Tag: ideas

Time for something different

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Children’s Birthday Parties can be a really fun and exciting time. Kids go wild at the thought of kid’s party entertainers being there and when the time comes to plan your own children’s party entertainment, you’ll probably find your child wants the same entertainer to come along to their party too. But parents often get to a point where they have seen so many kids party entertainers and wouldn’t mind a change. Loads of kids in the class have had the same type of children’s party entertainment or the same entertainer and it’s sometimes nice to spice things up a bit!

The problem is of course – what other options are out there? When you think children’s magicians or kids party entertainers, you often think of a silly man or woman in an outfit doing magic, games, dancing, balloons, etc. This is a classic formula for children’s birthday parties and it works very, very well indeed so you definitely shouldn’t necessarily overlook this. For years’ children’s birthday parties have consisted of this and kids still love it today. These are probably the most popular mix of activities for a children’s birthday party so if you haven’t tried that already then that’s probably a good bet to go for as the variety of the activities makes it a hugely fun and safe option.

But nowadays there is a lot of other choice available and if you’ve already seen lots of kid’s party entertainers doing this mix of activities already it might be nice to try something new.

Science Parties are becoming bigger and bigger at the moment. Think science is boring? Think again! Science parties are barrels of fun! They use really engaging science experiments and demonstrations that are absolutely visually stunning and get the kids involved and are a great way to give kids a brand new and exciting experience. Science Parties are becoming increasingly popular as a form of children’s party entertainment and they tend to be suitable for any age from about 4 all the way to teens. The kids get to see loads of amazing and visually stunning science demonstrations as well as trying out their own super cool science party experiments, where they learn just how much fun science can be!

Bubble parties are another great idea for children’s birthday parties. Ever seen a kids get wrapped inside a giant bubble? Kids love it! Why not give it a try?

Other great options are activity parties, drama, clowns, discos, the fact is that when it comes to kid’s party entertainers or children’s party entertainment, the sky’s the limit.

Of course you do have to think about budget. Often going bigger with kid’s parties will mean costing more. But then if you’re on a tighter budget, you needn’t be limited by choice. There are lots of themed parties that you could go for that can help inject fun and creativity into children’s birthday parties. Why not try a cool spy party or an around the world party where you play games that are linked to the theme?

One other helpful tip is to not get too carried away with organising your little one’s special day. It is easily done with all the exciting choices out there. So do remember to talk through what your child wants and that what you are organising is what they’d like to have and not what you think they’d like to have or what you rather like the sound of. After all it is their day and they may still be happy with the original mix of activities that they have seen before.

 

Joint Birthday Parties

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Admittedly, children’s entertainers and children’s magicians can be quite pricy, and that’s only half the cost. With the credit crunch still looming, a great way to save money can be to have a joint children’s birthday party with another parent. That way you don’t lose out on the fun of having a children’s entertainer at half the cost. Aside from the cost benefits, you can also share the organisation and work load that goes with planning a children’s birthday party. That said, does sharing a children’s birthday party with another parent create a headache in itself?

Common problems can be found amongst parents trying to jointly organise kid’s birthday parties, like not being able to decide on what type of party to have. Children’s party entertainers alone can be a tricky thing to decide on. Do you have a themed children’s party or children’s magician, clown, etc.? Kids party entertainers can be one of the trickiest things to decide on when having to liaise with another parent. As your child might want something entirely different to what the other parent’s child wants.

Additionally, many parents can find that they have to compromise more than they bargained for, or workload is not shared out equally, and then after having spent a great deal of time and effort organising most of the children’s birthday party, the parent they’re sharing it with isn’t entirely happy with what has been arranged and in the end you’re left wondering if it would have been better to spend a bit extra and be left to organise your own children’s birthday party.

If you’re planning on sharing a children’s birthday party with another parent, it’s best to do it with someone who has the same ideas as you and who is in the same class as your child so the numbers of children don’t instantly double, otherwise your costs go up and you’re saving is far less.

When organising kid’s birthday parties together, the key thing is to have a clear idea of what you both want right from the start. Have a budget set and decide who is going to do what. Look at different types of children’s party entertainment packages that are on offer.

