Tag: best

Birthday parties for preteen lads

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Preteens have outgrown cartoon character parties, but they still want to have a good time with their friends doing something age appropriate. Options for boys are varied, depending on your son’s interests and your budget, so plan the party with him and let him make decisions as well. It will be fun for both of you and make him feel older and more included.

Camping

Put up a couple of tents in the garden and have a camping party for your son and some of his friends. Give the boys some torches, snacks, sleeping bags and pillows for an outdoor party they will love. They can tell scary stories, and tell secrets while hanging around with nature. Give them some old-fashioned fun games such as board games to play, and if you’re feeling brave light a campfire for the boys to sit and roast marshmallows around. Birthday cake can be served on a picnic table or inside the house before the boys head to the campsite

Sports Party

There are several options for a sports-themed party. Take kids to a gym or local sports centre and let them hold a basketball game. Buy cheap seats for a local sports event and let kids eat hotdogs and watch a live game. Check and see what’s available in your area for a sports-minded kid, and plan a party around that. Preteen boys with lots of energy may even enjoy indoor rock climbing or rollerblading.

Video Game Party

Get boys involved in playing some games for lots of birthday fun. Connect game systems in your living room if you have them, and let boys have an all day gaming tournament. If that isn’t possible, head to an arcade with the boys and load everyone up on pound coins. Order pizza or snacks and have birthday cake there at the arcade. If the party is at home, have every guest bring a favourite video game to share with the other partygoers.

Bowling

A bowling party is appropriate for everyone. Plan a birthday party at your local bowling alley. Many bowling alleys can rent you a table for a few hours so you can have your cake and open presents before you play the lanes. Some bowling alleys even offer arcade games so boys can play in between hitting the pins. Parents may even want to get in on the act. It’s a good activity to keep everyone moving and engaged. Offer a silly prize for the winning team.

Party games for the whole family

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When planning a children’s party or get together, be sure to include several games to keep partygoers entertained throughout the party. Play fun games that include all the family and of course the kids which keeps everyone involved in the party. Award prizes to the winners of each game to keep everyone ready for the next game.

Egg Relay Race

Divide players into parent/kid teams of two, and have several eggs and spoons ready. Play this game outside, as it can get messy. Make a start line and another line about 25 feet apart. Have all parents stand at the starting line and all kids stand at the other line. Give each parent a spoon and an egg.

The parents race to their children with the eggs on the spoons. Participants can’t use their hands to hold the eggs on spoons. If an egg is dropped, the parent must go back to the starting line and begin again. Once a parent’s reaches his child, the child will take the egg and spoon, and race back to the starting line. The first child that makes it back across the starting line wins the game.

Water Balloons

Make several water balloons before the party starts and sit them in a bucket. Have all players get into parent/kid teams of two. Give each team one water balloon and have them stand about 5 feet apart, facing each other. Each player attempts to throw the water balloon to her partner. If the partner drops the balloon, that team is out of the game. For all teams that catch the balloon, they must take a giant step back and toss the balloon again. The team who can catch the water balloon from the furthest point away from one another wins the game.

The Mummy Game

Each child should pair up with one of his parents before the game starts. Give each team two rolls of toilet paper. Each parent uses the rolls of toilet paper to cover the child. Set a time limit of five minutes and when time is up, the child who is the most covered with toilet paper wins the game.

Marshmallow Tower

Divide all players into parent/child pairs and have them sit around a table. Give each team about 20 toothpicks and a bowl of mini marshmallows. The teams have 10 minutes to create the tallest marshmallow tower using the marshmallows and toothpicks. After 10 minutes, the team with the largest tower wins. You can also award prizes for the most creative and most disastrous towers.

Free family days out

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The Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow

Inside this gallery and museum there are many collections to inspire and educate the kids. Spread out over 22 themed galleries with over 8,000 objects, you will see fine art, natural history and world cultures. .

