cutting up lots of different fruits and dipping them in some scrummy melted chocolate!!

Get cosy, grab your sleeping bags and pillows, get comfy in your pj’s or onesies and settle down in front of the TV to watch a great movie for a little quiet time and don’t forget your popcorn!

A crafty Birthday Party for girls

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Are you looking for an activity for a girls birthday party? How about some cool jewellery making, girls of all ages love designing and making their own fun bracelets, necklaces and keyrings. A great way to get all the family involved too.

Just pick the bead mixes that you fancy and mix and match together. You will be amazed at the results from the children.

You could put out a fun choice of beads in different bowls on your party table for the kids to see, e.g. large wooden multi-coloured beads, alphabet beads, stripy beads, heart beads and lovely heart, star and flower silver charms. The kids will mix and match to their heart’s content. Add some simple knots here and there for an extra funky look. Little tip, give the kids a wooden peg each to put on one end of the cord whilst they are threading on beads so that they don’t drop and lose any.

Elastic work well with kids, they are easy to tie knots in, not like some cords which can be stiff. Fitting bracelets on children’s wrists is also easier with elastic. Make sure they double knot at the end.

Beads are an idea for lots of craft activities, not just for jewellery making:
String up some alphabet beads on cord or ribbon and tie as a tassel on a book spine or as a bookmark.

Decorate a photo frame with mixed colourful beads using PVA glue
Dangle some beads on a split ring for a Key Ring idea
Personalise your PE Kit Bag or Pencil Case by stitching on some alphabet beads

We recommend the following quantities needed for children’s jewellery making:
Bracelet – 0.5m per child
Necklace – 1m per child
Key Rings – 0.5m per child

Most of all it will keep the children happy for hours and of course they will always have a keepsake to remind them of their crafty party.

Have a fun time!

Classic party games for older kids

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Duck, Duck, Goose
This classic kids game is perfect fun for any children’s party. Gather your guests to sit in a circle and let the birthday child begin as the ‘Goose’. They walk around the circle tapping each child on the head, saying ‘duck’ with each tap. When they are ready to choose the next person to be Goose, they say ‘goose’ when tapping that person on the head. That child gets up and chases the birthday child around the circle. If the new Goose does not tag the birthday child before they make it all the way around the circle and sit in the open spot, then the new Goose becomes ‘it’. If the new Goose tags the birthday child, then the birthday child remains ‘it’ for the next round and the game continues.

Musical Chairs or Cushions
Set up chairs or cushions in 2 rows back to back. Put out one less chair/cushion than there are children. Start playing the music and ask the children to walk all around the chairs/cushions until the music stops. When the music stops, the children must each sit on a chair/cushion. The child without a chair/cushion is ‘out’. You might like to have a bowl of sweets to offer to each child that is ‘out’ so they don’t feel too humiliated – but don’t make it so tempting that everybody wants to be ‘out’! Then remove another chair/cushion. If there is ever a tie, don’t spend ages making a decision, just replay that round.

Hot Potato
Sit the kids in a circle and choose one to sit out wearing a blindfold. Begin by passing a potato around the circle, while the ‘blind’ child stands to one side. Everyone must accept the potato, and may not hold it longer than a second. At any point the ‘blind’ child can yell, ‘Hot Potato’, and whoever has the potato is out (Think about using that invaluable bowl of sweets again!) Continue to play until there is only one person left, and they are the winner. A really good variation is to follow the theme of your party. Use an appropriate item to pass around the circle instead of a potato.

Party games for toddlers

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Animals
This is game is fun for small kids who are naturally intrigued by animals and can’t cope with the intricacies of a more complicated game. Have a selection of animal masks or small wild animals– the same number as you have guests. Hold one up, one at a time. Ask all the children to imitate the animal. Continue, changing the animal just as soon as you feel the time is right! At the end of the game, give a mask or animal to each child. This could be a good ‘going’ home game if you’re brave enough not to hand our party bags!

Sleeping Lions
Surprisingly loved by a huge age range, this is a great ‘calming down’ game before handing your guests back to their parents. Ask the children to ‘sleep’ on the floor like a sleeping lion. The moment anybody moves they are ‘out’. In reality, you can ignore the odd twitch and your guests can stay ‘sleeping’ until somebody comes to collect them! You will look marvellously in control and the children will have calmed down into a contented and peaceful state.