You’ll also need to figure out who you’re inviting to the party, will it be at home or in a hall, who will organise the food, or if you’re sharing it who will do what. Once you’ve set a clear outline for what you’re going to have and who will do what, that should help prevent there being disagreements along the way.

It can be a great thing for kid’s birthday parties to be organised together. The initial liaising with another parent can definitely be worth the saving, as kid’s birthday parties are not always cheap. Kids party entertainers alone are usually a large part of the cost, so halving that cost can be very helpful. If the workload is shared equally that helps a great deal too. You might also find you can benefit from the expertise of another parent who has organised kid’s parties before. Just make sure you both know if you want similar things before you get too far down the planning stage.

 

Shiver me timbers!!!

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Shiver me timbers! Ahoy ye hearties and avast thy chase for a booty of pirate party ideas are right here on this site which marks the X. For all sea dog pirates who are searching for party idea treasures for their young swashbuckler, look no further. For here lies the Pirate Party Ideas shared by families from around the world!

Are you ready to transform your home into a family fun Caribbean port and your garden into a pirate ship? Pirate parties only come once in a lifetime and you want to make it one that your little pirate.

Here’s a children’s party theme they will remember forever.

 

Invitations.

Pirate party invitations can be a treasure map, a treasure chest, or a Jolly Roger flag with a skull and crossbones.  Just be sure to make them really special by using a fancy font, or calligraphy.  Be sure to give the start time, end time, date and location of your pirate adventure.

 

Decorations

Set the mood for your party with great decorations like a Jolly Roger flag flying on a ship’s mast, some old wooden signs pointing to the Caribbean or a banner over the drive saying “landlubber beware”.  Cover the party table in black or red and accent with streamers, balloons and confetti.    If you’re really ambitious you can create a pirate ship out of some large appliance boxes for a special play area just for the party

 

Pirate Games.

What pirate party is complete without some pirate games like a treasure hunt?  Games like walk the plank, pin the eyepatch on the pirate, or a cannonball toss, add excitement to the party and provide a time for everyone to interact

 

Costumes.

A pirate party for kids just isn’t the same without all the pirates dressed in their buccaneer outfits.  Being shipwrecked and marooned at the party really requires the right outfit and the magic of pirate costumes makes the party special.

 

Snacks and Drinks

Don’t forget snacks and drinks for all of your buccaneer guests.   Certainly snacks and drinks that prevent scurvy are always top of the list, but sometimes it’s best to incorporate some healthy vegetable snacks while providing a pirate dip.

 

Have fun!!!

 

Pretty fairy parties

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So your daughter is living in a fairyland of sorts and is ready to grow wings and take a magical flight?

Get ready to start sprinkling the pixie dust because it’s bound to help get this girls birthday party ready.

Are you ready to transform your home into a fairy house and your garden into a family fun fairyland?  You could welcome your guests into a land full of flowers, colourful toadstools, butterflies and fairy decorations?  Little girls Fairy parties only come once in a lifetime and you want to make it one that your little beautiful fairy will remember forever.

 

Invitations.

Fairy party invitations can be fairy flowers, cards, or even a Fairy puzzle.  Make them super exciting with some hints on what to expect and include whether costumes are being worn.  Be sure to give the start time, end time, date and location of the Fairy Party.

 

Decorations.

Set the mood for your party with great decorations like Fairy posters, music, and character party supplies.  Cover the party table in blue, purple and other Fairy colours accented with streamers, balloons and confetti.

 

Party Games.

Fairies always love to decorate wings and wands.  Follow-up with photos of each child with the main character.

 

What Fairy party is complete without a Fairy party scavenger hunt and Fairy party games.  Games like Fairy Freeze Dance, Pass the Wand and Pin the Wing on the Fairy. Games add excitement to the party and provide fun for all the family to interact.

 

Costumes.

A Fairy party just isn’t the same without all the Fairies and Pixies dressed in their wings, flowers and wands.

 

Snacks and Drinks.

Don’t forget snacks and drinks for all of your Fairy friends.  Certainly snacks and drinks with Fairy names are always top of the list.  But sometimes it’s best to incorporate some healthy vegetable snacks.

