kids party guide 2015

* MARCH 2015 *

- on the coast - in the city kids

http://www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

http://www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au .… www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au2

http://www.aussieworld.com.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

Published by Mother Goose Mediawww.mothergoosemedia.com.au

- on the coast - in the city

Looking for some inspiration for your child’s next birthday party? To mark the occasion of our 11th birthday this month, we are celebrating with a party guide just for you!

There’s loads of party fun to be had with fabulous ideas for party themes, venues, decorations, costumes, food and the all-important birthday cake! We’re excited to share some of our own parties and ideas, as well as those from the experts. We also focus on the gift of giving with

ideas for a birthday party or gift with a difference.

There are plenty of other reasons to party aside from birthdays, so why not consider throwing a party for your child to celebrate the start or end of the school year, to mark their first broken

bone, to get to know their sports teammates…or just because!

If you’re after even more cool party ideas, head to our Pinterest page www.pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast

Happy party planning!

KIDS on the Coast/in the City issuu.com/kidsonthecoastmagazine

BRISBANE Kids in the City Magazine

@kidsinthecityBR kidsinthecitymagazine

SUNSHINE COAST Kids on the Coast Magazine

@kidsonthecoast kidsonthecoastmagazine

GOLD COAST Kids on the Coast Magazine

@kidsonthecoast kidsonthecoastmagazine

3www.kidsonthecoast.com.au .… www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

www.mothergoosemedia.com.au



www.pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast

http://www.issuu.com/kidsonthecoastmagazine



08CREATE, LOVE,

SHARE ON PINTEREST

12THE ULTIMATE

KIDS’ PARTY PLANNER 16

THE SOCIAL GATHERING 18

GIFT GUIDE

22PARTYING AT

HOME OR AWAY

24PARTY

ETIQUETTE

28CHOOSING A PARTY THEME

CONTENTS




42MAKE

YOUR OWN…

50FUN &

GAMES 54FOOD FOR THE PARTY TABLE 58

PLANNING A SHOW-STOPPING

CAKE 60

PARENTS TALK

28CHOOSING A PARTY THEME

32TIME TO

PARTY




Toni’s 1st birthday

back when we were smallChildhood party pics from the KOTC/KITC team

how we used to party

Eva, aged 3

Michelle, aged 8

Carolyn, aged 6

Natasha, aged 9

Eva’s 1st birthday

Natasha, aged 8

FLASH BACK





http://bounceinc.com.au/info/groups-events/parties?utm_source=Email%20(Mother%20Goose)&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Party%20E-Guide%20-%20Parties

http://bounceinc.com.au/locations/tingalpa?utm_source=Email%20(Mother%20Goose)&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Party%20E-Guide%20-%20Brisbane

http://bounceinc.com.au/locations/robina?utm_source=Email%20(Mother%20Goose)&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Party%20E-Guide%20-%20Gold%20Coast



Create, love, share




pinterest.com/ kidsonthecoast

For instructions and MORE ideas visit our Pinterest Boards


http://www.pinterest.com/kidsonthecoastkidsonthecoast

http://www.pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast

http://www.pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast



DREAMWORLD’S NEW CUSTOMISED BIRTHDAY PARTY PACKAGES THE ULTIMATE GIFT OF HAPPINESSAs Australia’s biggest theme park, the mere mention of Dreamworld induces squeals of joy from

kids around the nation. It’s one of those rare places where grandparents, parents, teenagers

and toddlers can all come together and find a happy place and remember how fun life can be.

Additional to the plethora of entertainment options to choose from in the park including thrill

rides, family rides, animals, water slides and live shows, Dreamworld have recently launched a

food revolution with brand new restaurants and coffee shops that wouldn’t be out of place in

an upmarket suburb. And they’re hinting to two major new attractions launching this year, plus

major plans to celebrate Tiger Island’s 20th Anniversary. It’s hard to believe this amazing world is

about to get even bigger.

There’s only one thing bigger and better than a day at Dreamworld, and that’s a BIRTHday at

Dreamworld as their CEO Craig Davidson explains, “We’ve just introduced new customised

birthday party packages that offer so many solutions to hosts and guaranteed happiness to their

guests. We have a group booking team to customise the day according to individual needs,

and so many indoor and outdoor themed areas to choose from. The idea is that for one day we

make Dreamworld your special playground,” Mr Davidson says.

But what about those ever-hard-to-please shoulder-shrugging teens?

“We can confidently say we have the best (and safest) playground for teenagers at Dreamworld

with the Big9 Thrill Rides, a massive games arcade and Zombie Evilution laser combat

challenge. Plus our own water park in WhiteWater World which is a massive hit with teens.”

So it’s hard to think of anything that Dreamworld doesn’t have. There’s the popular DreamWorks

Experience which is sectioned into animation movie themed worlds including Madagascar,

Shrek, Puss In Boots and Kung Fu Panda. There are Wiggles, tigers, snakes, fairies, zombies,

roller coasters, surfing simulators… really, you’d be hard pressed to find something there that

doesn’t float your Big Red Boat. And talking about boats, over at WhiteWater World there’s a

whole lot more watery fun to be had with a huge wave pool, toddler playground Wiggle Bay,

the famous Pipeline Plunge for kids and some of the nation’s best thrill slides, all surrounded by

tropical catered cabana huts.

Dreamworld birthday party packages are created with nothing but happiness in mind. They can

include anything from a host, lunch, lolly bags, invitations, special character visits and photos,

even VIP ride queue jumping. They are even committed to making sure adults are well looked

after with special options to suit their needs too. It’s such a relief to be able to just enjoy your

special one’s big day and not worry about anything – that’s what happiness really is.

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, especially when your happiness is guaranteed. It’s

worth contacting the Dreamworld birthday party team on 07 5605 8237 to see how they can

make your special day the best ever.


http://www.dreamworld.com.au/birthdayparties



by Christine Humphreys

PARTY DAY IS GREAT FUN FOR THE PARTY KIDS…BUT PARTY PLANNING CAN BE A WHOLE LOT OF FUN DAYS FOR YOU. WHETHER YOU ARE AN EVENT

PLANNING GODDESS OR WOULD PREFER TO RUN A MARATHON THAN A PARTY, OUR COMPLETE PARTY COUNTDOWN TIMELINE AND CHECKLIST IS FOR YOU.

Let the countdown begin

PICK A DATE AND TIMEYounger kids often handle a morning party better and

this tires them out for an afternoon nap! School-age

children can power through afternoon parties, which

leaves the morning free for last-minute party planning or

regular weekend sporting events. Consider a midweek

party if you don’t want to impede on family time.

DECIDE ON THE VENUEIf you choose a dedicated children’s party venue

select and reserve this now as they do book up fast.

If you are hosting an outdoor party, have a back-up

plan in case of bad weather.

CREATE THE GUEST LISTDeciding who to invite can be fraught with difficulties.

Will you invite both family and friends or just school/

daycare friends? To keep it simple, a great idea is to

invite one friend per year of age, e.g. 6 kids to a 6th

birthday party.

CHOOSE A THEMEIf you are partying at home your theme options are

endless so let your child’s imagination do the work

for you. If you are partying at a venue, most will have

a range of themes for you to consider.

BOOK THE ENTERTAINMENTFace painters, clowns, party planners, photographer;

the choices are endless – book early to avoid

disappointment. If you have a talented friend, enlist

their help now!

DECIDE ON INVITATIONSDecide whether to make your own invitations, buy

printed invitations or order personalised invitations.

See www.etsy.com for great digital options.

SEND INVITATIONSWhether you e-invite guests or send out handwritten

invitations do this now. Ensure you have a RSVP date

on there around four days prior to the party. This

gives you enough time to chase up any guests who

haven’t RSVP’d. Keep a guest list near the phone to

track the RSVPs as they come in.

SELECT ACTIVITIES/GAMES AND ASSEMBLE PRIZESThis can be so much fun! Enlist your child’s help and

do practice runs of the games. Decide on the order

of activities and make a timeline for the day. Enlist the

assistance of a reliable adult to help run the games.

4 TO 8 WEEKS

OUT

2 TO 3 WEEKS

OUT

THE ULTIMATE KIDS’ PARTY PLANNER


www.etsy.com



DECIDE ON PARTY FAVOURS AND DECORATIONSParty bags, a specific gift to suit the theme or a

lolly bag to fill under the piñata? Decide and start

preparing these now. Decorations can be as simple

as a string of balloons or you can go all out to match

in with the theme.

PLAN THE CAKEIt is time to place your order or if you are baking the

birthday cake yourself start planning the ingredients

and decorations you will need. You may want to

follow your party theme here or just bake your child’s

favourite flavour.

PLAN THE FOODThe type of party food will depend on the guest

numbers and time of day your party is held. For an

after school party, a selection or fruit, popcorn and

small cakes is all you need. For a lunchtime party, you

will need something more substantial. Also consider

some options for common food intolerances and an

adult’s only platter.

WRITE YOUR SHOPPING LISTMake a list and check it twice! Include food, party

favours, cutlery, decorations, candles for the cake

and something to light it with! Of course, in all this

planning, don’t forget a present for your child if it is a

birthday party.

ASSEMBLE PARTY BAGS/FAVOURSThis can be done at any time but you can finalise the

number once you have your RSVPs. Always make a

couple extra for those who just turn up on the day!

PARTY PREPTidy and prepare the party area. If you are outside,

ensure you have a shaded area and chairs set up.

You might want to ask parents to BYO chairs.

GET COOKINGCollect your cake if you have ordered it or start

baking! Start preparing your party food or order

takeaway (such as pizza or sushi) if necessary.

MANNERSDiscuss party expectations with your child and

practice saying ‘thank you’ with younger kids.

4–5 HOURS BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVESet the table, lay out activities/crafts and put out the

decorations. Tie balloons to your mailbox so your

home is easy to find. Have the candle and lighter

ready to go. Don’t forget to have a large garbage bag

on hand for the wrapping paper.

1 HOUR TO GOIf you have a pet take them to a quiet, safe place until

the party is over so your furry friend doesn’t become

overwhelmed.

Get your party gear on!

Put the food out and candles on the cake.

TIME TO PARTYGreet each guest with your child.

If parents are dropping off, confirm pick-up time and

ensure you have emergency contact numbers.

Enlist another adult to take photos and remember to get

a family photo with the party child and their special cake.

Enjoy this fun day! Even if things don’t go to plan, the

important thing is that you and your children have a

good day.

1 WEEK OUT

DAY OF THE PARTY

1 DAY AHEAD

THE AFTER MATH

Tidy up! Help your child write

thank you notes to party guests.




