Need Ideas for Little Girls 1St Bday Party!!

We had a princess party for my daughter's third birthday. We decorated the house with twinkle lights and balloons. I painted two poster boards to look like castle tops which I put at the top of the two windows in our den and my husband strung twinkle lights around them. We played a version of the game, "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" called, "Give the Magic Wand to the Fairy Princess". I painted a princess on two posters taped together (fyi...I am not an artist so she was very simple looking but cute :) ). I also made flat Star Wands out of poster board as well and rimed the stars with silver glitter glue. I wrote each participants name on the stem of the wand. When it is their turn, put double sided tape on the wand. The child who gets the wand closest to the princess' hand is the winner.

We also invited the children to come in prince or princess attire. Many came in their princess dress up clothes, but some just wore a nice dress. We also had the "Princess Storyteller" come. She came in a beautiful gown and princess hat and told stories complete with a frog puppet. I got her name out of Dallas Child Magazine. Of course, this was eight years ago as my "princess" is now eleven, so not sure she is still in business! I guess you could be the storyteller yourself if you wanted to:). Good Luck with your party. I just know you will do great and have a wonderful time!

C.

A.,

The First Birthday is so exciting! The princess party sounds adorable. For my daughter's first Birthday we bought pink m&ms, which are plentiful now with Valentines stuff out, put about 1/4 cup in a little bag and I bought a pack of printable business cards, which I printed a note of thanks and put my daughter's photo on too and put those in the bags, easy favors and not too much junk for parents to take home. I also bought a pack of egg shakers, 12 to a pack at Lakeshore Learning store the kids love them. As for a cake, I bet if you googled photos of princess cakes you could find an idea. Also cupcakes would be a good idea. Here is a video site showing how to make a castle cake http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-###-###-####.html. Also, check out http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?recipeId=... & http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/castle-cake.html. As far as games just get out the toys all kids love to just play especially with someone else's toys. You could also print princess themed coloring pages off the web, easy and fun. Good Luck with your party. Have Fun!

P.
Mom to two yr. old girl and 6 month old boy, married to a great daddy & husband.

Hi A..

I am a Mom and a party planner, so have lots of ideas should you need them - or my assistance. Just last month I planned a Princess Themed b-day party for a 3 yr old and the biggest hit were the party favors. Among them were items I ordered from Whirlibird.com Check out her site, I think you'll be pleased. She made apprx. 20 treat bags for around $9 (which I filled with Hershey Kisses) and they were pink with pictures of castles and read "Happy 3'rd Birthday ____ Hope you had a Royally Fun Time" Very cute. She can also make water bottle labels which are a small touch that the parents go crazy over. Email me if I can assist further: ____@____.com

Off the top of my head:

Kids could make their own favors: make "shield" out of a paper plate - they decorate themselves.

goodie bag could include different styles of candy - make each candy represent something - red licorice=red for heart which stands for bravery. chocolate = earth = courage or steadfastness. gold foil covered coins = treasure = valuable person.

Make it up!

little girls could make their own "hats" - kids decorate paper plate; (adult)cuts a pie shape piece out of paper plate, tape or glue into a cone shape, and glue a streamer of some type.

boys - paper bowls covered with tinfoil become helmets?

You know the little boys are going to have to have swords - I don't know how you feel about "violence" Maybe you can make swords out of foam of some sort. Or maybe have Little John "staffs" made out of the water pipe insulation tubes you get at Home Depot/Lowes.

Or hats that look like Robin Hood's? then you need bows and arrows!

What fun!

we just went to a princess and knight party. One of the games was dancing to music and freezing when it stopped, but each round you got an addition to your costume - tiara, princess wand, fake knight sword for boys, etc. Then at the end that was the part of the party favor. The cake looked like a castle.

The Dollar isle at walmart was is a great place to start for party favors. The cheap cheap tiny toys you see in the isle at Wal-mart, with the bag of dinasours, and multi-packs of the small playdough, and multi-packs of bubble's that fit perfect in gift bags. You can find tiaras, and crowns at a dollar store for practically nothing. That's what I always do, it's less inexpensive than "party favor" items in the party isle, or the party stores, and stretches further.

One game that sounds so simple, and silly, is balloons. We just got a big bag of balloons, blew them up ourselves, and they would be strewn all over the floor, and the kids would have to pop the balloons without using their hands/arms or feet. Made it somewhat of a challange, (most of them used their tummies or rear ends, it was very comical to watch!) Whoever popped the most balloons the big prize, but we made sure we had small prizes for everyone so they all won something. I divided the parents up to keep count of other childrens popping besides their own, so no cheating. tee hee. Some parents are so competitive. This simple game sounds silly, but it was the biggest hit at our parties, and all it cost us was a bag of balloons, and a few prizes.

hope this helps a little!
A.