 

The cake.

If you are a keen baker then making a fairy cake will be easy, lots of pink icing and everything that’s pretty, even a beautiful fairy on the top waving her wand to spell out your little princess’s name.  However, if you aren’t too clever in the baking way there are loads of suitable fairy birthday cakes to choose from in the local supermarkets.

 

Ship Ahoy!!

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Ahoy there! Are you and your little ones wanting to take to the seas for a splashing good time? Look no further! Here’s a selection of boat trips across the UK for your budding little pirates!

Circular Cruise, London

Hop onboard and marvel at some of the capital’s amazing landmarks! With a live audio commentary along the way, you’re sure to learn some fascinating facts too! You’ll cruise along the River Thames, hop on at either Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier or St Katharine’s Pier.

Thames River Services, London

Take the family on a fantastic return cruise to and from many piers located on the River Thames. Some of the fantastic landmarks you are likely to see include Cutty Sark, The O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, The London Eye, Big Ben, The Shard and plenty more! Each landmark is truly beautiful and has a unique historical story to tell.

City Cruises, London

Enjoy a fabulous all-day hop on, hop off cruise along the River Thames London offering you unlimited access to the majestic River Thames for 24 hours. You have the freedom to hop off and enjoy some sites and then hop back on at a time convenient to you to continue your cruise, making this is a fantastic family day out to see some of the Capital’s most iconic sites and learn a little bit of history too!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire

There’s so much to see and do at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with indoor and outdoor activities suitable for the whole family. Learn about the Royal Navy as it is today and get an insight into what the future holds. Step on board historic ships that changed the world such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Don’t miss the new‐look Mary Rose museum, which gives insight into Tudor life!.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool

Come and see the Fighting Ships, what life was like on board HMS Trincomalee and so much more at this authentically-created historic quayside of the 1800s! Young pirates and sailors can jump aboard the children’s activities like the play ship for their own seafaring adventures and explore the Children’s Maritime Adventure Centre!

Windermere Lake Cruise

Come and take a cruise on England’s largest lake! Lasting from between 45 minutes to 3 hours, these trips are sure to please everyone in the family! Enjoy trips all around the lake with a Freedom of the Lake ticket, or join one of the evening cruises where kids get to watch the sunset, you can even get a ticket which combines some of the attractions around the lake.

Get some sneaky exercise in with the kids

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Now that spring has made an appearance, it is the perfect time to start making the most of the sunshine to enjoy a bit of fresh air, getting some exercise outdoors. If you’re looking for ways to get your little ones active, as well as cram in a little cardio yourself, have a go at some of the following ideas!

1. Make Household Chores Fun

Whilst it’s easy for the kids to dismiss chores as boring, why not try and turn them into a fun game to get them moving? Challenging them to see how many toys they can put away in a minute might be all it takes to get them running around the house!

2. Sneak in More Steps

This one is a super easy way to make sure you’re moving as much as possible. There’s lots of ways to sneak in some more steps, from parking the car a few roads away, taking the stairs instead of the lift and more.

3. Take a Daily Walk With Kids

Taking a walk everyday is a great way to get your little ones into an exercise routine, which can be both active and educational. See if you can get them naming what wildlife and flowers they can spot on their travels! It doesn’t have to be far, as there’s sure to be something interesting at every corner.

4. Music Motivation

If you’re looking for a way to get your little ones active and ready for school in record time, why not throw on an upbeat playlist that they love and see if they can get ready before the songs are over. Shameless dancing around the kitchen is optional.

5. Gardening with Kids

Prepping the garden for spring and summer is the perfect (yet deceiving) way to get your little ones eager to move. Get them weeding, plant potting and watering flowers to give them some TV free time.

6. Weekly Sports Night

This one is great for getting the family together and being active. Whether its football in the park, bike riding or going for a swim, there’s lots of options available to keep things interesting each week!