WHEN TASK4 – 8 weeks out o Pick a date and time

o Decide on the venue

o Wet weather alternative

o Guest list

o Theme

o Book entertainment

o Order or make Invitations

2 – 3 weeks out o Send invitations

o Decide on party games/activities

o Assemble prizes and prepare the games

o Decide on party favours and decorations

o Order or start planning the cake

o Prepare food menu

1 week out o Write shopping list

o Assemble party bags/favours/decorations

o Collate RSVPs

1 day out o Tidy house and set up party area

o Get cooking and finish or collect the cake

o Prepare your child

The day of! o Decorate and set up activities

o Lay out the food and put candles on the cake

o Take your pet to a safe place

o Get your party clothes on

During the party o Be the ‘Hostess with the Mostess’!

o Tick off your checklist

o Get emergency contact numbers for parents if they are dropping off

o Take photos

o Enjoy!

o Hand out party bags

Afterwards o Help your child write thank you notes to party guests

PARTY CHECKLIST- on the coast - in the city

Print out







http://www.octonautslive.com.au



We asked our Facebook fans ‘How much do you spend on your child’s birthday party?’Here are the results:

The social gatheringDaily conversation, inspiration and information We want to meet you so let's get social

by Eva Lewis

facebook.com/kidsonthecoast plus.google.com/+KidsonthecoastAuKidsinthecity kidsonthecoastmagazine pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast issuu.com/kidsonthecoastmagazine

79%

10LOLLY-FREE PARTY BAG IDEAS FROM MUMS AROUND THE WEB...• pencils

• mini notepads

• matchbox cars

• mini puzzles

• stickers

• colouring book

• playdough

• toothbrush

• hair clips & bands

• paint set

of parents host a birthday party every year for their children, according to our recent Facebook survey.

7% $100 - $200

40% $200 - $300

27% $300 - $400

13% $400 - $500

13% $500+

We recently shared an article on Facebook which touched on the question ‘How much do you spend on presents for

your child’s friends?’ These are the responses:

45% said they spend

$10 to $20

32% said they spend

$20 to $30

12% said they spend

$30 or more

11% said they make

their own

handmade gifts


facebook.com/kidsonthecoast

plus.google.com

pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast

http://www.issuu.com/kidsonthecoastmagazine



There are always great prizes on

our website. Visit to enter.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au • www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

SUBSCRIBE to receive our weekly 'What's On' and bi-monthly eNews!

Join with us online – we are more than a magazine!

Buzz Lightyear Thomas the Tank Engine

Can you guess what it is?

With kids at school, in kindergarten or playgroup, it’s often difficult to decide who to invite to a child’s birthday party.

We asked our Facebook fans how they decide...Tracy said: One of my girls had a dress up pirate party for her 5th birthday. The friend guest list was up to her so she invited her WHOLE prep class! I had around 20 girl and boy pirates

plus lots of family, all in full costumes! Best party ever!

Christine said: Family only and close friends for as long as you can get away with (i.e. until the birthday child starts making their own list)! Last year our 6-year-old invited two whole

classes, but I’m thinking this year we might do a set limit and go out to a venue. As long as their cousins are there, they really don’t mind!

MANY PARENTS LOVE TO TRY THEIR HAND AT A HOMEMADE BIRTHDAY CAKE BUT SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON’T WORK OUT LIKE THEY HAD

IMAGINED, JUST LIKE THESE ONES WE FOUND ON INSTAGRAM #cakefailGoing on with the ‘cake fail’ theme,

check out this cake proudly baked by our fearless leader and publisher, Toni.

FOR HEAPS MORE PARTY INSPIRATION, CHECK OUT OUR KIDS PARTIES BOARD AND SUPER COOL BIRTHDAY CAKES BOARD ON PINTEREST!







gift GUIDE

QUUT BALLOWe know – it doesn’t even look like a bucket. But your

kids will use it like one, and that’s what makes the Ballo so unique. Carrying water from the sea to a sandcastle has

never been this much fun. www.tigertribe.com.au

JUNO EASY RIDERThe Spherovelo helps young children make the connection

between their senses (vision, pressure, equilibrium...) and their motor system by being a ride on that’s unstable

on the one hand (so that the child is required to effect some control - like with a bike) but safe on the other; a

combination never before achieved. www.wooden.net.au

RICKY DEES FORTRicky Dee’s Toys from Camphor Trees are unique, hand carved, enchanting toys hand crafted at Eumundi on the

Sunshine Coast. Designs include timber tree-houses, castles, farms, horse yards, fairy houses, eco log cabins,

fairy doors, wishing wells & detailed miniature furniture for pixies and peg people. www.rickydees.com.au

SUPERHERO SOCKSHoly fancy feet, Batman! These cotton batman-themed black socks will make you feel like a superhero. Plenty of animal magic can be found in other Neat Feet sock

designs including flamingo, llama, owl, racoon and squirrel – perfect for little animal lovers!

Find them online at www.squirrelpop.com

TESSI CREATIVE MAGNETSTessi creative magnets allow your child to create whatever

comes to mind, from a crazy shape to a cute creature or anything else their imagination can dream up! Each 60-piece pack contains enough magnets to create a

multitude of patterns, characters and designs. www.tessicreative.com

MY FIRST TOOL BENCHA fun first wooden tool bench with pretend power tools. This comprehensive set includes a clamp, saw, hammer, screwdriver, right-angle ruler, spanner and chalkboard.

Also included is a handy storage shelf and two planks with pre-drilled holes. www.woodenwonderland.com.au

PERSONALISED CHILD CUSHIONSGorgeous family or child's cushion designed to your description. A unique birthday gift. Available in white

or cream 50x50cm or 35x50cm cushion. Up to 6 people/pets. www.goodthings.com.au

LITTLE IMPOSTERSSuper cute, fun, easy to wear costumes. One size fits 2 yrs to slim adult! Adjustable braces and velcro opening at side.

www.littleimposters.com.au


www.tigertribe.com.au

www.wooden.net.au

www.rickydees.com.au

www.squirrelpop.com

www.tessicreative.com

www.woodenwonderland.com.au

www.goodthings.com.au



SNURK ASTRONAUT SINGLE DOONA SET

Let your child’s imagination run free at night with this stunning photographic printed single

doona set with a real Astronaut suit from the Space Expo Museum in Holland. www.hardtofind.com.au

PLAY TENTIndoors and outdoors, park up this VW Combi Campervan play tent and create the perfect

backdrop for an imaginative road trip to remember! www.entropy.com.au

LOOK AND EXPLOREThis 400x magnification Duo-Scope is simple enough for younger scientists to use, while

being powerful enough for high-school Einsteins. www.entropy.com.au

FINGER TATTOOSA variety of themed finger tattoos to create little finger

puppets or “toys”. From a farm theme to a fairytale theme, you can to create your own adventure with your fingers.

www.australiangiftsonline.com.au

ROAD TAPENow your car-obsessed child can turn every surface into

a roadway or highway. This amazing tape will stick to everything: chairs, tables, shelves and floors. Donkey My First Autobahn Car Track Tape builds 33m of roadways and comes with a tiny toy car. Train tape also available.

Available online.

TEEPEEDesigned with windows to catch the breeze and tie down

doors for easy entry, your children will love imagining and discovering new worlds inside their teepee. Nine

wonderful styles to choose from – from cowboys to floral girly girl to the new black stripe and black cross designs.

www.mocka.com.au

PIRATE ROCKING SHIPAhoy m’hearties! Sailing the seas has never been more fun. Let your little pirate indulge their imagination in this

pirate rocking ship. www.hipinteriorsforkids.com.au

SWIMFINLearn to swim like a fish! SwimFin is a unique swimming

aid for anyone aged 2 and above. SwimFin is endorsed by Libby Trickett and supported by The Wiggles! Available in a

range of 7 colours from www.swimfin.com.au


www.hardtofind.com.au

www.entropy.com.au

www.entropy.com.au

www.australiangiftsonline.com.au

www.mocka.com.au

www.hipinteriorsforkids.com.au



CREATIVE FUN! Make it up, then shake it up with the Glitzi Globes™ Starter Kit! The Starter Kit includes a range of adorable jewellery

for girls to pop, swap, share and wear! From leading retailers. www.glitziglobes.com

THE GIFT OF FAIRY GARDENINGNurture children’s hearts and create precious memories. Choose the perfect gift from our range of designer fairy garden kits, fairy houses and accessories. The fairies in

your garden will love our Gypsy Garden Camper!www.gardensparkle.com

ELASTICS The classic playground jumping game is back with a

modern twist. This elastics set contains some jumping elastics along with a comprehensive instruction guide

for playing. The guide includes five song variations and guidelines on advancing the game from standard through

to advanced levels. www.daju.com.au

CRAZY LACESAre your old Converse crying out for a makeover? Or are

your Nikes not as glamorous as you’d like? Customise your feet by changing your shoelaces and putting in a fresh

colourful pair. Dress up your feet to look like rainbows or American flags. We’re crazy for them and we know you

will be too! Available online from http://shop.until.com.au

SEW SISTA SEWING CASE & ACCESSORIES

Keep their tools and materials organised. A lift-out compartment tray, pocket for patterns, built-in pin-cushion. Includes: scissors, pins, needles, thread, retractable tape, pencil, craft and button pieces, name tag, small stuffing

pack and project sheet. www.sewsista.com.au

KANDY SKATESAvailable in 5 fun colours with outdoor wheels

https://epicskate.shop033.com

MERMAID TAILSEverything mermaid, tails and fins available in lots of

colours and sizes. Made from glittering lycra for mermaid shine and comfort. Visit Facebook Mermaids at Coopers or

phone 5520 2250.

gift GUIDE


www.glitziglobes.com

www.gardensparkle.com

www.daju.com.au

http://shop.until.com.au

www.sewsista.com.au

https://epicskate.shop033.com



The gift of adventureIF YOUR CHILD ALREADY HAS TOYS AND GADGETS GALORE AND YOU

WOULD LIKE YOUR SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE REMEMBERED LONG AFTER PACKAGED GIFTS ARE FORGOTTEN, FOCUS ON SPECIAL FAMILY

TIME AND AMAZING EXPERIENCES TO CREATE MEANINGFUL MEMORIES.

Here are a few ways to replace

material gifts with experiences,

some shared as a family and

some for your child on their own.

MINI-BREAKTake a trip to a place you’ve

never been. Whether it’s close to

home or further afield, just having

a new experience together in a

new place will create wonderful

memories.

TICKETS TO A LIVE PERFORMANCEBeing in a large theatre or stadium

is an exciting experience for most

children, especially if they have

never seen a live production

before. Seeing a live show such

as Disney on Ice, a favourite

television character performing

live or an acrobatic show will be

something they’ll talk about long

after the show ends.

TAKE A FIELD TRIPVisit one of the many child-

friendly museums and animal

parks close to home – top picks

include the Queensland Museum,

Sciencentre, Sir Thomas Brisbane

Planetarium, Gallery of Modern

Art (GOMA), The Workshops Rail

Museum, Ipswich Art Gallery,

Australia Zoo, Underwater

World SEA LIFE Mooloolaba,

Queensland Maritime Museum

and Queensland Police Museum.

ANIMAL EXPERIENCESBoard a boat for a whale watching

cruise or a day trip to feed

dolphins at Moreton Island.

TACKLE A NEW ADVENTURETry a new activity as a family by

signing up for canoeing or rock-

climbing lessons – the key here is

to choose something that all family

members are able to participate in

and are keen to learn.

EXPERIENCE THE ARTSFor a quieter alternative, attend an

arts class together. Many local art

supply stores offer classes such as

sewing, scrapbooking or learn to

draw. Or attend a mummy and me

dance class!

HOT AIR BALLOON RIDEHead off at dawn and experience

the wonder of a hot air balloon

ride over the beautiful Scenic

Rim south of Brisbane. Top the

experience off with a tasty cooked

breakfast at a child-friendly venue.