Air Balloon
This is more of a time filler than a game with a winner and is enjoyed by everybody because it doesn’t matter how good or bad you are! It’s a good way to start a kids party whilst you are waiting for everybody to arrive. Before the party, insert a small, light-weight gift such as a Stretchy Smiley Men into the opening of a balloon before inflating it. Then, blow air into the balloon and repeat until you have a balloon for each guest. The children have to try keeping the balloon in the air for as long as they can just be using their head. Once given the go ahead they can enjoy bursting the balloon and retrieving their prize!

Pass the Parcel
Before the party wrap a gift into a layer of paper. Now wrap it in another layer and repeat until you have the same number of layers as you do guests. (If you have more than about 15 guests it’s more fun for your guests if you play the game with 2 parcels). Seat everyone in a circle and play some music for a short time. When the music stops, the person holding the parcel removes ONE layer of wrapping. (Have a bin bag ready so you can keep tidy from the start!) Repeat until the last layer of wrapping has been removed. The winner keeps the present.

Knowing your limits

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Any parent knows that children’s parties can be stressful. From who to invite to chasing RSVPs, Here are some of the most common concerns;

Should I invite boys and girls?
The gender divide is a frequent concern, with many parents noticing boys not turning up to their daughter’s parties and vice versa.

Younger kids tend to have friends of both genders, whilst older children will often have a group of friends who are the same gender as them. However, every child is different, so it’s important to discuss with them who they’d like to invite.

Should I invite the whole class?
How do you decide who to invite from your child’s class? Only invite a select few and you run the risk that someone’s feelings will be hurt, invite everyone and your budget can spiral out of control.

Only inviting half the class is fine, as long as you make sure you aren’t just leaving out a couple of children. It’s fairly common for parents not to invite the whole class, especially if their child isn’t close to all of its members.

How much should I spend?
Children’s parties can become expensive, so money is always a pressing concern. Once children reach school age, they’re likely to be invited to their classmate’s parties, which can pile the pressure on to compete.

Hiring out a village hall can be a good bet, as they will generally charge an all-in-one fee for a two to three-hour party, unlike other venues, which will often have additional charges for food etc.

If you’ve got the time, making supplies such as the cake and decorations yourself is a great budgeting trick.

How much should I put in the party bags?
The general consensus is that just a couple of quality items is more than enough, with many parents including a mixture of sweets and small toys, with one or two different items for boys and girls. The focus should be on quality not quantity, as these items will bring more fun for longer.

Throwing a party doesn’t have to be stressful. By following our guide to party etiquette, you can ensure that you sail smoothly through any potential pitfalls. And, if in doubt, talk to other parents – two heads are always better than one.

Different Birthday Party ideas

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Looking for a children’s birthday party with a difference that won’t break the bank? Here’s our roundup of some amazing attractions and venues from across the UK that are sure to provide lots of lovely memories of their big day!

Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Poole, Dorset
£14.95 per family
This lovely farm offers so much fun for little (and big!) animal lovers alike. You’ll get to see live milking demos, pig races, have a go on a bouncy castle and more! Tickets include one child, two adults, food and drink, a tractor ride and full use of the park… which would normally retail at £35 each!

AMF Bowling, Various Locations
From £7.99 per child
What could beat a round of bowling for a fun, competitive and much loved classic kids birthday party? Fab food is all included in the price too!

Go Ape, Various Locations
From £17 per child
Swing, zip, balance and jump your way through the trees on the Tree Top Adventure courses, suspended high above the forest floor. Younger adventurers will love Tree Top Junior, a lower and easier version.

Adventure Wonderland, Christchurch, Dorset
Various Price Packages Available
With over 30 fab rides and attractions, Adventure Wonderland offers lots of fun for everyone! Battle it out on the Battle Boats (be prepared to get wet!), go on the Dragon’s Drop Megaslide or even go see some adorable animals in the Cuddle Corner Farm.

Mattel Play! Albert Dock, Liverpool
£15 per child
With over 13,000 square feet of themed exciting entertainment, including well known characters such as Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder, kids will love exploring this amazing play centre! Yummy party food is included.

The Rainforest Cafe, Piccadilly Circus, London
£15.50 per child
Bringing together the fascinating sights and sounds of the jungle, this fab cafe is the perfect place for a wildlife mad partygoer! See the animals brought to life, experience thunderstorms and, of course, eat lots of super yummy food too!