Family days out for £25

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Boscombe Coastal Activity Park – Bournemouth, Dorset

FREE ENTRY

Stroll down Boscombe Beach and you will be able to enjoy a whole host of coastal activities including free swing ball, table tennis, bouldering and don’t forget to check out the music trail on the pier!9. Wellsfield Farm Park, Falkirk

Family: £22, Adult: £5.5, Child (under 16): £6.5

This family run farm park has plenty to keep the little ones happy.  There’s acres of green space to explore, trails to follow, an adventure play area and so much more. Race around the go-kart track, have a ride on a pony, go pond dipping or try your luck at panning for gold! If you want something a bit more active there’s a climbing wall, agility poles, monkey bars, scramble net, balance beams and a zip wire.

Hoar Park Farm, Nuneaton

Family: £11, Adult: £3, Child: £2.50, Under 2: Free

At Hoar Park farm you can meet a whole bunch of different animals such as goats, chickens, geese, ponies, donkeys, pigs, deer, cows, guinea pigs, rabbits and even a tarantula called Rosie, who you can touch! There’s also a playground where your little ones can run around and keep themselves busy for an hour or two.

Ludlow Castle, Shropshire

Family: £13.50, Adult: £5, Child: £2.50, Under 6: Free

Explore this medieval ruin and your little ones can play at being princes and princesses for the day! They often have loads of special events on from kids workshops to food festivals and on Monday the 29th of August they’ve got a family entertainment spectacular taking place. Watch the knights battle for the Heritage Cup, listen to the Jester’s jokes and listen to exciting talks about medieval weaponry. Please note that prices are higher for this event – £20 for a family ticket.

Alice Holt Forest, Surrey

FREE ENTRY (Parking Charges Apply)

For a day of exploration and activity outdoors take the family to Alice Holt Forest where you can walk, cycle, play or have a picnic. The kids can discover the play area where there’s a pirate ship to climb and explore, a nest swing and even a 3D maze! Entrance is free for all the only cost is parking, which starts at £1.80 for 1 hour, up to £8 for 4+ hours.

Fancy’s Family Farm – Portland, Dorset

FREE ENTRY

Fancy’s Farm has loads of animals and critters that you won’t see at any regular farm! Including slow worms, lizards and even wallabies! Kids will love meeting all the different animals, especially Dinky the Miniature Horse!

The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester

Family: £19.99, Adult: £6.50, Children: £4.50, Under 3: Free

At the Teddy Bear Museum the kids will love meeting the whole family of human-sized teddy bears! You’ll also get the chance to see a whole collection of vintage, famous and iconic bears throughout the ages – an unmissable day out for kids and grown-ups alike. Afterwards, you can pop into the shop and pick up your very own teddy bear friend to take home.

The Clink Prison, London

Family £18, Adult: £7.50, Child: £5.50

This museum is built on the original site of a medieval prison. The kids will love the hands on educational experience where you are able to handle original artefacts including torture devices. You will also hear lots of amazing stories about the prison’s past, the inmates and the notorious South Bank.

Tropical World, Leeds

Adult: £6, Child (5-15): £3, Under 5: Free

For an exotic experience take the family day out to Tropical World in Leeds where there’s the largest collection of tropical plants in the UK outside of Kew Gardens. There are different areas ready for you to explore such as Tropical Island, Desert House, South American House, Butterfly House and Tropical World Tour. As you walk around try to spot the meerkats, terrapins, leaf cutter ants and tropical birds.

 

Explore Bristol with kids

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There’s plenty to keep young kids occupied in Bristol, from At-Bristol to SS Great Britain. Here are some of the best ways to keep your children and teens entertained when visiting the city…

Banksy art, Bristol

But there’s a lot more to Bristol than Banksy. Starting from City Hall and going through the city centre to Stokes Croft you can learn about the techniques used, artist backgrounds and the meaning behind some of the pieces.

Bristol street art

Depending on your point of view, our final destination, Stokes Croft, is either full of drug dens and brothels, bohemian and edgy or gentrified and expensive to live in. Whatever your thoughts there’s definitely lots of street art to see.

St Nicholas Market

Leaving street art tour head back to the city centre via the indoor St Nicholas Market. The market has the usual clothing and knick-knack stalls but what sets it apart are the food outlets. With options from all over the world it wouldn’t look out of place in Borough Market.

