Ideas for 7 yo bday party at home

[shelbean91]

Last year, we had dd's bday party for friends at Peter Piper Pizza- easy, no cleanup, expensive (invited her whole class).

This year, we decided to have a more simple thing at home. She invited about 10 friends and so far, 4 have said they're coming.

We're going to do cake/icecream, balloons and streamers, etc. It's from 2-4, so no 'real' food. What else can we do? I'm planning on shopping for supplies in a few hours. It's been SO long since I've been to an 'at home' party, I honestly don't remember what to do. Games, pinata, etc.

[pigpokey]

I saw a 100 pack of water balloons at the Dollar store today. That looked like fun!

Do they jump rope yet at 7? Maybe a big jump rope, and award prizes in real and silly categories to the jumpers.

Cookie decorating would be a safe indoor plan.

[Lovenest]

If you have a $1 store or craft store near by I would pick up jewelry boxes, paint and some beads and have them each decorate there own jewelry box. Then when they leave have like a bracelet and a ring or something to put in them. Or you could get a bunch of beads, string and clasps and make necklaces or bracelets. I would not buy a bunch of junk to fill a bag though as it just ends up in the garbage, something fun to do and they can keep is always the best.
You could also get ceramic pots and have the girls paint them and then have a flower for each girl to plant in there pot.

Food:

Shirley Temples (mix 1/2 cup ginger ale with 2 tablespoons grenadine and garnish with a Maraschino cherry)

Maybe just a cheese pizza cut with cookie cutters to make it fun.

Fresh fruit with some colorful yogurt for dipping or even melted chocolate.

Really anything to dip kids usually enjoy.

Games:

Play "pin the butterfly on the flower". Draw a large flower on a piece of poster board, along with a simple butterfly. To make them sturdier you can glue or tape them to card stock.

Enjoy a guessing game by filling a clear jar with colorful jelly beans. Have each child guess a number and the closest guess wins a prize or the jar of candy.

Then there is always the "chubby bunny" game with the marshmallows, but you have to be careful with chocking. But, thats what we always did at my parties growing up.

Have fun!

[chel]

my dd just got back from a bd party. She told the host it was the best ever!

It was a Little House on the Prairie theme.

the girls churned butter (not sure of the details but dd said they just put cream in one of those tiny plastic food storage containers and shook it)

made paper dolls. The head of the doll was a photo of the child taken at the party.

Lots of jump roping.

gift bags included a Little House book, a stick candy and a chocolate bar (the candy had a old-time feel, probably bought at a Cracker Barrel)

[Tigerchild]

Is your DD interested at all in a 'theme', or does she just want to hang out?

If she just wants to hang out, do you guys have any party games that are good for big groups (like cranium or pictionary jr.)? They could do something like that, have a movie party, a bbq with backyard games and music, ect.

If she wants a special theme, I bet the creative minds here can give you some ideas of what to do with something specifically. Otherwise, I'd just go with what her general interests are, from playing games to renting/borrowing a kareoke machine and/or digital movie camera and letting them make 'videos', or something crafty or sporty or whatever she and her friends are into. I think low key, hangout parties can be just as fun as themed ones, and a couple of hours goes by really really quick.

[shelbean91]

She likes a bit of the disney princess stuff. I ordered a cupcake cake and bought pink streamers, plates, cups, and napkins. I bought some stuff for a gift bag- pencils, candy, princess wands, slinkys- all at the party store, so not too much money. I like the idea of decorating something- will take time, will be fun, will be something they can bring home.

I like the lowkey party thing- though we have almost no (complete) board games. I think I'll have to get a couple.

[kamilla626]

You could buy some inexpensive terracotta flower pots for each kid to decorate with paint, stickers, little shells, etc. It could be a "garden party" - the kids can take home their decorated pot, a packet of seeds and a cheap garden tool.

You could also get some cheap canvas or denim bags (real tiny ones) to decorate with fabric paints. You could do the same with cheap pillowcases or sun visors.

The kids could make necklaces - just put out a couple bowls of beads and let them do their thing. Maybe you could buy some really unique and special beads, and you could make a game out of distributing them so each kid has a copule really different beads to add to their necklace.

Buy some Disney character stickers to make "bingo" cards, and play bingo. Instead of "G-47... B-11...." just call out the characters.

[shelbean91]

I like the flower pots- maybe we could make the pots- get some soil and plant some seeds. One of the teachers I work with is very into gardening and could tell me what seeds would do best with that!!

I'm just SO not crafty anymore (used to be a little, little bit but have lost most of it) so these ideas are great! I'll have to write them down before going to the store or I'll forget.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I think my birthday party at that age was a Hawaiian luau. My mom bought us hula skirts and leis. We played some games, probably had pizza and cake. I just remember that the skirts got tissue paper all over the house, and to this day, am am grateful that my mom (the OCD neat freak), tolerated it.

The year after that (February birthday), we went ice skating

But for a spring birthday, flower planting sounds like a really cool idea..

[magpie mamma]

when DD was 7 we had a camping party, it was in the evening, but no one stayed over. We set up the tent, had a camp fire with hot dogs and smores. My DH play the guitar and they sang campfire songs from a little song book we made for everyone. Party favors were tied in a bandana. Played tug of war, had gunny sack races, simple but very fun, not too expensive.