ANIMAL KEEPER/TRAINER PROGRAMMost animal and nature parks

offer a special children’s program

where you can go behind the

scenes with a real life keeper or

trainer to see the work they do

as well as meet the animals up

close. Australia Zoo, Queensland

Zoo, Underwater World, Seaworld,

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary,

David Fleay Wildlife Park and Lone

Pine Koala Sanctuary all offer

fantastic children’s experiences

ranging from a couple of hours

to a full day. Most programs have

an age requirement and often

book up in advance so remember

to secure your spot early if you

would like your child to have their

experience on a certain date.

COOKING CLASSESDo you have a master chef in

the making? Find a cooking

school that specialises in classes

for children to help them gain

confidence in the kitchen and

learn a recipe or two. At Cutie

Pies Baking School in Greenbank,

Brisbane, children aged 2–10

years can learn how to make

mini apple pies, mini quiches,

cupcakes and much more.

LEARN A NEW SKILLHorse mad children will be beside

themselves with excitement when

gifted with some horse riding

lessons. If they are not in love with

horses, consider guitar, surfing or

skateboarding lessons – whatever

activity your child has been

pestering to learn!

WITH THE

FAMILY

ON THEIR OWN

by Natasha Higgins




WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE...WANTING TO CREATE THE PERFECT PARTY FOR OUR LITTLE PRECIOUS ONE/S. CREATING AN EXCITING PARTY FOR YOUR CHILD

CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING AND IS GUARANTEED TO BE EXHAUSTING!! THE ORGANISATION CAN BE SIMILAR TO THAT OF A SMALL WEDDING…WITH THE

GUEST LIST EQUALLY AS CHALLENGING! SO, WILL IT BE A DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) JOB OR WILL YOU NEED A LITTLE (OR A LOT!) OF HELP?

Partying at home or away

Can we help?by Christine Humphreys

Still undecided whether to hold your child’s next party at home or out at a party venue? We’ve compiled a list of benefits of each option that may help you make the final decision.

At home you can:

- be budget friendly

- have unrestricted guest numbers

- allow your creativity to flow with your theme and decorations

- show your style in the kitchen and cater for different food requirements

- care for younger siblings more easily at home (nap times, own toys)

- organise your own games and activities

- hire specific entertainment and equipment

- party on for as long as you like!

Out at a party venue you can:

- choose from a variety of different packages and costs

- reduce the potential anxiety of being chief caterer and entertainer

- arrive ready to party (no set-up required)

- go home to a party-free zone (no clean up necessary)

- RELAX, enjoy the fun your child is having and chat to other parents!

Just remember, wherever you decide to host your next party the kids are bound to have a blast!

Here are some points to keep in mind:

Firstly, and most importantly, we need to remember that this is a celebration

for the child, a celebration of them as the little person they are and of whom

they are becoming. It can be easy to get caught up in the latest ‘craze’ of

what you should have at a party but we, as parents, need to encourage our

children to ask for what they would actually enjoy. So, when you start to plan

your child’s party, spend some time asking for their suggestions and ideas

of things they would like to happen at the party. This involves them and

gives you a good starting point for the party’s theme.

From there you can look at invitations, decorating, entertainment and food.

This is where the time issue rears itself and the real stress can surface.

Orchestrating an entire party can be done and can be hugely satisfying once

achieved (but may require a few large drinks and lots of rest afterward!).

If you are endeavouring to DIY, then enlist the help of some close

friends or family, ones that can read you very well or take orders well!

Keep in mind that sometimes the concentration required to make things

run smoothly can cause some tension at the party and children certainly

pick up on this. Those two or so hours of the celebration should be as

positive and relaxing as possible, so that happy memories are all that the

child remembers. Mum or Dad ‘losing it’ isn’t quite the same!

So, being organised is a must for a DIY party, and it can be done if you

have the time. If you don’t have the time, there are a number of options

available to help you create a unique children’s party. If you do choose

to employ the services of an organiser, entertainer, caterer or go to a

dedicated party venue you are certainly allowing yourself more time to

cherish the day. However, there will be an obvious financial cost. You may

consider making every second year or even a joint party something extra

special, in which case the cost may balance out the enjoyment you can

share with your child, taking photos and chatting to other parents or family.

A child’s birthday is something special, and reminds us that they are

young for such a short time. Every moment counts. Happy celebrating!




HOME LASER TAG PARTIES

www.LaserTag.com.au 1800 266 587

AUSTRALIA’S

No.1NATIONWIDE LASER TAG

HIRE


http://www.goldpinbowling.com.au

http://www.lasertag.com.au



by Michelle Eckles from Ezy Kids Parties and Childrens Party Supplies

HOW MANY KIDS TO INVITE? WHAT FOOD TO SERVE? ARE PARTY BAGS NECESSARY? FOR SOME PEOPLE, ORGANISING A KID’S PARTY CAN BE

STRESSFUL, CONFUSING AND A MINEFIELD OF DOS AND DON’TS.

The same applies to parents of children who have

been invited to their first party. What kind of present

to buy? Stay or go? What to do with siblings?

Below are some tips and hints for both the organiser

and attendee to help navigate the party scene.

Remember, above all, it’s just supposed to be fun!!!

EXPECTATIONSWhether to have a party or not is up to the parents

and what makes them feel comfortable. However, it’s

best to be realistic when it comes to expectations.

Throwing a party for a two-year-old with pony rides, a

magician, jumping castle, decadent food and a three

tier cake is a waste of money if the expectation is for

that child to remember any of it. Chances are they

won’t even stay awake or they may have a meltdown

as it’s just all too much for them.

It’s only natural to want to celebrate these milestones

but for kids under five, keeping it low key with family

and close friends is recommended, until the kids

and parents are ready for the responsibility, cost and

exhaustion that comes with throwing a party – as well

as the fun, excitement and joy!!

GUEST LISTWho to invite seems to cause the most angst when it

comes to kids’ parties. Again, it’s up to the parents and

child as to what feels acceptable. Beware of inviting

the whole class, unless looking after 20–30 kids is

not daunting (and you have a whip and chair handy)!

For school-age children, their preferences should be

respected. Inviting kids they don’t know or may not

necessarily like may lead to social issues on the day.

Humility and resilience are also important – kids

shouldn’t gloat about having a party or being invited

to one but also need to learn they aren’t always going

to be invited either. More kids = more cost, more

time and preparation and more chance for accidents

and incidents. However, the age plus one rule is not

necessarily practical either – six kids won’t necessarily

create a party atmosphere or make playing party

games workable. A good number is 12 to 15.




RSVPShould you RSVP? YES!!!! Most people go to a lot

of effort, time and preparation when it comes to

organising a kid’s party. There can be a lot of per

head costs like party bags, entertainment and food.

Respect that the organiser has gone to this effort

and cost and their child is looking forward to being

surrounded by their friends. Also, no one should

be put in a position where they don’t have a party

bag, cupcake or prize for a child because they

weren’t expecting them. Having only one or two

kids show up would be even worse. Don’t rely on

kids to RSVP to the birthday child or their parent –

communicate directly with the organiser to prevent

misunderstandings. This also ensures they then have

contact details for all parents if something happens

on the day or they are not staying.

There was a post recently about the controversial

decision of a mother in the UK to send an invoice for

£15.95 to the parent of a boy that didn’t show up to her

child’s party as a no show fee (to cover the ski slope

fee). Okay, maybe that’s a bit extreme and yes, plans

change and kids get sick but if a child does RSVP yes

and they can no longer make it, then it’s courtesy to let

the organiser know, even if it’s just a text message.

Sometimes taking siblings is unavoidable and

organisers appreciate this. Again, it’s courtesy to let

them know if siblings are coming and, if the party

is at somewhere like a roller skating rink or the

movies, it is their parent’s responsibility to pay for and

supervise those siblings.

For the organiser – hand out the invitations at least

two weeks before the party; the more notice the

greater chance of people being able to make it. Be

aware of things like Saturday morning sports that

can prevent a lot of kids from being able to make

it. A great tip to prevent invitations getting lost is to

pop a magnet on the back so it goes on the fridge.

Also, make sure all communication options are

listed, e.g. mobile phone and email and the date the

RSVP is required by. That way there is no excuse for

someone not being able to contact the organiser.

DROP OFF OR STAYThis depends on the party venue, e.g. secure play

centre vs a park or the family home, the age and

personality of the child, and the relationship with

the birthday child’s family. The best thing to do is

assess the situation when arriving, e.g. how many

kids there are, the level or supervision, etc. but it

wouldn’t normally be considered appropriate to leave

a preschool age child at a party without a parent nor

a child who may be clingy or insecure.

GIFT OPENINGGiving a kid a pile of presents and saying they can’t

open them would be like putting a block of Cadbury’s

finest in front of a chocoholic and telling them they

can’t have it. However, it can cause chaos and delay

things like games or entertainment. The best option

is to discuss with the birthday child beforehand when

the present opening will be. The end of the party is

good after the entertainment and cake are done but

before everyone leaves so that the giver gets to see

the child open their present.

Thank you cards may not be practical if a parent is

not sitting there opening the presents like you would

do with a toddler as you may not even be able to

match the presents to the givers. Parents should not

be too hard on themselves when it comes to this

practice but do ensure the birthday child thanks their

friends for their gift and for coming and vice versa.

PROVISIONSWhat should the party host provide? The Merriam-

Webster online dictionary describes a party as “a

social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks

are provided”.

How to entertain the kids is probably the second

biggest issue behind who to invite and is the one

aspect of a kid’s party that parents are mostly likely to

outsource. It depends on the age of the kids, number of

kids, whether the party host is comfortable entertaining

a group of kids and if not what their budget is.

As a guide – toddlers are happy to play with what

is in the home (i.e. what the birthday child plays with




at home) or the local play centre or playground.

Jumping castles, face painters and balloonists are

great for preschoolers and party games are good

to introduce from age five and upwards, as are

magicians, animal shows, etc. Movies, roller skating

rinks, etc. are better left for when they are a bit more

mature and able to self regulate their behaviour (and

coordination!). It’s important to be consistent. Don’t

raise a child’s expectations with a trip to Dreamworld

one year and takeaway dinner from Maccas the next.

The type of food to provide depends on the time

of day the party is being held. If the party is from

say 11am to 1pm then there is an expectation of

substantial lunchtime food. Lighter refreshments are

fine for late afternoon. Also, if there is an expectation

for the parents to stay then they should be provided

for, especially as it’s quite likely they have been

running around doing errands beforehand and

have probably forgotten to eat. Make sure there is

plenty of water and not just cordial and soft drinks,

especially in summer.

PARTY BAGSThe kids are worn out from running around, bellies

are full, the cake has been done and it’s time to

go home and the first child that leaves is looking

expectantly at the party host and whispers in

anticipation, “Are there party bags?” Or maybe it’s just

my child that does this!!

