4-year-old birthday party

Four year olds are an easy group to please. They are discovering friendship and any activity or theme that promotes the art of incessant playing will be a winner. Be creative, starting with the invitations, get your 4 year old to help decorate them. Let your special birthday boy/girl have a say in what he/she would like the party to be about. Not only will this will encourage preschoolers to use their finely developed imagination skills, it will also keep parents entertained as they sit back and observe this creative, and always hilarious, age group.

Themes

There are a few different options to go with on the theme-based party. You can go all out and have absolutely everything based on a favourite TV show or cartoon character. From the invitations to the party bags you can get it all at a party supplies shop. Alternatively you can let your child pick one thing, such as the balloons or lolly bags with the wiggles (example) on it and they would probably be just as happy.

On the other hand, some parents may feel uncomfortable with themes that promote commercial entertainment and consumerism. Don’t get too stressed out, do what suits you and your family. Personally the best kids parties we have had are the ones where the kids have had lots of input. Highly decorated brown paper bags are the best lolly bags, because they fit heaps in! Fairy bread is still one of the most enjoyable party treats for kids, big and small. Treasure hunts and musical statues are always loads of giggles when you are four. 

You can always choose a theme that is both interesting, educational and heaps of fun for the birthday child to help organise. Invitations are loads of fun to make at home and the ideas can be endless. You pick a theme that is the flavour of the month with your four year old such as faries, dinosaurs, and trains or space.

Here are some ideas to help you create unforgettable invitations.

• Stickers: Newsagents, toy stores and party supplies stock many stickers in a variety of subjects. Stickers can be used on the invitation, given as party prizes or put in the lolly bags. They look great on the invitation when used with stamps and a glitter pen.
• Top-secret invite: Make your invites a top-secret mission. Have some fun and incorporate Commander Tom invites Sergeant Charlie to his top-secret birthday party. You will need to put in a copy of the top-secret map for directions to your party. The map could be via the Milky Way and around the moon second street on the left. You can only enter the party if you have the top-secret password and don’t forget to sprinkle lots of silver glitter in the envelope.
• Cut out decorations: You can cut out shapes from tin foil or coloured paper and glue them onto your invitations. A glitter pen is essential for outlines?
• Crayons and pencils: just as effective and fun to do crayons make fantastic invitations especially when you layer colour on colour of crayon then scratch out the words you want.

Activities and Games

Four year olds love activities and games and are a very imaginative group. Here are some great ideas to keep them entertained:

• MUSIC: Kids love music you could have musical chairs, musical statues or your own disco. Today’s kids love all types of music including their favourite kids tapes and the top twenty. Have some fun and dance with them. Alternatively cut out some very large stars and tape them to the floor and it works along the same way as musical chairs.
• Decorating: Find a very large cardboard box and spray-paint it silver. Cut out four round "portholes" and a door. Provide paint, magic markers, crayons, glitter and glue and have the children design their own space ship or fairy house.
• Treasure hunt: On of my all time favourites is the treasure hunt. In the past I usually tell the children that once they have found a gift it is time to sit down and watch the other kids find their gift. This usually eliminates the uncontrollable crying that occurs when a child feels they have been left out, or perhaps did not find their gift as quick as the others. As parents we are on the sidelines rowdily cheering the kids on and having as much fun as they are.

Food: This can be as easy as you want to or it can get pretty hairy. I will list some options for you but keep in mind some

• Children suffer from food allergies.
• Fairy bread
• Sausage rolls (homemade really are fab)
• Honey joys
• Mini quiches
• Mini pizza
• Cocktail frankfurts
• Cup cakes (an endless variety of coloured icing)
• Lemonade (crazy straws are a hoot)

In summary I’m sure you will have as much fun as the kids. There are many organizations around that specialize in hosting kids parties and you might find that this is a viable option for. If you have any birthday party experiences or any great ideas for a children’s birthday party that you would like to share with us please contact Kerri or Margaret at marg@mumsweb.com

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