Library of Birmingham

This modern library, located in Centenary Square, has 10 floors with over 400,000 books just waiting to be explored, as well as a studio theatre and gardens… perfect for your little bookworms! Outside you’ll find the Amphitheatre, two outdoor terraces, children’s spaces and a panoramic viewing gallery. .

National Railway Museum, Yorkshire

With a collection of over a million objects, covering over 200 years of history, you and your family will be spoilt for choice! You’ll get to see giant halls full of engines and railway legends and kids can let off steam in the outdoor play area. You’ll also get to enjoy lively science shows, take a ride on the miniature railway or learn through the interactive exhibits! .

House of Marbles; Bovey Tracey, Devon

This working glass and games factory is open for people to visit. You can see some lass being made, or visit the games museum where you can see games from years gone by. On dry days you can also go outdoors and play skittles, chess, giant Jericho or even marbles in the Games Garden. .

Blakemere Village, Northwich, Cheshire

There are over 30 shops to be discovered here as well as plenty of activities for adults and children alike. The Barnaby’s Play Barn is a play area where the kids can let off some steam, with a separate area for the under 3s, and there are craft activities that all the family can join in.

Riverwatch Aquariums, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

If you’re little one is aquatic mad, this is the perfect day out! There are many different displays, including The Louch, a Rockpool, Deep Sea and Freshwater Environment. You’ll see aquatic animals such as starfish, lobster, crabs, eels, rays and some wonderful native species. .

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall, Wales

Pistyll Rhaeadr is an enchanting waterfall in the Berwyn Mountains, just inside Wales. It is the highest waterfall in the UK as the water plummets 240ft from top to bottom. With many visitors returning again and again it is one of the most loved pieces of nature you could set your eyes on. It is sure to give you and your family a peaceful and tranquil day out. .

Corris Craft Centre, Machnlleth

Bring your little budding artists along to paint some pottery, dip candles, craft herbals or even make a unique bar of chocolate! For the kids there’s a small children’s play area so they can let off some steam, plus there’s a treasure hunt that they can follow around the centre. You can also see a variety of designers making their crafts in their studios! .

 

Party ideas for 2yr olds

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At the age of 2, little girls are walking, talking and steadily developing their own personalities. When planning a party for 2-year-olds, keep their interests and cognitive abilities in mind. For example, while it would be appropriate to plan a girls birthday party around her favourite Cbeebies character.
Many little girls are into princesses, so consider throwing a fun princess party for the 2-year-old girl in your life. Ask the guests to dress in princess costumes or have costumes on hand for them to change into when they arrive. You could also give each girl a tiara as she arrives at the party. Play games with a princess theme, such as Pin the Tiara on the Princess, serve a cake shaped like a princess’s tiara and screen a movie that has a princess as a main character. The little girls will enjoy feeling like they are princesses for a day.
Bouncy Castle Party
Although some people might think that little girls are delicate, they still like to play. Consider throwing a bouncy castle party for the 2-year-old in your life. Hire bouncy castles from a local party supplier. The little girls will be able to jump on the castle all afternoon and have fun being active.
Water and Sand
When you are throwing a birthday party for a 2-year-old girl in the summertime, consider planning it outdoors to take advantage of the warm weather. Purchase several children’s pools and set them up in your garden. Fill several pools with water and some with sand. Ask the party guests to dress in their bathing suits and let them play in the sand and water. Place some water toys in the pools, such as floating ducks, and some buckets and spades in the sand pools. The children can move back and forth between the water and sand to feel like they are spending a day at the beach.
Arts and Crafts
Many little girls enjoy creating things, so consider throwing an arts and crafts party for the 2-year-old girl. Plan a few arts and crafts activities that all the little girls will be able to handle. For example, pass out small terracotta pots and let the girls paint them with designs of their choice. Once the pots are dry, help them plant flowers in their pots. You could also give each little girl a T-shirt and help her decorate the shirt with paints, beads, sequins and other embellishments. Fun for all the family to enjoy.