Despite extensive research, it is difficult to locate the

origin of ‘party bags’. They began as lolly bags but

with the health revolution and high rate of childhood

obesity these have become frowned upon. But let’s

face it, kids are materialistic! Who wouldn’t want to

receive a little gift? But they also like giving – they

take pleasure in handing out goody bags, especially

if they have made or decorated them. It’s up to the

party host to decide what to give – it’s a bit pointless

to hand out something that is going to get thrown

in the trash within an hour of getting home just for

the sake of distributing something, but it’s also not

necessary to send them home with a mini Van Gogh

or iPod. Something practical they can use or an art/

craft activity they can do quietly when they get home

is sure to be appreciated.

Whatever the decision, the intention should be

obvious – if party bags are going to be handed out,

it’s good to have them in plain view and task the

birthday child or a relative with making sure the kids

get one when they leave so no one misses out! If

there are no party bags, make it light and polite,

along the lines of “Sweetheart, the prize you got in

the pass the parcel was our thank you gift.”

Michelle is the founder of Ezy Kids Parties and Childrens Party Supplies, which offer online party supplies as well as hosted party packages, entertainers, cakes and catering in over 20 themes across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Michelle loves to keep kids entertained and parents stress free, making every child’s birthday full of good old fashion fun and wonderful memories. For more information, visit the websites www.childrenspartysupplies.com.au and www.ezykidsparties.com.au. You can also email Michelle at [email protected] or phone on 1300 118 840

On a recent survey conducted (of my own two children), when asked what their favourite part of having a party is, their response was “the cake & the party bags”, whereas I would spend far more time on decorations and entertainment. It just goes to show that parents probably stress unnecessarily over

aspects that the birthday child and their guests may not even notice. It doesn’t mean I’m going to stop doing those things as I enjoy it and it’s my contribution to them. However, I do outsource things I don’t like to do, e.g. the cake, food, taking photos, etc. so they are things I don’t have to stress about

and I’m left to enjoy the day with the kids, which is what it’s all about in the end…


www.childrenspartysupplies.com.au

www.ezykidsparties.com.au

mailto:[email protected]



1300 118 840 | 0438 915 830 | [email protected] | childrenspartysupplies.com.au

f facebook.com/childrenspartysupplies & pinterest.com/ezykids

*Party Supplies *Hosted Party Packages

*Entertainers *Cakes & Catering

* Over 20 Themes

MAKE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH WITH CIRCUSSTRESS FREE FOR YOU AND LOTS OF FUN FOR THEM

AN ACTIVE AND CREATIVE FILLED PROGRAM WILL BE DELIVERED BY PROFESSIONAL CIRCUS TRAINERS

The best

birthday ever

FLIPSIDECIRCUS.ORG.AU / 07 3352 7233

BOOK NOW


http://www.ezykidsparties.com.au

http://www.flipsidecircus.org.au



THERE ARE SO MANY THEMES TO CONSIDER FOR CHILDREN’S PARTIES. START BY ASKING YOUR CHILD WHAT SORT OF PARTY THEY WOULD LIKE

AND THEY ARE SURE TO REQUEST SOMETHING THEY PARTICULARLY LOVE. IF YOUR CHILD DOESN’T HAVE ANY FIRM IDEAS OR YOU DON’T THINK YOU

CAN DELIVER THE PARTY THEY WOULD LIKE, THEN IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO COME UP WITH A FEW OTHER IDEAS TO SUGGEST.

If you would like to make your themed party extra

special, have a look around your region for party

entertainers who specialise in your chosen theme so

they can keep the children entertained and you can

take some time to sit back and watch the fun.

Here are some ideas for inspiration.

GO GREEN, GO PARTY!Being aware of the environment is important these days

so an eco-birthday is a great educational option…but

one that can still be exciting, colourful and memorable.

Start with sending an e-invite to save paper; you may

even get a more timely RSVP!

Fresh produce for the party food table is a must.

Recycled or reusable plates, cups and cutlery also

convey an important message.

For a ‘green’ party game, sorting the recycling might

be taking it too far, but playing identify the object

by putting natural objects in a box with a hole cut

in it so kids can only touch but not see will give an

opportunity to play at discovery. Slip in an unusual

item or two as well as some easy guesses.

Instead of a party bag, set up a sustainable craft

activity with each child taking home their own

masterpiece.

Be sure to check out your regional council website

for information on nature education centres – there

are often art & craft sessions especially during school

holidays as well as handy party hosting areas that will

allow outdoor play in a natural setting.

CHOOSING A PARTY THEME




GET CRAFTYHave a mini Michelangelo at home? Painting parties

are great and let the partygoers create and take

home a memento. Be prepared for messy fun and

embrace it with squeezy bottles of paint, glitter and

other craft bits and pieces.

Clay is a great addition to a crafty party and can calm

a party buzz down while kids focus on their creation

– make sure you have ideas or something to copy so

kids can make something other than a mountain!

PIRATESChallenge the parents to speak like a pirate during

the entire party and you’ll be onto a winner.

Walking the plank ( just lie a plank on the grass) and

pirate raids on box castles are going to be great

fun for all. And of course a pirate search for hidden

treasure is going to keep the kids busy for a while.

If you’re passing the parcel, have a think about

themed items in the wrapping, or make each layer a

clue so each party guest gets the next clue in a pirate

treasure hunt.

ANIMALSAll kids love animals in one way or another. Maybe it’s

the snapping of crocodiles with giant paper lily pads,

frog lollies and chocolate logs, or perhaps it’s a horse

themed party with hobby horse making (see a tutorial

in the make your own section) followed by a horse

race to the finish line.

Remember that if you have an African animal themed

party you may have both fierce lions and timid

gazelles so plan games to cater to them both!

If you have a friend with an exotic pet or horse,

a visit from them will be a treat for all. Otherwise,

consider booking an animal experience such as

pony rides or a farm animal petting zoo. If your child

prefers wild animals, then consider a birthday party

wildlife experience with Geckoes Wildlife (www.

geckoeswildlife.com.au) where the party guests get

to meet a host of animals such as a possum, snake,

baby crocodile and other reptiles and birds.

by Natasha Higgins

TIME TO PARTY!




SPORTFor active kids, a sports themed party is a must. With a

few plastic cones and a few inflatable balls many games

can be had based on throwing, carrying and passing.

This can make a great team games-based party and

suitable for older kids who perhaps don’t want to

spend time crafting and playing chase.

MOVIESIn the rainy season, you may like to play it safe and

plan a party indoors. A favourite movie character

themed party can be great fun with prizes for best

dressed and most imaginative dress up.

Have the birthday child’s favourite movie playing

in the background before kids arrive and it won’t

become the focus while you and the guests continue

with the party fun.

If you’re a dab hand with YouTube, a game of guess

the movie with sound and video clips is a great tie in

to this theme.

FAIRIES & PRINCESSESIf you have daughters then you’ve been to one of

these. Easy to suggest; harder to make special.

Put fairy dust (glitter) in the balloons, pin the wand on

the fairy and fairy statues are takes on the normal that

the party guests will love. And if you have a few wizards

attending, we’re sure that the fairies won’t mind.

If you can, pre-organising for everyone to come

dressed as a different fairy with their own fairy masks

will add to the magical event for all. Tip! Make the

invitation a fairy mask to colour in and bring along!

BIKING PARTYIf the party group is able, a biking party in a safe park

can be fun.

While harder to organise, with bikes and safety

essential, giving kids the sense of adventure with either

a ride around local parkland or just fun on wheels in a

smaller paved park can be great for older kids.

Adventuring to a location where a picnic has been set

up will add to the adventure of the party too and give

everyone a chance to have a rest after a fun ride.

COLOURIt might sound odd, but theming a party on colour can

work really well. Your birthday child can really go to

town with this one with simple direction from you to pick

things that are based on a single colour. Be warned…

picking blue results in some interesting food choices!

Face paint is a must for this party, whether you DIY or

hire a face painter. Providing some lengths of fabric

in the party theme colour will allow party guests to

create wraps and capes in general play.

KEEPING IT SIMPLEIf you (and your child) just want a simple but fun

birthday party without a set theme and too much fuss,

there is still plenty of fun to be had. Plan the kind

of party that you may have enjoyed as a child with

a cake, pin the tail on the donkey, pass the parcel,

musical chairs and plenty of general fun.

OTHER THEMES TO CONSIDER…

Things that move (planes, trains, cars)

A favourite character or toy (Thomas the Tank

Engine, Dora the Explorer, Buzz Lightyear)

Space

Magic

Science

Teddy bears’ picnic

Construction

Disco

Under the sea

Circus

Beach

Mermaid

Tea party

Superhero

Lego

Rainbow

Jungle party

Dinosaur

Monster

Slip and Slide

Robot

TIME TO PARTY!




A THEME WITH A DIFFERENCE - HOST A CHARITABLE BIRTHDAY PARTY AND DEMONSTRATE THE GIFT OF GIVING

To avoid the overwhelm that often comes with receiving

so many gifts at once – not to mention having to find

space to put them all – consider hosting a charitable

birthday party for your child’s next birthday.

Speak with your child about how they can help others

who may not be as fortunate as they are. Discuss

some different charities or community organisations

in your area that could benefit from donations so that

your child can decide what matters to them the most.

You can still hold a birthday party with all the

excitement that goes with it, but ask the guests to

bring a donation to the charity of your child’s choice

rather than a gift. That way gift giving can be limited

to just family, and your child and their friends will gain

an appreciation of how they are able to help others

by giving gifts to charity instead of receiving them.

Choosing something to support that your child

is passionate about should help to lessen any

disappointment they may feel at not getting lots of

gifts themselves.

Here are some great ideas to discuss with your child.

SPORTS MADWhether it’s a sports themed party or not, your

sports mad child could ask their guests to bring

along old or new sporting equipment to donate to a

charity such as Boots For All (www.bootsforall.org.au),

Fair Game (www.fairgamewa.org) or Cricket4Kids

(www.cricket4kids.org) who distribute secondhand and

new sporting equipment to less fortunate people across Australia.

ANIMAL LOVERAsk your guests to bring items to donate to a local

animal shelter or wildlife hospital. Before sending

the invitations, see if you can organise a visit there

with your child to find out more about the work they

do and what donations they would most appreciate,

whether it be food, bedding or first aid items.

Another option is to ask the party guests to donate to

the World Wildlife fund so that your child can choose

to ‘adopt’ an animal they would like to help.

HELPING OTHER KIDSYour child might like to brighten up the day for a sick

child by donating some books or craft kits to the

children’s ward of their local hospital or to Ronald

McDonald House in Brisbane.

Or they may like to collect donations for a local

organisation that helps provide children in need in

the local area with clothes or school supplies.

Once your child has decided on the recipient of

the party ‘gifts’, let the party guests know on the

invitation. For example:

Amy would love to use her birthday to help the XYZ

animal shelter. Instead of a gift for Amy, please bring

along a gift of cat/dog food or a blanket for bedding

to donate to the shelter after her party.

Once the party is over, take your child along to

donate the items personally if possible, as this will

make their gift extra special and meaningful to them.

For her 6th birthday party, animal lover Clancy asked her friends to bring items she could donate to the Animal Welfare League of Queensland rather than a gift for her. She gathered an impressive number of items which were gratefully received by the animal shelter.





When you just can’t decide on a theme, you can’t go

past colour! A rainbow theme suits every birthday

boy or girl, and you can turn the cheeriness of colour

into a fun and amazing party!