Cabot tower

Built in the 1890s to commemorate the journey of John Cabot from Bristol to Canada the tower is free to visit. There’s a 360 degree panoramic view from the top although getting there may involve a squeeze. The spiral stairs are pretty narrow and things get interesting when you meet someone coming the opposite direction!

Giant’s cave, Clifton Observatory

Clifton Observatory is home to two attractions, a Camera Obscura and Giant’s Cave.  There is a touch of make believe about the tale, the steps lead out onto a platform with an impressive view of the gorge and bridge.

Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

On the far side there’s a small visitor centre. Kids can play with a weighing machine that tells you how many of yourself can stand on the bridge without it collapsing. Quite a few fortunately!

Eating out

One of the great treats on a city break is eating out.

Under the stars

A floating tapas boat moored at the Harbourside. Lots of tasty veggie options, reasonable size portions and a quirky venue.

Urban Tandoor

An Indian restaurant with great service in a small (and dark) venue so book in advance.

Swoon gelato

An ice cream treat for the kids with lots of different flavours to choose from. Very tasty.

Don’t lose sleep

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Children’s party organisation is something that many parents lose sleep over. Where do you find something that will keep your kids busy and engaged for the whole duration of the party, and something that they haven’t already seen before? It’s a challenge most parents would gladly forgo, so Kiddy Zone is here to help. We have access to an eclectic mix of party games, party entertainers and a fund of children’s birthday party ideas that are new and different.

It’s quite challenging thinking up every year of something ‘special’ and different for the right reasons for your child’s/teenagers birthday this is why Kiddy Zone hold the key to taking the stress out of trying to think of something unique.

Why not book some entertainment, where you can hire the best kids party entertainment, for any age group, which can thrill, enthral and astound the audience; from balloon modellers to magicians, street dancers to caricaturists and even green screen photography entertainments, plus a whole series of indoor and outdoor games which include:

Indoor –

  • Dance Machines,

  • Table Football,

  • Air Hockey and Skittles.

  • Bubble and Smoke machines

  • Karaoke

  • Balloon Modellers

  • Face Painters

Outdoor –

  • Funfair Stalls,

  • Giant outdoor games Connect 4, Kerplunk etc.

  • Giant Scalextrics.

  • Bouncy Castles

  • Fairground rides

Make sure you check out the entertainer’s policies so everything runs as smoothly as possible to get the best out of your kids party.

Teenage ideas for Halloween

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Halloween party games for teenagers are super to add to any teen party or even just a family party where teens will be present. Though teenagers can be easily bored, these Halloween games for teens will keep them entertained all night long! Games that require preparation are also fun to plan and think up! If you need a few ideas for Halloween party games for teens, take a look at the list below:

Bob for apples: That’s right—though this classic game may seem childish, it’s actually fun for people of all ages! Just set up a big barrel full of water and apples to challenge your teenagers to see if they can pick the apples up without using their hands!

Costume dance contest: This is a quick and easy way to get everyone on their feet. You can do contests such as the limbo or just award funny prizes for guests’ costumes. Make sure to have prizes on hand!

Murder mystery: This game requires a lot of thought and planning, but it is well worth it! It’s similar to a live action version of clue. For this game, you’ll have to create a story, character list and solution to a murder mystery. Just be sure not to tell any guests about it! Assign everyone at the party a “part” and hide clues around the house. Have them act out the story as they figure out who’s the murderer together!

Halloween night sweet hunt: Plant sweets around the outside of your home. Once it’s dark out, have guests go on a night-time sweet hunt. Give them bags for the sweets and flashlights and split them up into groups of 3-4. See how daring they’ll be on Halloween night!

Halloween Fear Factor: For this game, play a guessing game! Blindfold guests and have them put their hand into a bowl or jar filled with something horrible to the touch. Then have them guess what they just touched. Some ideas include Jelly, peanut butter and crushed biscuits. Award prizes for the people who have the most accurate guesses

Halloween trivia: Before the party, make up Halloween movie, TV show and history trivia cards. During the party, host a trivia session complete with prizes!

These Halloween games are just a few ideas to get your teenagers party started. These ideas are also Halloween party games for tweens too, so feel free to get as many people in the family involved as you can!