 

Fun party for a 10-year-old boy

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Boys around the age of 10 are sometimes difficult to entertain because they are no longer “little kids” and they aren’t yet teenagers either. If you want to throw a fun birthday party for a 10-year-old boy, plan some children’s activities that are suitable to this age group. By engaging the kids who come to the party, you will make the experience fun for everyone, including the birthday boy.

Mummy Race

This game works especially well for children’s birthday parties that fall close to Halloween. Divide your partygoers into groups of two to four people. Give each group a few rolls of toilet paper. Instruct the teams to choose one person to be the “mummy.” When you give the signal to begin, the teams race to see which can wrap its mummy from head to toe within a certain time limit. Give the groups three to five minutes to wrap their mummies. When the time is up, let the birthday boy choose which team’s mummy is most thoroughly wrapped.

Gummy Worm Bobbing

This game offers a chilly twist on the traditional bobbing-for-apples activity. Fill a metal tub or similar container with water and ice. Sprinkle in a pack of gummy worms. Have the boys take turns sticking their heads into the icy water to grab a gummy worm with their mouths. Make sure the water isn’t too deep, since the gummy worms will sink to the bottom of the container. You can turn this into a competition by giving each player 30 seconds to see how many worms he can retrieve. The player who gets the most worms wins.

Backwards Relay

This activity gives your partygoers a chance to race each other in a non-typical relay game. Set up two obstacle courses before the game. Draw a starting line on the ground with spray paint. Place cones in a line extending from the starting point, being sure to leave about three feet of space between the cones. Use at least 10 cones for each line.

Divide the kids into two teams. Explain to the teams that each runner must race through the cones, alternating in and out of the cones in a zigzag fashion, until he reaches the last cone. When he circles the last cone, he must go back through the cones in the same manner until he comes back to the starting line. Upon crossing the starting line at the end of the course, he tags the next person in line to go. The catch is that everyone must complete the course by running or walking backward. If a cone is knocked over, the person must start over. The first team who moves all of its players through the course successfully, wins.

 

Birthday Parties for tweens

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Birthday parties are fun at any age, but selecting a theme for a tween can present an interesting challenge. Children this age are no longer interested in “little kid” stuff, and yet they still might enjoy some young activities like going to the zoo and watching cartoons. Planning a birthday party for a tween should include age-appropriate things that are enjoyable and fun to do.

Mall Scavenger Hunt

For a girl’s party, choose activities that you know she and her friends would enjoy. For example, you can set up a scavenger hunt at a local mall. Some items to include on the hunt list might be a picture of a woman in red heels, a receipt for one pound and a stranger’s autograph. Make sure each team has an adult supervisor as a safety precaution. Top off the girls’ day with a jewelry-making party, where the girls can put themselves in custom-made necklaces and bracelets.

 

Sports Parties

If your child likes to play sports, consider centering the theme around a favoured sport. You can take the group to a party at a local sports centre. There, your child and friends will be able to play basketball, tennis and other indoor sports. Some sports centres also include a pool. Another sports theme involves taking your tween and a friend to watch their favourite team play. These fun sporty children activities sure to be something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

 

Sleepover Parties

Having friends sleep over is a fun way to spend a birthday, and you can help make the night extra special by selecting activities that you know your child is going to love. Make it a movie night by renting films. For snacks, order pizza, or cheeseburgers and hot dogs. You could also make a sundae bar for the kids to dress up their ice cream treats with a variety of sauces, sprinkles and other toppings. Other activities may include board games and rounds of karaoke.

 

Roller disco Parties

Roller disco parties can accommodate both large and small groups. Many rinks offer special birthday party packages that include group discounts for pizza, drinks and skate rental. Many skating birthday parties also feature games on skates, like a limbo contest and a variation of musical chairs in which participants must skate to a particular area of the rink when the music stops playing. For those who do not like to skate, many rinks also have an arcade. These parties allow your birthday kid to skate and socialize with friends in a fun and safe environment.