My daughter’s 4th birthday party revolved around

my desire to have a go at baking a six-layer rainbow

cake. At the end of the day, the long anticipated

rainbow cake nearly reduced me to tears and ended

the life of my mixmaster. Thankfully, although the

cake was a bit of a flop, the rest of the party turned

out great!

INVITATIONS Have your birthday boy or girl draw their own version

of a rainbow on one side of a postcard-size white

card. On the other side, glue a basic invitation with all

the details. I chose to get a bit snazzy and make each

word a different colour – see how you go for time!

COSTUMESA fun (and easy) costume idea is to ask each guest to

come dressed in his or her favourite colour.

DECORATIONSA rainbow theme makes for easy party decorating!

We picked up a rainbow piñata from Spotlight and

some tissue paper pom poms. I also made a simple

backdrop for the food table out of bright fabric hung

from a curtain rod. We have reused this backdrop for

a few parties since. We bought a set of inexpensive

reusable plates and cutlery from a discount store,

and they’ve since been used for other parties and

picnics, as well as in the play kitchen.

FOODRainbow-coloured food is such fun!

• Rainbow jelly cups. Just set and layer one colour

at a time. You need a day to finish these but they

look wonderful and are a big hit!

• A fruit platter in the shape of a rainbow

• Fairy bread…the original rainbow party food!

• Rainbow cookies. Check out this tutorial – the

trick to the bright colours is to use professional

icing colours such as Wilton

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTXETy8BhnU

• Rainbow marshmallows. Courtesy of my sister…it’s

a great idea to outsource some catering.

GAMES AND ACTIVITIESWe are fortunate enough to have a very talented

face painter in our family but you can easily DIY or

outsource this.

We also had the dreaded traditional pass the

parcel (never again!), piñata fun and a treasure hunt

where each child had to find six different coloured

balloons…once found they earned a bubble wand!

PARTY FAVOURSEach guest was given a kaleidoscope from the party

girl at the end of the party and went home with a party

bag filled with goodies from the piñata.

A Rainbow Party

TIME TO PARTY!


www.youtube.com/watch



A RAINBOW THEME

SUITS EVERY BIRTHDAY

Phot

os b

y Fr

om th

e H

eart

Pho

togr

aphy

ww

w.ft

hear

tpho

togr

aphy

.com




Phot

os b

y Jo

shua

Mor

ton

Phot

ogra

phy




by Eva Lewis

THE CAKEThis was the first cake I’d made from my vintage

Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book.

I have very fond memories of the birthday cakes my

mum used to make me from this book and just had

to make one from it for my son’s first birthday. It was

a super hot summer day and the teddy bear cake

looked like he’d been for a swim with his melted

icing, but it was still delicious and I’m pretty happy

with the end result.

INVITATIONS I cheated a little with the invitations and found a free

printable online with the teddy bears’ picnic theme.

I printed them in colour and pasted them onto some

coloured card stock.

DECORATIONSThe party was a picnic in the park and so we used

very few decorations. I had a personalised banner

made up in the theme of a teddy bears’ picnic and

hung that on the gazebo along with some coloured

balloons and teddy bears scattered around the place.

FOODIt was all about having food that was easy to

transport, easy to prepare and suitable to serve in

a park where we didn’t have access to appliances.

Some of the food included:

• Bowls of fruit salad

• Sandwiches in the shape of ‘The Very Hungry

Caterpillar’

• Cupcakes

• Cheerios

• Teddy bears driving cars (check out how

to make them here: www.pinterest.com/

pin/225883737533202428)

• Pop Tops & bottles of water relabelled with teddy

bears’ picnic themed labels.

GAMES AND ACTIVITIESI decided to outsource a face painter and am glad I did

because not only did she do a fabulous job, the kids

loved it and so did I! I think I had more fun with it than

the kids and was the only adult to get my face painted!

Being in a park the kids spent most of the time on

the playground but I did have a soccer ball piñata

purchased from Spotlight; it went down a treat

(pardon the pun)!

PARTY FAVOURSI purchased plain blue party bags from Spotlight and

stuck personalised teddy bears’ picnic labels on the

front. Each bag contained:

• A squinkie (a little squishy figurine)

• A bouncy soccer ball

• A small packet of ovaltines

• Whistle

• A fridge magnet

• Lollipop

• Goodies from the piñata

A Teddy Bears’ Picnic

TIME TO PARTY!


www.pinterest.com/pin

www.pinterest.com/pin



THE IDEA OF A ‘BACKWARDS’ OR ‘MIXED UP’ PARTY IS THAT EVERYTHING IS THE REVERSE OF WHAT IT NORMALLY WOULD BE. HERE ARE SOME IDEAS

FOR A ‘BACKWARDS’ PARTY – BUT PART OF THE FUN IS ALSO COMING UP WITH WACKY NEW IDEAS OF YOUR OWN!

IDEAS?• Write invitations backwards so they have to be

read in a mirror (do it on a computer and choose

‘print mirror image’).

• Ask guests to dress appropriately, for example

clothes on backwards, ponytails over the

forehead and shoes on the wrong feet.

• Say ‘goodbye’ to guests when they arrive and

‘hello’ when they leave.

• Print backwards name tags and make everyone

call each other by their backwards names

BACKWARDS FUN AND GAMESAs guests arrive, get them to guess how many lollies

are in a jar. The guest who guesses furthest from the

correct answer wins!

Non-musical Statues. The kids have to stop still

during the music and dance when it’s silent.

Backwards Musical Chairs. When the music stops,

every person sits down...even if you have to sit

on someone’s lap. No one is ever eliminated, but

another chair is taken away every round. In the end,

everyone is sitting on one chair!

CRAZY UPSIDE-DOWN FACES Have each child lie on a couch with their head

hanging down. Cover their nose and mouth with a

bandana, and draw a mouth on their forehead (it

looks like a strange man with a weird beard!). Take

photos and print them up for thank you cards. You

can also take a photo of all the kids lined up in their

backwards clothes – ask them to turn their backs to

you and look over their shoulder!

BACKWARDS FOODTo be eaten sitting under the table or at an upside-

down table, of course!

Start with the cake! You could serve individual

cupcakes for each guest, upside down on a plate

so the icing is on the bottom, with a candle stuck

through the paper case. Everyone can sing ‘Happy

Birthday from you’, or ‘You to Birthday Happy’.

Other cake options are a cake with YADHTRIB YPPAH

written on it, or a cake that you turn upside down in

front of the guests so the icing is on the bottom.

You can even cut and serve the cake, then put a

candle in each piece for everyone to blow out…then

sing the song!

You can also serve upside-down pizza and nachos (with

the cheese on the bottom) and extra large hot dogs, cut

down the centre, with bread placed in the middle.

NUF EVAH! (Have fun!)

A ‘Backwards’ Party

TIME TO PARTY!




By Karen Ghidella

I’VE NEVER MET A YOUNG CHILD (BOY OR GIRL) WHO DOESN’T LOVE FIRE ENGINES. OUR CHILDREN ARE ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH THEM AND FOR THEIR THIRD BIRTHDAY PARTY WE FINALLY DECIDED TO CALL ‘THE

HIRE ENGINE’ AND THROW THEM A PARTY TO REMEMBER.

They turned up with a REAL fire truck...the truck has

been retired so they won’t leave mid-party to put out

any fires!

Watching our kids faces as the fire engine arrived was

the most beautiful thing. I had told our children that a

fireman in a fire truck was coming to visit them for their

birthday, but I’m not sure they actually believed me.

We opened up the gates and the kids just stared.

They were absolutely in awe of what was happening.

Fireman Michael and Firewoman Kimberly got the

kids all excited about going for a ride.

They put on their fire helmets...

The big birthday boys sat in the front with plenty of

rooms for guests in the back.

Off we went for a big drive around the block with the

sirens going and lots of waving at people.

Out we hopped, but it wasn’t over yet!

They also ran the games and provided the

entertainment for the whole party.

THEN... Everyone had a go at trying to wet Firewoman

Kimberly with the fire hose. They ABSOLUTELY LOVED

IT! We were very sad to see them leave.

Then our little firemen blew out the candles on their

fire engine cake.

Party with a Fire Truck!




TIME TO PARTY!

By Pam Molnar

When my son turned 10, it seemed like all of his

friends had sleepover parties to celebrate their

birthday. My son prefers to sleep in his own bed, so

I always picked him up from the parties at 10:30pm.

The next day I would hear horror stories about a

house full of preteen boys on a sugar high. The

hosting mom would tell me, ‘“You picked your son

up at the right time.”

When his birthday rolled around, my son asked

to have a late-over party instead. He wanted to

invite a dozen boys over for food, fun and four long

hours. After choosing the menu, my son left the

entertainment up to me. Having two older daughters,

my birthday party arsenal was filled with spa

treatments, karaoke and chick flicks. Thankfully,

I came up with some different things for the boys:

Video games: My son’s favourite pastime is playing

video games and it was easy to incorporate them

into a birthday party. Set up a couple of video game

stations (borrowing if necessary). As the boys arrive,

let them play at the video game stations and then

rotate them around to whatever other activities you

may have set up. It gives the boys something to do

until everyone arrives and keeps them occupied

without supervision while you greet at the door.

Dodgeball: Time to go outside! Gather six cheap balls.

Line them up in the centre of your yard and split the

boys into two teams. On go, the boys charge the line

and try to get a ball. The object of the game is to throw

the balls at each other and try to tag someone out. If the

other team catches the ball that you throw, you are out

and one of their tagged players may come back in. Play

a couple of rounds and get some of that energy out.

Target practice: Save empty plastic water or soft

drink bottles and line them up on the deck railing

or table edge. Fill water guns and let the boys try

to knock them down. If it is a windy day, add a little

water to each bottle to keep them from tipping over.

Filling the bottle with a little water also makes them

more of a challenge to knock down.

Carnival game balloon darts: Head to the local

hardware store and pick up a pre-cut piece of wood

or plasterboard. Inflate 24 balloons and stick them on

using pins or tacks. Determine points for each colour

and let the boys try to pop the balloons with darts.

Note: For safety reasons, I used the rounded darts for

this game. Another variation is to fill the balloons with

a paper number that the boys turn in for a prize.

Sling shot water balloon bowling: Purchase a

slingshot and fill dozens of water balloons. Set up 10

empty plastic two-litre bottles like bowling pins. Again,

fill with a little water to keep them from tipping over in

the wind. Have two boys hold the slingshot while one

boy pulls back and releases the balloon. Try to knock

over the pins and score like you would for bowling.

Survivor games: The boys will love to prove how brave

they are so this is a fun time for all. Try challenges like

finding a coin in a deep bowl of mayonnaise or tomato

sauce. If there are no food allergies in your group,

challenge the boys to taste ‘yucky’ food like a kale

smoothie, smelly cheese, liver pâté or spinach puree.

Paint war: This is a good way to end the night.

Purchase goggles, non-toxic paint and white t-shirts

for everyone. Fill cups with paint and send the boys

to the middle of the yard. Set rules like no paint on

the face and set boundaries to protect your yard.

Then shout “Go” and stand back. It is a good idea to

warn the parents before the party so they can send

the kids in clothes that can be ruined. Ask the parents

to provide a change of clothes for the ride home.Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of two teens and a tween. She enjoys party planning as much as the kids enjoy the party.

