Cincinnati Family Magazine

Your # 1 Hometown Family Resource

March 28, 2024

Let’s Party!

Goody bags, theme ideas and more!

5 Goody Bag Ideas

These can be a real challenge — try these tips for goody bag awesomeness!

  1. Give a gift that lasts — art supplies like stickers, a coloring book and a small pack of crayons will give your guests something to continue the fun at home.
  2. KIDS LOVE candy — Believe it or not, you can never go wrong by giving kids unique candy. They love Fun Dip, ring pops, Pixy Stix, Pop Rocks, bubble gum.
  3. Use crafts as activity and the gift to take home — If your party’s activity involves a craft, let that be the party favor.
  4. FUN containers — Put your goody in a reusable container, like a water bottle, lunchbox or pencil pouch.
  5. Add a personal touch — a CD of his favorite songs is easy to compile and make, and gets the birthday child involved in party planning.

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What’s an awesome birthday party theme that can be done easily (and inexpensively)?

“Balloons! What kid doesn’t love them and you can even bring in a balloon artist.”
Emily Chopelas

“We’ve done a bug theme before. Very cute! You can get bug boxes at the dollar store and buy a bunch of plastic or stretchy bugs and throw them around the yard, then the kids fill up their boxes on a bung hunt. I made chocolate cupcakes frosted in green and topped with Oreo crumbs and a gummy worm. It was easy and the kids had so much fun! Don’t forget about bug tattoos too!”
Wendy Hammock Vancini

“Luau! Always stuff at Dollar Tree.”
Ann Peelman

“Carnival theme. With easy carnival games and a fish pond. With a carnival theme the kids got to decorate their own cupcakes instead of serving cake.”
Alicia Smith

“Craft party. You can do anything with that. We’ve also done a Halloween theme … just reuse your Halloween stuff!”
Sharon Smith

Age-by-age Party Games for Kids!

It’s always good to have a few games at the ready to keep kids occupied.

For ages 3 – 4
Boomer-Whitz
(from momswhothink.com)
Show your party guests a small object, then send them out of the area while you hide it (keep at least part of the object visible, as this game is something of a combination of “Hide & Seek” and “I Spy”). Bring the kids back and let them hunt for the object. The first child to find it must call out “Boomer-Whitz!” Then he gets to hide the object for the next round. This can be played indoors or out.

For ages 5 – 6
Switcheroo (from spoonful.com)
Collect a bunch of accessories like jewelry, scarves, ribbons, sunglasses, hats, gloves, etc. Divide your party into two teams. Team A will choose two or three players to put on as many of the accessories as they can in 30 seconds while both teams watch. The dressed up players are then taken into another area to trade some of their accessories with each other. When they return, their own team members get two minutes to guess the switches (one point per correct answer). When time is called, the other team tries to earn points by guessing what the first team missed. Then it’s time for Team B to dress their own players!

For ages 6 – 8
Runway Landing (from kidspot.com)
Before the party, make simple cardboard airplanes with each party guest’s name on them. Hang a map on the wall and mark a “landing strip” with a push-pin or circle. Line up kids on the other side of the room, and create an obstacle course with chairs, cushions, empty boxes, etc. Let the players look over the course, then blindfold them, one at a time, as they attempt to navigate the course and safely land their plane. The child who lands closest to the landing strip wins!

A Brand-New Place to Party!

Sky Zone, the new indoor trampoline park, is now open for kids of all ages and for birthday parties, too. Sky Zone’s located at 11745 Commons Drive in Springdale. The all-trampoline, walled playing court includes open jump times, dodge ball tournaments, a Foam Zone, and more. A variety of party options are available. Get the scoop on party rentals at 513-671-1333 or visit skyzone.com/springdale.

Magical Birthdays

What children want more than anything on their birthday is to feel special! Here are 10 ways you can start your own birthday traditions to create magical moments your child will remember for years to come:

  1. Decorate your kitchen with streamers and birthday things the night before your child’s day WHILE HE’S SLEEPING.
  2. Wake up your child singing “Happy Birthday.”
  3. Make a special birthday breakfast.
  4. Pull out your child’s baby picture and display it on your kitchen table.
  5. Have lunch with your child at school & bring cupcakes.
  6. make your child’s favorite cake.
  7. let your child pick out all of his meals on his special day.
  8. Create a time capsule: Each year, put a photo of your child, a newspaper from the day, a drawing your child made that year and other things you can think of. File it away and pull it out each year!
  9. set up a birthday chair: Decorate it with balloons & birthday cards. When it’s time for presents, this is his chair!
  10.  let him be the family decision maker for the day!

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