 

5 yr old party ideas

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Around the age of 5-6 is when kids start to reveal their true personalities. They absorb so much information, are super opinionated and they know what they want. It’s usually the year they transition into Reception and go from being a “baby” to a little person with attitude. When it’s time to celebrate their birthday, now is when you can include them in the party plans to make their birthday party one they will talk about for years.
Pizza Party

 

Celebrate the birthday at school by offering to bring in pizza for your child’s classroom. Replacing ham and cheese sandwiches with pizza will make you the superhero of the day, and your child will enjoy the excitement of having you appear for lunch. Bring balloons and a cake to accompany your special visit. Use this in-class party to kick start the birthday bash over the weekend

Pyjama parties

 

Pyjama parties at this age are full of energy and fun and you’re likely to be worn out after a night of rambunctious 6-year-olds. Invite a few friends from your child’s class over for a sleepover. Set up plenty of arts and crafts activities for the kids to move from station to station as they are likely to bore easily. Use one station for colouring and creating, another for watching a show or movie and another for something active like pavement chalk writing, blowing bubbles or making water balloons.
Museum Madness
Explore a museum for an afternoon children’s entertainment. Book one of your local museum’s kids’ party packages to allow the kids to play and learn about the exhibits. Most museums that are equipped for children’s parties and entertainment and also include an activity room where the kids can draw, color or paint and may include a storyteller to discuss some of the cool displays in detail. Since these are the growing stages of the inquisitive years, this is a great opportunity for the kids to ask questions about what they are shown to get a better understanding of what makes things work.
Talent Show
Host a talent show for the kids to showcase their favourite talents. No matter if it’s singing, dancing or creating a masterpiece, allow each kid a chance in the spotlight. End your talent portion by bringing out the ice cream and cake and allow everyone to salute the birthday boy or girl before the party ends.

 

Birthday Party Ideas Aged 10

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As your child grows older, kids birthday ideas also need change. At the age of 10, your child has their own ideas and preferences which you need to be sensitive about and incorporate. The child may want to have a more sophisticated and less kiddy party than what he or she has had in the past. Be supportive of their ideas and offer guidance. Here are some tips for 10 year old birthday party ideas.

1. Choose the Right Location

Location is important and you need to find a location that is not only fun, but highlights the child’s personality as well. While your home is a good location, your 10 year old might want to have a different children’s party venue. The local cinema, park, café and tea house are just some of the locations you can consider. If you have a bigger budget, the zoo, skating rink and miniature golf facility are all good locations. Find out what your child wants and choose a fitting location.

Prepare Food and Birthday Cake

10 year olds are at an age when they are craving for independence and they might have their own food ideas. The party can be turned into a fun activity where the kids make their own pizzas and decorate their own cupcakes with different toppings. You can also bake cakes and have the kids involved in cutting out the shapes. Make sure that the snacks are healthy and always ask the parents about allergies.

1. Artist’s Party

If your child is interested in art, you can plan for an art themed children’s party. Have the kids create individual projects or come up with a group project. When creating the invitation, make sure that you highlight that the theme so your guests will be appropriately dressed.

Game: Pictionary is a good game which allows the kids to show off their artistic side. You can arrange the kids into groups and play artful charades.

2. Dress Up Party

Kids are always mimicking adults and characters so a dress up party is a fantastic children’s birthday party theme. These are still kids so make the party simple. You can also have the kids come to the party as different characters. This way you have less of a headache planning for foods that you can serve. Coming up with a theme makes it easier for the other mums to pick appropriate outfits for their young ones.

Game: You can come up with a game where the kids can come up  plays based on the theme of the party.

3. Movie Night

Movie night is a good idea for a birthday party. Kids this age are feeling more grown up and want to have a less childish party. Make sure that the movie is age appropriate and you can ask the child to pick the movie. Also include the movie in your invitation so the parents are aware. During the party, serve junior mints and popcorn.

Game: Movie Trivial Pursuit is a good game and you can divide the kids into two teams. Keep the game simple and select current movies as well.