Oh Boy! Throw a late-over party for your son




OUTDOOR LASER SKIRMISH BIRTHDAYPARTIES & RENTALS FOR ALL AGES

- Brisbane -

[b] for balloons

www.bforballoons.com.au f I

[b] for balloons are based on the Sunshine Coast and offer big impact numbers, letters and shapes colour coordinated to match your party theme. So if it’s a Frozen party for your princess or a Spiderman party for your budding superhero, we’ve got you covered! Check our website for further information. Custom orders welcome!


http://www.lasercommando.com.au

http://www.bforballoons.com.au



TIME TO PARTY!

By Pam Molnar

Your daughter asked to have a sleepover for her

birthday party, but you just don’t think you can make

it until morning with a group of excited tweens. No

need to worry – have a late-over party instead. A

late-over party has all the benefits of a sleepover,

but with a good night’s sleep. It is great for girls who

may not be ready for a full-blown first sleepover and

it works well for parents who would like a party with

less of a time commitment. Late-over parties usually

run from around 6pm until 10pm, giving you plenty of

time for food, activities and fun with BFFs.

Get it started: Ask all the girls to come over in

pyjamas. Serve up some pizza, drinks and snacks

like nachos or popcorn. During dinner you can

play “How well do you know the birthday girl?” Ask

your daughter 20 questions ahead of time. Some

examples are, “What soccer team does Delaney

play for” or “On a scale of 1-10, how much does the

birthday girl like One Direction?” Have a small prize

for the girl who got the most answers correct or hand

out a piece of chocolate for each correct answer.

Activity – Lip-sync videos: Split the girls up in

teams of two or four. Let them choose a song

and ask them to make a video to go along with

it. Supply a box of props for the girls to use with

things like hats, sunglasses, feather boas, and of

course, microphones. Give the girls time to work on

their choreography and then let them perform for

everyone. Be sure to get it all on video and then give

a copy of it to the girls to take home.

Activity – Fashion show: Provide girls with rolls of

masking tape and plenty of newspaper. Break the

girls up into teams of three or more. One girl will be

the model and the other girls are the designers. See

what outfits, hats and accessories the girls can make

from the tape and newspaper. Have the girls model

their creations and vote for the winner. This is a great

photo opportunity!

Activity – My friend, the mirror: This is a fun

makeover game for tween girls. Have everyone

choose a partner. One girl sits in a chair with makeup

(lipstick, eye shadow and blush) in front of her. She

will attempt to put on the makeup using only her

partner’s guidance for a mirror. Another variation of

this game is to have the makeover girl keep her arms

at her side. Her partner sits behind her on the chair

and uses her own arms to put makeup on the model

without the benefit of a mirror.

Birthday cake – or not: Tired of the same old packet

cake? Mix it up a little. Why not have birthday cookie

and ice cream sandwiches, chocolate fondue or an

easy trifle made with cake, whipped cream and fruit?

You can’t go wrong with an ice cream sundae bar

with whipped cream, candy sprinkles and crushed

cookies. Or, if you are looking for another activity, let

the girls decorate their own cupcakes.

Let’s play musical gifts: Everyone wants their gift

opened first so to avoid hurt feelings, make a game of

it. Have the girls sit in a circle holding their gift. Turn on

some music and start passing the gifts around. When

the music stops, the birthday girl opens the gift she has

in her hand. Keep playing until all the gifts are opened.

Party bags: Avoid the lollies or plastic trinkets.

Personal gifts have more meaning. Make a CD of the

birthday girl’s favourite songs – I am sure they are the

guests’ favourite songs, too. Take photos during the

party of all the girls eating and doing the activities.

Print out the photos and put them in mini photo albums

that you find at the discount store. The girls will have a

great keepsake to take home from the party.Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of two teens and a tween. She enjoys party planning as much as the kids enjoy the party.

Girls Rock! A late-over party for your tween-age daughter




Workshops are designed to develop creative andimaginative thinking for children aged 3-12 years. Kidspace will be running a range of creative visual arts and performing arts workshops.

Qualified and experienced creative facilitators

Creative learning holiday program for kids.

Workshops

Movement & Music

Wearable Art / Fashion

Magic & Illusion

Build & Play

Art & CraftActing / Film & TV (ages 12-17)

Book now atkidsonthecoast.com.au/kidspace

$15per workshop

Small classes (max 10)


http://www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/kidspace



Set up a low table with lots of different craft materials to suit your planned activity such as:• crayons & felt pens• glue• sticky tape• glitter• gems & sequins• stars, hearts & flowers• feathers• scissors• stapler

MAKE YOUR OWN…

PARTY HATSCut coloured cardboard strips of a suitable width

and the right length to go around a child’s head.

Stencil shapes related to the party theme on the

cardboard strips or let the kids cut their own.

For younger kids, pre-cut them and leave the

scissors out of reach!

Once the party hat is finished, you may need

to give the younger kids a hand to staple the

cardboard together to fit their head correctly.




Sit back and watch the fun begin!

HOBBY HORSESIf your child is desperate to have a horse themed party

and you can’t organise for a real horse to come along, why

not make some hobby horses instead. Kids can decorate

their very own horse and then take part in a game of

steeplechase or some other horsey activity. Best of all,

each child can take their horse home as a party favour!

There are heaps of tutorials online for making a hobby

horse, but to keep it quick and easy, simply print a line

drawing of a horse head on white card and cut it out –

again, one for each child.

Once the horse head has been decorated, simply staple

the head onto some dowel that has been pre-cut to just the

right length for little legs.

AFRICAN ANIMAL MASKSWill there be elephants, tigers,

giraffes or zebras at the party?

There are plenty of animal mask

templates available for download

on the Internet. Decide on those

you would like and print out

enough for all the party guests

on white card. Make a small hole

at either side of the mask and tie

some thin elastic through the holes.

Let each child choose their

preferred animal and let them go

wild! You may need to adjust the

length of the elastic for each child

once they’ve finished decorating.

DIY




You will need:• card stock in your preferred colour, cut to standard

envelope size • plain paper cut about ¼ inch smaller than the card stock (to leave a small border)

• f elt pens or crayons in the 7 colours of the rainbow• glue

• a printed or handwritten invitation (I did this one in Word and printed it off, 4 per A4 page)





CREATING YOUR OWN SIMPLE PARTY INVITATIONS LIKE THESE IS A FUN WAY TO INVOLVE THE BIRTHDAY CHILD IN THE PREPARATION OF THEIR

UPCOMING PARTY. PLUS IT IS A MESS-FREE PROJECT MANAGEABLE BY ANY LEVEL OF CRAFTER.

DIY Rainbow Invitations

STEP 1Gather your supplies. If you have

younger children, you can pre-mark the

rainbow with dots to get a uniform result.

STEP 2Ask the birthday child to draw the rainbow! You will

need one rainbow drawn for each invitation.

STEP 3Once the rainbow is

finished, glue it on one

side of the card stock.

STEP 4Glue the typed or handwritten invitation to the other

side of the card stock. Repeat the process until you

have all your invitations done.

Fill in the party details (if not already printed). The finished product is then ready to hand out to the party guests.

DIY




Make your own party bags

To make the bright name labels,

cut the white paper into similar

sized rectangles and write the

name of each guest in the centre.

Then cut larger rectangles from

the coloured cardboard. Glue

the white guest name label in the

middle of the coloured cardboard.

Stick the name label onto the paper

bag and allow the glue to dry.

It’s now time for the fun part! You

can pick up some great party bag

goodies from discount stores

and for around $20, you will have

enough goodies for 16 party bags.

by Lauren Matheson – Create Make Bake

IT’S SO EASY TO MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONALISED PARTY BAGS BY PICKING UP A FEW SUPPLIES FROM YOUR LOCAL DISCOUNT STORE.

Lauren hails from sunny Queensland and is mum to two little boys. When she isn’t breaking up arguments over toy trucks, you will find her in the kitchen baking up a storm and sharing recipes on her blog Create Bake Make. She has a super sweet tooth and enjoying a slice of cake is one of her guilty indulgences. In her rare quiet moments, you will find

her curled up with a book or the latest magazine enjoying a coffee or indulging in her slight online shopping addiction.

You will need:• 4 sheets (different coloured)

of textured cardboard

• 2 sheets of plain white paper

• paper bags (purchased from

the craft section at Kmart,

Big W or most discount stores)

• black marker

• scissors

• glue stick

DIY





http://www.hpentertainmentcentre.com.au



Rocket Power Jetpack

DIY




Jetpack created by Ligre Ward from Stork’s Nest Designs www.facebook.com/STORKSNESTDESIGNS

STEP 9: Give the jetpack some try to dry and set, then your Rocket Power Jetpack is ready to use!

STEP 8: Glue each flame into the

top hole of each bottle (which will

become the base of the jetpack).

STEP 7: Cut two flame shapes

out of red felt and two smaller

flames out of orange felt, then

layer them on top of each other.

STEP 2: Glue black felt onto

a piece of cardboard. Cut

this into a square that will fit

across the middle width of

the two bottles.

STEP 4: Measure around your

child’s arm and shoulder with

the elastic to make the straps

that attach to the jetpack.

Cut two pieces the same size.

STEP 5: Cut four slits in the

black felt cardboard square and

feed the ends of each of the

elastic bands through the slits.

Glue the elastic to the back.

STEP 6: Attach

the cardboard

square with elastic

straps to the back

of the jetpack with

strong glue.

STEP 3: Cut a piece of elastic

to fit around both bottles and join at the back

with strong glue.

Materials you will need:

• 2 plastic bottles

• thick elastic

• red, orange and black felt

• spray paint (colour of your choice)

• scissors and strong glue

STEP 1: Remove the bottle lids and

spray the bottles with spray paint.

Black was used in this case but use

any colour to match your costume.


www.facebook.com/STORKSNESTDESIGNS



IF YOU’RE TOTALLY NEW TO THE WORLD OF BIRTHDAY PARTIES, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NOT TO PANIC – IT’S ONLY A BIRTHDAY PARTY! ALTHOUGH IT’S NATURAL TO WANT EVERYTHING TO GO WITHOUT

A HITCH, IT’S ALMOST INEVITABLE THAT SOMETHING WILL GO SLIGHTLY AWRY ON THE DAY. THE KEY IS TO NOT MAKE A FUSS AND SIMPLY MOVE

ON TO THE NEXT ACTIVITY.

It can help to have the rules of a few games

memorised so you can quickly get the guests involved

in a game while you sort out any problems. Here are a

few good ones for little kids, and the bonus is they are

pretty ‘low energy’, so are quite useful if everyone’s

getting a little flustered or out of control!

There’s no need to have a prize for every activity –

explain to the kids upfront that they’re playing just

for fun and you may find they’ll enjoy it more. There

are also less tears and tantrums when someone

gets ‘out’ if they know there’s nothing riding on the

outcome of the game.

DOG AND BONEThe great thing about this game is that it can easily

be adapted to different themes – for example

instead of a ‘dog’ and ‘bone’ it can be a ‘pirate’ and a

‘treasure’ or a ‘princess’ and a ‘crown’.

The children sit in a circle. One child sits in the middle

with his eyes shut and a ‘bone’ (cardboard is fine)

behind him or her. The adult points to one of the

children in the circle, who then has to sneak in, grab

the ‘bone’ and put it behind his back.

