by Rebecca Miller Ffrench posted in Life & Home
First I must say “yay!!” to all the people who commented on my last post Elevating kids party food, which essentially showed how to dress up the usual suspects (pizza, fish and chips, etc.). Many readers were looking for healthier options and were disappointed. One said, “Why would you need to dress up pizza? The kids will eat it either way…” and she is right. I am all for serving kids “real food” as another reader said, and love that you’re looking for healthier alternatives. I will gather my favorites and post them. In the meantime though I want to finish up the series using the KIDS formula for party planning. The previous posts have covered K through D, and this one finishes with S – SEND them home with a favor.
No joke, my three-year-old daughter once left a birthday party with more loot than we could carry home—we had to hail a cab.
There was a pink plastic lawn chair, frilly lace umbrella, and an oversize princess shopping bag filled with lots more plastic birthday booty—all personalized with curly paint-pen letters and tied together in a rather large, unmanageable bundle. What exactly was the idea behind overloading guests with more stuff than they could handle?
My idea of a good party favor is much less extravagant. I prefer practical swag. Something small, usable, portable and playful.
When I worked at Conde Nast’s Cookie magazine (RIP), one of my favorite short party pieces was about favors: practical and personalized with a slight homemade spin.
The following were the favors that were featured. Try them out for your next party.
Paratrooper Play Scene
Place an interlocking envelope (pochette envelopes, $11.90 for 10, paperpresentation.com) over a photocopy of a map and trace. Cut out the map and glue to the envelope. Tuck two paratroopers in the envelope, which acts as a landing mat, before you close it up (action paratroopers, 6 for $2.99, partycity.com).
You can do the same thing by creating a race track and including play cars.
Magnet Pouch
Fill a small fabric pouch (sheer organza bags, 19 cents each, balloons-galore.net) with about 10 magnetic marbles ($8.95 for 50 scientificsonline.com), then attach a mini horseshoe magnet (79 cents each, xump.com) to the ribbon tie.
Jewelry Jar
Fill baby food jars or small purchased ones (4 ounce jars 57 cents each, specialtybottle.com) with wooden beads ($6.25 for one pound, orientaltrading.com). Tie two pieces of waxed cord (that can be used for stringing) ($4 for 25 thirty-inch pieces, beadland.com) around the lid of the jar in a bow.
Bathtime Kit
Fill baby food jars or small purchased ones (4 ounce jars 57 cents each, specialtybottle.com) with tub tints (color bath tablets, 300 for $10.14, amazon.com), spray paint the lids if desired, and secure rubber ducks ($6.50 for 12, orientaltrading.com) to the tops with Super glue.
And so concludes the details of using the KIDS formula to plan a party. Remember, KIDS first and party planning is a cinch.
Rebecca has a passion for parties and weakness for fanciful creations, from handmade cards to three-tiered cakes. She blogs about celebrating and other things home-related at sweet-home.com.
Feature photograph by Diane Fields
Read more from source:“babycenter”
send em home with a favor
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