Kids theme party: Top Chef

My youngest son loves to cook so this theme was very appropriate and the most fun ever. The idea was to get a bunch of kids together and have them make their own food.

Decor:
Chefs hats - I found paper chefs hats that I just stapled together.
Aprons - I was lucky to find a tailor to make these for me but you could cut these out of inexpensive cloth and stitch ribbons for ties. Plastic white table cloths would work too.
Balloons - Plenty of balloons add a festive mood
Top Chef trophy- Buy one from a party supply store and decorate it as use it as part of the decor.
Food supplies- Like any well stocked chef's kitchen, use food and pantry items as part of the decor. I used groupings of fruit and vegetables all over the main table and groupings of condiments.

Food/Activities:
This is one party where these blend together. Prepare tomato sauce ahead of time. Have a ball of pizza dough ready for each child, a couple of rolling pins and flour to dust. Divide the kids into groups so so some roll first and some gather their toppings for the large food display and chop them. You will need 2 or more pizza try so you can cook as many pizzas together as possible.

While the kids are waiting … have them decorate prebaked cupcakes …

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The Cake:
Make a large cake that looks like a pizza, or a giant sugar cookie dough cake.

Games:
The taste test - divide the group into two teams and have them line up. One by one the kids get blindfolded and they have to taste something fed to them in a spoon. If they guess it right they get a point for their team. The team with the most points win. Sample items can be bits of cheese, chocolate, fruit, candy etc.

4 food groups - Similar to the old party game 4 corners. Create 4 printouts of posters with the 4 food groups. Kids dance to the music and when it stops they pick a corner. A food group is picked out of a hat all kids standing in that group are out of the game.

Click here to see other games

Loot bags - Toys are just too boring for this party. Put together a simple dry cookie mix. You can find many recipes on the internet. Include instructions, sprinkles a cookie cutter and place in a nice bright colored party bag.

Kids theme party: Art Party

My older son is an amazing artist so this theme was very appropriate. Plan to have enough room for each child to paint and be creative. Make sure to cover everything as the paint does tend to get on everything. Ask the parents to dress their kids in clothes that are ok to stain.

Invitations:
These were cut out of old cardboard to look like an art palette. Blobs of paint were used and I glued on a paintbrush from the dollar store.

Decor:
Balloons - Plenty of balloons add a festive mood
Pictures and old paintings - Old kids art was placed all around the room to create an art gallery effect.
Large empty frame - I happened to have this lying around - we suspended it and the kids took pictures behind it like they were 'picture perfect' or a 'piece of art'

Activities:
Buy a wooden alphabet for each child that represents their first name. Have them paint and decorate it with glitter etc. They can be judged to win a prize and the alphabet is a great keepsake.

Divide the kids into two groups or more. Give them a bunch of paint and paint brushes and artboard and let them design a masterpiece. the masterpiece must contain the name of the birthday child. Best painting wins.

The Cake:
Make a large cake that looks like an artist's palette.


Lootbags - Fill bags with craft supplies - paint, brushes crayons etc.

Kids Party food

Puff Daddy dogs.

Puff pastry cut in thin strips with a knife or a pizza cutter.
Jumbo hot dogs
popsicle sticks
foil

Roll the hot dog with the pastry. You should be able to see large parts of the hotdog. Insert a popsicle stick into each hot dog. Cover each stick with small strips of foil so they don't burn. Bake for 15- 20 mins in a preheated oven.

Nachos
Tortilla chips
Grated cheddar and mozzarella
sliced olives
salsa
ground beef or chicken optional

Place the chips on some parchment paper, add salsa, olives and ground beef of chicken, top with cheese and grill till cheese melts.

Kids Party Games

Bomb the city
Print out the names of cities and throw them all over the floor. Play some music … when the music stops each child steps on a city. Instead of just calling out the name of the city from a hat, i like to make it more like a clue "Like which city never sleeps" or "Which city is home to Disney World". The city that is bombed must be retired till there is only one city left.

The taste test
Divide the group into two teams and have them line up. One by one the kids get blindfolded and they have to taste something fed to them in a spoon. If they guess it right they get a point for their team. The team with the most points win. Sample items can be bits of cheese, chocolate, fruit, candy etc.

4 food groups
Similar to the old party game 4 corners. Create 4 printouts of posters with the 4 food groups. Kids dance to the music and when it stops they pick a corner. A food group is picked out of a hat all kids standing in that group are out of the game.

Clothes Relay
This game is tonnes of fun. Make two teams. In two large baskets or bags place identical articles of clothing, two hats, two shirts, two ties etc. Each team member comes up wears and dresses one person in their team who stands by the basket. The first person that is fully dressed first wins.

Rockstar Wars
If you want a game that keeps the kids out of your hair for a long period of time, this is it. Divide the kids into two groups or more. For each group you will need a boom box or an ipod or mp3 player. They have to select a song and perform it for judges.

Art Attack
Divide the kids into two groups or more. Give them a bunch of paint and paint brushes and artboard and let them design a masterpiece. the masterpiece must contain the name of the birthday child. Best painting wins

Witch relay
Get two halloween brooms. Line up the kids in two teams …each person has to run with the broom between their legs to a point and back. First team to complete wins.