All the kids now put their hands behind their backs and

say “Doggie, doggie, who’s got the bone?” The child in

the middle (who is the ‘dog’) opens his eyes and gets

two guesses to try to and choose who has the ‘bone’. If

the ‘dog’ guesses correctly, he or she gets another turn.

But (as will more than likely be the case) if he doesn’t,

the child with the bone becomes the new ‘dog’.

WHO AM I?The children all sit in a circle. One child is chosen to

put his head down and close his eyes. The adult in

charge then points to one of the children in the circle

who says “Who am I?”

The child with his eyes closed can open them and try

to guess who it was. If he guesses correctly, he has

another turn.

SLEEPING LIONS (OR TIGERS, RABBITS, ELEPHANTS, ETC)One child (or the adult in charge) calls out the name

of an animal and everyone has to move around like

that animal would move When the leader calls out

“Sleeping [name of animal]” everyone has to drop to

the floor and lie still with eyes shut. Anyone that moves

is out – they can then become one of the judges.

STICKY MONEYSit the kids down and tell them you will stick a 5-cent

piece to a child’s forehead using only plain water,

and the child won’t be able to shake it off. The only

rule is the child has to sit on their hands and must not

use them, but they can shake their head at any angle

they like. Wet the money lightly (you don’t really need

to do this but it adds to the illusion) and then press

it quite firmly onto the child’s forehead, saying it

takes a little while to stick. You need to press it there

for about a minute...then without the child realising,

remove the coin as you slide your hand upward

towards the top of his head.

FUN & GAMES




Stand behind the child and motion the other children

to not give the game away. Then start encouraging the

child to try to shake off the coin, and get the other kids

to do the same. When the ‘victim’ gives up and uses

their hands, they’ll find out what really happened!

BALLOON ROCKETSIf you’re not able to make balloon animals out of those

long, thin balloons, here’s another fun use for them.

Tip! Buy one of those little hand–balloon–pumps

unless you want to be there all day.

Blow up a balloon for each child and then on the

count of three, tell them to point them skyward and

let them go! The kids have a ball seeing whose

balloon goes the highest and trying to catch them.

ROUND THE BROOMSTICKSet up a table with an upturned plastic cup on one

end, and a small (wrapped) chocolate or lolly placed

on top. Take the kids to the other end of the room

or yard (about 3 metres away) and give the first one

a broomstick. Tell them to hold the broomstick with

both hands and put their head up against it so they’re

staring at the ground. Then they have to quickly turn

around four or five times, keeping the broomstick

touching the ground in the middle, until you say “now”.

You then grab the broomstick and the child has to walk

quickly to the table and try to pick up the chocolate

without knocking it over. There may be a few spills and

tumbles so if you play this game indoors, make it on a

soft floor and allow plenty of space!

‘MAGIC’ PHOTOGRAPHA good one for indoors. You need a group of around

5 to 8 kids. One child gets to be the ‘Master’ and one

the ‘Photographer’ (you need to explain their parts to

them beforehand, out of hearing of the other kids).

Either Master or Photographer gives a little speech

about how they’re going to demonstrate a new type

of photography which has just been invented. The

Master leaves the room and the Photographer invites

one of the children to pose.

The Photographer makes a big deal out of rubbing

a piece of paper in order to ‘sensitise’ it, perhaps

sprinkling it with some ‘special chemical’ (e.g. salt or

sugar in a different container). Then he holds it up in

front of the ‘subject’, telling them to keep still, smile,

etc, and then be seated when the ‘photo’ is finished.

The Photographer then ‘develops’ the picture by

waving it around, putting it in the sunlight, or whatever.

When the Master returns, he or she is given the

‘photo’ to study, while the Photographer takes a seat

– secretly assuming the same pose as the child who

was ‘photographed’ (e.g. legs crossed, head tilted to

one side, fiddling with ear). The Master will eventually

look at the photo and pretend it is such an obvious

picture that he or she knows exactly who it is, and

names the child.

Of course, you can make life easier for

yourself by hiring a professional to take care

of all the entertainment. That way you can

just relax and enjoy the party – in between

taking photographs of course!




April 2015


EasterHoliday Guide

“ Things to do, places to go! “

DOWNLOADAVAILABLE APRIL 1

Spend your child’s birthday in a magical land filled with princesses and heroes. Hear your favourite songs and see your favourite books come

to life on the stage. The cast sing Happy Birthday for your child on their special day and get photos with them. Fully stocked Kiosk available or

bring your own food. www.artstheatre.com.au or (07) 3369 2344

ARTS THEATRE BIRTHDAY PARTIES

UPCOMING CHILDREN’S PRODUCTIONS- 50 YEARS OF CHILDREN’S THEATRE -

$16 per person, $13 per person if 10+ people

BIRTHDAY PARTIES



http://www.artstheatre.com.au/children-2015



By Lauren Matheson – Create Bake Make

PLANNING YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY PARTY DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD. ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED ON THE ALL-IMPORTANT GUEST LIST AND

VENUE FOR YOUR PARTY, IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT PARTY FOOD YOU WILL SUPPLY.

When choosing party food to make for your child’s special day, it’s important to offer a variety of foods to suit

all tastebuds and ages. Here are some of our top tips when planning your party menu:

• For little kids, you can’t go wrong with fruit platters, yoghurt, veggie sticks and dips.

• Instead of making regular size muffins, use a mini muffin tin to make bite-sized cakes perfect for little

tummies.

• To encourage the kids to eat fruit, pop it into a colourful noodle box or plastic cup.

• Rice paper rolls filled with salad are a great alternative to sandwiches and the kids will love them.

Still stuck for ideas when it comes to choosing food to provide for your guests?

We’ve put together a list of classic party food favourites as well as some healthier (but still yummy!) options that

the kids and adults will love.

Food for the party table




TEDDY BEAR RACE CARSAll you need is 12 fun size Milky Way bars, 12 Tiny

Teddy biscuits (cut in half) and a large bag of

Smarties.

Using a little melted milk chocolate, attach the Tiny

Teddies to the middle of the Milky Way bar and attach

4 Smarties to the sides to create the wheels.

Cut a Smartie in half and attach in front of the Tiny

Teddy to create the steering wheel.

THREE INGREDIENT MUESLI BALLSPlace 2 cups of toasted muesli, 1 cup of pitted dates

and 1/4 cup of rice malt syrup into a food processor

and blitz until a smooth paste forms.

Place another 1/2 cup of muesli into a small bowl and

roll tablespoon amounts of the mixture in the muesli

to coat.

Place in the fridge to set.

MARS BAR SLICELine a slice tray with baking paper and set aside.

Roughly chop 4 Mars Bars into small pieces and

place them into a medium-sized saucepan along with

125g of butter. Cook over a low heat and stir until

melted and combined.

Place 4 cups of Rice Bubbles into a large bowl and

add the melted ingredients. Stir until all the Rice

Bubbles are coated.

Pour the mixture into the slice tray and use the back

of a metal spoon to spread and press into the tray.

Melt 200g of milk chocolate and pour over the top of

the slice.

Cut a Mars Bar into pieces and place over the slice

to decorate.

Place the slice into the fridge for 2 hours or until set

before cutting into bite sized pieces.

PITA BREAD CHIPSTo make your own pita bread chips, simply cut a

piece of pita bread into small pieces and place them

onto a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper.

Brush with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt

(optional) before placing into a 200 degree oven.

Cook for 5 minutes until they begin to turn golden.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes

before serving with your favourite dip.

PARTY FOOD




THEMING YOUR PARTY FOOD TABLEIf you decide to hold a themed birthday party, coming up with ideas for

party food and a cake that tie in with the theme is easier than you think.

You can place labels on the items on your party food table and give

them fun names which link in with your theme – for example, if you are

throwing a firefighter birthday party, you can simply cut up pieces of

watermelon, rockmelon and pineapple to create ‘Fiery Fruit’ and a plate

of hot dogs can turn into ‘Firefighter Hoses’.

Alternatively, a plate of chicken and salad rice paper rolls can easily be

turned into ‘Fairy Fingers’ and juice poppers can be transformed into

‘Princess Punch’ by adding a cute label.

If the thought of creating a 3D cake or using fondant makes you cringe

with fear, you can easily make a simple round or square cake (or even

use a store bought one) and then decorate it with your child’s favourite

figurines or toys.

Don’t forget you can use some of your

child’s toys or books to decorate your

table and tie in with the party theme.

Lauren hails from sunny Queensland and is mum to two little boys. When she isn’t breaking up arguments over toy trucks, you will find her in the kitchen baking up a storm and sharing recipes on her blog Create Bake Make. She has a super sweet tooth and enjoying a slice of cake is one of her guilty indulgences. In her rare quiet moments, you will find her curled up with a book or the latest magazine enjoying a coffee or indulging in her slight online shopping addiction.

CLASSIC PARTY FOOD IDEAS

Fairy breadSausage rolls

Vanilla cupcakesMini hot dogs

RumballsCaramel fudge

Chocolate cracklesPizza scrolls

Chocolate frecklesChicken drumsticks

Mini pizzasBanana pikelets

Honey joys Tic Toc teacups

Chocolate mousse cupsMars Bar sliceFrog in a pond

Cake pops Coconut ice

Teddy bear race cars

Scones with jam & cream

HEALTHY PARTY FOOD IDEAS

Bliss ballsVeggie sticks with dip

Vegemite and cheese scrollsChicken, zucchini and quinoa

nuggetsPita bread chips

Brown rice sushi rollsCorn, tomato and spinach

muffinsFruit kebabs with yoghurt dip

Zucchini sliceChicken salad rice paper rolls

Fruit salad with passionfruit syrupHomemade pita chips

Beetroot dipCarrot and quinoa cake

Three ingredient muesli ballsWholemeal egg and lettuce

sandwichesApple cars

Yoghurt cups

Celery sticks with peanut butter dip

Chicken and vegetable sausage rolls

Pita bread pizzas

PARTY FOOD




PARTY FOOD

Place one cake onto a large cake board and secure

it with a little chocolate ganache.

Next, cut two sections off the second cake to create

the driver’s cab and the back of the truck as shown.

Use a little more of the ganache to securely attach

the second cake on top of the first.

Once the ganache has set and you are happy with

the shape of your fire engine, cover the entire fire

truck with chocolate ganache. It’s important to have

a smooth and even coverage of ganache all over

the cake. Place the cake in a cool spot to allow the

ganache to set.

Once the ganache has set, make an easy sugar syrup

using 1 tablespoon of apricot jam and 2 tablespoons

of boiling water, stirring until combined. Brush a thin

layer of the sugar syrup all over the cake.

It’s then time to roll out your red fondant into a large

rectangle long enough to completely cover your

cake. To help stop the fondant sticking to your bench,

sprinkle a little cornflour over it first.

Carefully cover your cake with the fondant, then

working quickly, smooth the surface of the fondant

gently with your hands – making sure it’s attached to

the cake. Trim away any extra fondant using either a

sharp knife or a pizza cutter.

Now it’s time for the fun part – decorating your cake!

It’s a good idea to use a picture of a fire engine to

help you here!