4. Silly Science

If your kid is into science, you can have a science themed party. The party still needs to be cool and fun since children can get bored easily. You can come up with a chemistry theme and serve foods such as test tube sweets, Oreo molecules, smoky cupcakes, an exploding desert fountain and much more.

Game: Science Facts. Divide the kids into two groups and quiz them about fun science facts. You can also make the party more exciting by allowing the kids to wear lab coats and experiment.

 

Shopping with kids

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If Mums and Dads in need of a little retail therapy, here are some fab shopping centres that cater for the kids..

KidZania London; Westfield, London

Have your kids ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter, or the next award-winning singer? Kidzania is a child-size city inside the shopping centre! With over 60 real life role-play children’s activities in the bank, on stage or fighting crime on the streets as a police officer! KidZania is a real life role play experience for 4-14 year olds, blending learning and reality with entertainment.

Bluewater; Greenhithe, Kent

With various play areas to choose from; Bluewater is the perfect hangout for you, your friends and your family whilst letting your little monsters have some serious fun! Check out the Pirate Cove Adventure Park with caves, cascading waterfalls, pedalos and two 18-hole adventure golf courses! Children and parents alike can enjoy these outdoor spaces complete with sandpits, climbing equipment and picnic areas!

Bullring Shopping Centre; Birmingham

Teenie Weenies at the Bullring offer two dedicated multi-tiered soft play areas, allowing children to play in a fun exciting environment! For the older kids why not check out the The Junior Frame. With kids activities designed to stimulate and challenge children including; a spider’s web, ball pits, zip wires, rope bridges, and a variety of slides. For the little ones the Toddlers Frame provides younger children the chance to play and have fun with Mum and Dad.

Intu Trafford Centre; Manchester

Approximately five miles west of Manchester city centre, the Trafford Centre is hard to miss! Here the soft play area is designed for kids under 10, and includes a huge ball pool, slides, climbing nets, tube crawls, rope swings etc. For children under 6 there is the Little Tikes play area. Not enough? Then how about the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, SEA LIFE and Paradise Island Adventure Golf. Plus the ODEON cinema shows a range of family films and host ODEON Kids film screenings on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

 

School Lunchbox Ideas

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If there’s one area that is frequently discussed among parents and teachers but has no clear solution in place, it is the topic of school lunch boxes and children’s food.  Many believe that poor quality lunches are a big part of the growing obesity epidemic and some schools are taking dramatic steps to deal with the problems.  Others believe that parents need to be better informed about what they should give their kids for lunch.  So what are the rules and ideas to make for a better, healthier lunch

Educating parents

Others take the view that the solution isn’t about banning or confiscating foods but educating parents on what constitutes a healthy lunchbox and what they should include in it to give their kids the best meal.

In the US, there is also a big move towards giving parents the information to create healthy lunches.  This can include elements such as baking batches of food to freeze such as whole grain muffins or breads as well as healthier cookies.  A big emphasis is placed on what the food looks like because tasty looking food is more likely to be eaten by the kids – hence the reason that sugary foods are always popular.

Filling a box with veggies sticks and a little amount of a yoghurt dip or hummus are ideas discussed along with healthy crackers with toppings, fruit smoothies and sandwiches made with pitta bread rather than normal white bead.  Even leftovers such as grilled chicken breasts cut into sticks or nuggets and served with a dip are easy to make options.

Why it matters

While the growing concerns about childhood obesity are at the centre of these concerns, there are other reasons why a good, healthy school lunch is a benefit to kids. For starters, eating the right foods can boost the metabolism, making the children feel more energetic and increasing their concentration.  This leads to better results in class and to have more fun.

By making all children eat school lunches, there can be a stop to the problem of some kids feeling left out when eating a school meal versus a ‘fun looking’ lunchbox filled with poor nutritional foods.  Let’s face it, kids love what isn’t good for them and if they see their friends eating fun, sugary foods, they don’t want to eat their own healthy lunch.

Whether banning, confiscating or educating is the way forward, it is clear that a plan needs to be in place to help our kids have a fun, healthy lunch that sets them up well for the rest of the day.