With colder weather blowing in, it’s time to start thinking about indoor activities for the kids. Parties in particular require some tricks up your sleeve if you’re hoping to keep a house full of children occupied.
I know this firsthand.
My family lives in Wisconsin, where snow covers the ground a good five months of the year or more. Since both of my daughters have winter birthdays, you can imagine we don’t sit around the pool eating cake. I am forever confined to hosting indoor, heated birthday parties.
Over the years, I’ve discovered plenty of creative ideas for fun indoor party themes, games, and activities. Even if your child’s birthday lands in the middle of summer, you might want to keep these indoor birthday party ideas in your back pocket—in case it rains.
Jelly Bean Hunt
This is a fun and easy activity for any indoor party, and the kids have a blast. Simply hide jelly beans throughout the house, give each child an empty treat bag, and let them go crazy searching for jelly beans. Or Tootsie Rolls, Dum Dums, mini chocolate bars, nickels and dimes—whatever treasures you choose. You could even hide arcade-type tokens or tickets then invite the kids to “purchase” prizes with their loot.
I love this game because it works well for all ages, from the littlest toddlers up to grade school kids. (Bonus: The jelly bean hunt is also a great incentive to tackle your annual dusting and vacuuming in dark crannies where the kids are likely to search.)
Cupcake Craze
In our house, we love any good excuse to whip up a batch of homemade buttercream frosting and experiment with new cupcake decorating designs. Celebrate your child’s next birthday with a cupcake party.
Set up frosting stations equipped with bare cupcakes, piping bags, aprons and a smorgasbord of decorating goodies such as sprinkles, candies, writing icing, and so on. Challenge guests to design cupcakes according to a theme (animals, flowers, story characters, and so on) or simply give them freedom to create whatever tickles their fancy. Then serve the cupcakes with ice cream in lieu of a traditional cake.
Ballerina Ball
Rent a local ballet studio and hire an instructor to give party-goers a group ballet lesson. We did this for my daughter’s 6th birthday a couple years ago, and it was a big hit. Each guest came dressed in ballerina clothing, and we made wearable tiaras for a craft. Then the girls spun around the dance floor to their heart’s delight. To top off our event, two of the studio’s trained ballerinas gave us an exclusive performance of classic dances from famous ballets. We’re not sure who was more dazzled—the little girls or their parents!
Film Festival
Who doesn’t love a good kiddie flick? If you have unlimited funds and patience, you could rent a local movie theater for a personal showing plus authentic sticky floors (which you won’t have to clean after the party, score!).
However, this theme works just as well at home in front of the big screen TV. Create a makeshift theater atmosphere complete with buttered popcorn, Raisinets and Twizzlers. Dim the lights and let an age-appropriate feature film serve as the primary entertainment. For added fun, invite each guest to dress like their favorite movie character.
Crafty Kids
Last year, my daughter’s first grade teacher created the best classroom holiday parties using just four or five activity stations. This idea can easily translate to a home birthday party.
Divide the kids into small groups of two or three, which rotate from one station to the next every 10 or 15 minutes. Recruit some other moms, aunties or grandmas to help make sure each station runs smoothly. Then give each child a loot bag for collecting their handmade crafts to take home.
Inexpensive group craft kits are easy to find through craft or party stores. Or of course you could design your own crafts with a little help from Pinterest.
Board Game Bonanza
Similar to the craft station idea, create board game stations with one game per station. Divide guests into teams, then rotate them through the stations for 10 or 15 minutes each. This is a fun way for kids to learn new games as well as to encourage good sportsmanship. Choose your favorite family board games or ask each guest to bring one from home to share.
Swimming Party
Ok, so maybe you really CAN have birthday cake by the pool when the weather outside is frightful. Just make sure it’s an indoor pool. Plan a swimming party at your local YMCA, or book a hotel with a great indoor pool or water park. Just get approval from hotel staff to invite extra children to join you for swimming and, of course, cake.
What indoor birthday activities do YOU enjoy most? Cold weather moms want to know!
CLICK HERE to request to join our FACEBOOK GROUP and CONTINUE the CONVERSATION!
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