Chocolate biscuits make for great wheels. Use fondant

icing in appropriate colours to shape the different

features of the fire engine. Brush a little cold water on the

fondant decorations before attaching them to the cake.

Create your very own fire engine birthday cake

by Lauren Matheson – Create Bake Make

CREATING A FIRE ENGINE BIRTHDAY CAKE IS MUCH EASIER THAN YOU THINK. ONCE YOU TAKE AWAY ALL OF THE LADDERS, BELLS AND

DECORATIONS, A FIRE ENGINE BIRTHDAY CAKE CAN BE CREATED BY JUST USING TWO RECTANGLE CAKES.




Phot

o by

ww

w.b

risba

neba

byph

otog

raph

y.co

m.a

u

PLANNING A SHOW-STOPPING

PARTY CAKE


http://www.vanillapod.com.au



KEEPING IT SIMPLE IS THE TRICK TO CREATING A SHOW-STOPPING CAKE FOR KID’S PARTIES WRITES CARLA BURNS

FROM VANILLA POD SPECIALTY CAKE KITCHENCreating the perfect masterpiece for your child’s

birthday can be a stressful, time-consuming and

ultimately costly exercise. While there is so much

pressure as a parent to get it right when it comes

to the cake on offer at these occasions, there really

needn’t be. It’s a kid’s party after all, not a wedding,

but some parents will find themselves spending as

much on their child’s birthday party cake as they

would on their wedding cake.

The internet has opened the door for cake creations,

with kids themselves often finding their sought-after

cake on Mum or Dad’s iPad or smart device. What is

most important to consider when thinking about a cake

for their special day is what they actually want from their

cake, be it flavour, shape, design – you name it!

Popular choices for party cakes continue to be the

tried-and-tested novelty cakes. Frozen and Minecraft

cakes have been in high demand recently, reflecting

a new generation that has grown up with these

franchises. While novelty cakes are common, they are

sure to impress. Piñata and rainbow layer cakes are

also popular and offer a more reasonable alternative

to sometimes costly novelty cakes, while still achieving

the effect of being bright and fun – just what a kid’s

party requires. Cake pops and cupcakes are another

alternative and a great hands-on experience for kids.

Look is just one aspect of the cake, and it is important

that parents are choosing flavours that are not too

rich for their young partygoers. It is important that

they are balancing out grand ideas with meeting the

needs of an audience with a pretty basic palette.

Flavours like vanilla and chocolate still look stunning

and are a sure-fire hit with the youngsters. A cake

may look amazing, but crumbs on a plate are a true

sign of its success.

Planning of the perfect masterpiece for your child’s

party should not be left to the last minute. Organising

the cake when sending out invitations is the best

method of ensuring that you are not rushing to organise

a cake a few days before the event. Most cake stores

will require a good deal of notice for orders, especially

anything that is overly complex. Vanilla Pod requires at

least a week to create your masterpiece.

Ordering is just one of the hurdles faced when dealing

with cakes, but getting them home can be the most

important. Taking the finished cake straight home from

the store is vital – not deviating to the shops to pick up

a last minute something – and get it straight into the

fridge until about 15 minutes before it is ready to be

served. Securing it on a flat surface in the car is also a

must to ensure any potential mishaps are avoided.

Another reality of modern kid’s parties is food

intolerances. It’s likely that at least one child will have

a unique intolerance. While some cake businesses

will provide gluten or nut free cakes (as Vanilla Pod

does), check with guests to ensure that the cake on

offer will be able to be enjoyed be everyone, or at

least offer any alternative for those who can’t.

Have fun, plan ahead, and remember to enjoy the occasion!

Vanilla Pod Cake and Deli Café & Specialty Cake Kitchen pride themselves on producing the finest quality

cake creations. Whether it’s a novelty cake for a children’s party, or a one-of-a-kind masterpiece for a

wedding, Carla Burns and the Vanilla Pod team are dedicated to ensuring that their client’s ideas are taken

from the page and into the kitchen. With over ten years’ experience in the industry, Vanilla Pod is well suited

to meet all of your cake and decorating needs.

See their full menu at www.vanillapod.com.au, or stay up to date with their latest cake creations on Facebook

and Instagram. Vanilla Pod Specialty Cake Kitchen. 344 Sandgate Road (cnr Birkbeck St), Albion 4010. 07 3268 7285




Look for Parents Talk topics at www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/articles

Do you think children's party food should be kept to healthy options, or is that the fun police going too far?

LARA CAIN GRAY This Charming MumChildren’s birthday party food ain’t what it used to be. Where once stood a proud chocolate crackle, one now finds a fancy fruit platter, but I think this is more a case of moving with the times than being bullied by the fun police. Parents and kids alike are so much more aware now of the negative impact of artificial colours and excessive sugar intake, it’s only natural that this interest in healthy eating might spill over into the party zone. When I tell my kids I used to eat jelly ponds, honey jumbles and fairy bread, it sounds like something from an Enid Blyton novel!

But this is not to say that healthy food can’t be fun food. In fact, I’m more intimidated by the kind of ‘fun police’ who might arrest you for not turning your grapes into rocket kebabs or cutting teddy bear shapes out of a watermelon or recreating Elsa out of salad vegetables and cheese. A plate of chocolate crackles is but a minor misdemeanour in a world where Pinterest makes children’s party planning a competitive sport! And the funniest thing of all? The kids rarely

even notice what’s on offer. If they have friends, a few games, a playground or a princess room, they’re golden. So go forth and make your quinoa

crackles! There’s still plenty of fun to be had.

SARAH AND ROBYNA The Mummy and the MinxDid you have a Kate in your childhood? Kate was brought up to believe the epitome of a treat was a dried apricot every other Sunday. Bless Kate’s parents. Remember watching Kate at a birthday party? She would methodically inhale all of the lollies into her pie hole. It always ended in a sick tummy and tears for poor Kate. These days, it’s not just Kate parents have to worry about. Tom has a potentially fatal nut allergy. Richard has a gluten intolerance and Harry can’t eat eggs. It’s no issue to cater for Tom, Richard and Harry (and their parents) but do we have to throw the jelly babies out with the red cordial? A party spread with a good variety of healthy and not-so healthy options still seems sensible. Have you ever tried to fill a piñata with healthy options?

We both like to think that we have a very healthy approach to food. Food isn’t bad or good, it’s just food. Everything in moderation, for example, cake. Cake is oh so delicious right? And cake in moderation is fine. Cake on your birthday is a must! But cake everyday, perhaps not so great. You picking up what we’re putting down?

Birthdays don’t happen everyday so it makes sense that it is one of those days in the year where party food can be celebrated and enjoyed. We agree that no matter the setting, be it birthdays, Easter, Christmas etc, healthy options should be available. Nothing goes down faster than a plate of watermelon at a kid’s birthday party – children will choose a balance when given a choice. When choice is taken away, they do a Kate. We think birthdays happen once a year and no one should be made to feel bad for eating yummy cake on their birthday.

TALKParents


www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/articles



Some of the best-loved parenting bloggers in South East Queensland join Kids on the Coast and Kids in the City to

discuss the topics that matter to you.

Look for Parents Talk topics at www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/articles

Join the conversation...

Do you think children's party food should be kept to healthy options, or is that the fun police going too far?

GILLIAN MOODY Champagne CartelNot sure if it's just me, but GOD I get SO fed up with everyone banging on about what we should or shouldn't be eating. Whaddyareckon? Do you think we obsess waaaayy too much about our nosh? "Today for dessert we're having a gluten free, sugar free, wheat free,

meat free, vegan torte of quinoa, filled with a raw super-food mousse using Guadeloupean coconut water blended with dehydrated kumera and a powder made from the petrified poo of an organic lemur reared on incan corn-free cactus hearts. I threw it together in the Thermomix. So easy."

But (and I'm about to hugely contradict myself now) I do believe we need to consider the topic of kids party food. We need to remember there's a bunch of kids parties every year and if we all served up loads of junk food then you've got a heap of kids having weekly sugar comas. Less than ideal. Sure, it is little Tallulah-Honey-Lark-Song's special day and everyone wants her to have a good time, but a bit of community mindedness wouldn't hurt.

One thing I'd like to throw out there is: why do we seem to associate having a fun time with craptacular food? Perhaps it's not the best message to send to kids that parties must involve hardcore overindulgence and a whole lot of stuffing of faces with processed rubbish. I dunno. In my experience most kids just want to play games and run around at a party, and generally the food plays second fiddle anyway. We're the ones who are pushing the whole party food issue.

What's awesome about kids is that when they are taught about moderation and 'sometimes food' and when they are allowed to make their own food choices sometimes (within reason), most of them make great choices. I've seen them at parties, grabbing a cracker and cheese or some watermelon off the table as they hoon past at great pace with their mates.

So I say yeah, go for it, include a bit of fairy bread or chocolate biscuits or iced cupcakes. And maybe a popper (YES I do know juice in a tetra pack is the devil incarnate). But maybe just a bit more homemade food with identifiable ingredients. And plenty of healthy options. There's lots of great ways to make exciting kids party food that is relatively wholesome. Last year I did a parfait bar that included big tubs of yoghurt and whipped cream that people could layer up with a berry coulis, fresh fruit and sprinkle with nuts and choc bits. Not diet food, but not that bad. It was very popular. I threw it together in my Thermomix. So easy.

ADAM CLEMENTS Cook and KidA lot of kids get to a lot of these parties over the years at school. Particularly primary school. They are young and impressionable. What message are you trying to send your child in regards to food? If celebrating means over-eating on a bunch of sugar and salt and additives from a packet, then we need to re-assess how and what we are celebrating. I want to vomit when I see those party rooms at fast food joints and the like.

Plenty of fun and tasty food comes from simple fresh ingredients garnished with a little fun. The best ones I did were at my daughters 4th birthday. Watermelon, strawberry and marshmallow skewers. Tasty and fun. I'm far more concerned about the numbers on the chip packet than the sugar in the fruit, and the marshmallows were there for a touch of fun, without being the star of the show.

It's probably a good idea to list the style of food on the invite also so people know what to expect. You can also get the kids involved and make food an activity (for example, DIY pizza or tacos). If you're game. Or focus less on food and more on activities and togetherness. What's it, 2-3 hours at these things? No-one's going to starve! Make it unique in your own family style and be proud of it. If you're from a different culture, show off some of that.

I don't want to be the fun police, but I don't want to clean up after the kid who overloaded on corn chips and cordial and threw up on the carpet either. There is food and there is non-food. A little non-food is fine as long as it's not replacing a meal of actual food.

Keep it fresh and home-made as much as possible and leave a the surprises for the cake and the goody bags.


www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/articles



over 200,000*Combined readership

OUR PARTY CAKES!




- on the coast

- on the coast

- in the city

- in the city

A TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR

PARENTS, CARERS AND EXTENDED

FAMILIES

DON'T MISS OUT

Call 1300 430 320 or email your

Business Development

Manager

NEWS ARTICLES REVIEWS EVENTS* Combined monthly

readership from our printed publications, website, emarketing and social media channels

over 200,000*Combined readership






www.kidsonthecoast.com.auwww.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

Published by Mother Goose Media - www.mothergoosemedia.com.au





www.mothergoosemedia.com.au

kids party guide 2015

Documents