Go Air Trampoline Park, Ty-glas Avenue, Cardiff
£16 per person
With 60 minutes of pure trampolining fun in their open space, 40 minutes in their dedicated special party room, socks, invites AND food (you’ll get either a choice of Papa John’s pizza or a delicious deli sandwich), Go Air is the place to take your active little ones looking to blow off some steam on their big day!

Funky Monkeys, Cityside, Belfast
From £8 per child
With jungle themed play rooms, an interactive kitchen area, car track with crazy coupe cars and more, Funky Monkeys will not disappoint and is sure to provide lots of fun on your little monkeys big day! There’s a range of party options available to suit all needs, so be sure to check out their website!

Waterworld, Newquay, Cornwall
From £17.99 per person
With a 6 lane 25m pool, tropical fun pool, 2 water flumes, cannons, tippers and a snake fountain, this is the perfect place to host your pool mad little ones party! Prices include unlimited pool use, small buffet package, free return for the birthday child, 50% off future visits for all guests and more!

Sea Life Centre, Great Yarmouth, Norwich
From £10.50 per child
Sea Life is fab for aquatic mad little ones! Price includes entrance to the centre, a dedicated VIP tour by one of the crew, hot meal, free local annual pass for the birthday child, free downloadable invites and more!

Sleepover parties for girls

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Before the party, the party girl and her parents should decide on the role the parents will play. Will they be close at hand, or just nearby in case you need them? Also, decide what siblings will do that evening.

You may want to decide, in advance, on a “code word” in case a situation comes up and the party girl wants her parents to step in and help. If there is a conflict going on or something gets out of hand, the parent can be the “bad guy,” but it also keeps the party girl from looking like they are running to mum & dad for help in front of their friends.

Have a collection of music to listen to, as well as magazines, board games, etc. That way if someone isn’t interested in an activity they don’t have to participate if they don’t want to.
And be flexible, a big part of the fun of this type of girls birthday party is just seeing what happens!

Party Games

Makeup Artist – You’ll need makeup: lipstick, loose powder and blusher. Stay away from things that could injure an eye, such as eye shadow (unless applying with a cotton ball) and no mascara. Divide players into teams. One player is the model, and their teammate is the make up artist. The makeup artist has 2 minutes to put makeup on their model. But must do it blindfolded! The other players who aren’t taking their turn can yell out directions on what to do – “higher, lower, over to the left,” etc.!

Photo Fun – Divide players into teams, with each team using a digital camera or phone camera. Give each team a list of photos to take. Some ideas are: the team pretending to sleep, of the team dancing, of the team doing yoga, etc. Whatever you can think of that will make a crazy photo! Make sure the different players take turns being the photographer so everyone gets a turn to be photographer and models!

Ticking Clock Game – Have players leave the room (or hide their eyes) while you hide an alarm clock in one sleeping bag. At some point in the evening, have the clock set to go off. Tell your guests that the alarm will go off, but don’t tell them when it will go off – that will be a surprise). When the alarm rings, whoever can find the clock first wins!

The best balloon modellers

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One of the most popular forms of children’s party entertainment, as balloons have always been a fascination to both young and old.

Suitable for kids of all ages: skilled balloon modellers will share a laugh with your guests while they whip up a creation from a wide range of designs. They will also happily harmonise their dress and balloon models to the theme of your event.

Balloon modellers have the ability to make any event a success, creating twisted masterpieces such as animals, motorbikes, superheroes, swords and much more. Children are always kept amused and entertained, as they guess what the next creation will be.

Balloon Modellers work everywhere and anywhere from kids private parties, teenagers graduations parties, and kids schools.

Balloon Modellers mingle with the guests, captivating them with bespoke balloon creations; each is a perfect photo-opportunity but also they get to take home a colourful memory of your special day or event.

BALLOON CARICATURES

Why not book a Balloon Caricature Modeller for your sit down dinner. The performer will roam your event or table between meals and make a comedy balloon caricature likenesses of your party guests! This highly unusual caricature act really gets guests chatting to each other, and leaves them amazed and delighted with a totally unusual take-home gift!

BALLOON MODELLING WORKSHOPS

For kids workshops or family fundays, schools and other events, learn how to make flower bracelets, monkeys up trees, penguins, hats and more. Suitable for older children (7+). Designs can be taught in school colours or themes which are great fun and they can supply all materials for the workshops.