Party
Activities & Crafts
Parties
for Preschoolers
Activities
are very much a birthday party tradition, but for preschoolers,
it is not always an easy one!
Preschoolers are well known for overreacting to situations which
often times leads to the dreaded “Temper Tantrum”.
This is almost always caused by frustration because preschoolers
know what they want but often times lack the ability to get it…and
when they see someone else get it, they often bursts into tears.
Even
if no one has a temper tantrum, what about setting up rules for
games. With 5 to 10 (or more) kids running around and giggling
--- who has time to stop and listen to rules? If the rules take
more then 10 seconds to explain the chances are you will feel
like you are getting no where and fast!
The
point here is do not expect your preschooler's party to be a graceful
event that just flows from one activity to the other. Preschoolers
in general don't handle competition well, they do not listen well
in groups, are very impatient and will let you know point blank
if a activity is boring or not.
The first step of a successful preschooler party is to fully understand
the goal of the party. It is not to create a strict school environment
were you have to conform and listen or else!…the goal is
to have fun celebrating a special day. Plan activities that everyone
can participate in, where there are no winners and allow children
to get to know each other. These are the best…especially
for starters.
The
next step is to plan some “Energy Outlets” –
these are the games that let kids release all there energy. Holding
your party at a community center pool, tobogganing hill or a playground
is great for this. As I stated in the “Fitness” chapter,
preschoolers do better with free play activities then structured
ones. The benefit of having parties at locations like this is
you can plan a couple organized activities and then let them go
have free play time! Just make sure you have lots of help to keep
an eye on the kids…DO NOT try this alone.
In summary just remember to not over structure your preschooler's
party. This will only create frustration for you and the children.
Keep it simple and if they are doing something they like, then
do not go to something else --- just because it is planned.
And
most of all remember to HAVE FUN!
There are many games in other chapters, such as the "Multi
Tool Activities" section, that work great at parties.
Below are some other excellent activities that go well for almost
any preschoolers party enjoy!
Who
Are You?
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: None
Instructions: This is a great activity to start
a part off. Have the children sit in a circle and ask them a bunch
of questions. If the can answer yes to any of them they need to
stand up. For example you can ask questions like...who is 4 years
old? who has a pet cat? whose favorite desert is ice cream?
Playdoh
Fun
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Playdoh, cookie cutters, rolling pins,
and a disposable table cloth
Instructions: Put lots of playdoh on the table
and let the children create.
Bugs!
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: Cheap dollar store magnifying glasses,
paper and crayons.
Instructions: Take the kids in your back yard
and have them explore for bugs then have them draw pictures of
the bugs.
Make
that Shape
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: Paper and crayons
Instructions: Give each child a piece of paper
that you have drawn a shape on. Use all different shapes. Have
the children make pictures out of the shape and then get volunteers
(do not force) to explain what they made. Younger ones will need
help.
Bean
Bag Toss
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: Large cardboard box and cut three different
size holes in it and small bean bags.
Instructions: Simple game but always a kid favorite.
Have the kids try and get the bag in the holes. THis game does
have a little competition in it and as stated above is not always
the best for preschoolers but I have not yet had an issue with
bean bag toss at my daughters parties. Have the kids line up one
behind another and they get three chances each. They can play
as much as they want.
Treasure
Hunt
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Low
Materials: Treats or coins to hide
Instructions: Have a treasure map with clues
for the kids. Walk through the treasure map with them asking them
for help to identify the clues until you get to where the X on
the map is (a sandbox works best). Once there have the kids dig
for treasure.
Pet
Rock Creations
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Medium
Materials: Small rocks, paint, markers, glue
and string
Instructions: Give each child a rock and have
them make pet rocks using the supplies that you give them.
Face
Painting
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: High
Materials: Non Toxic face makeup (paint)
Instructions: Have two or three designated assistants
who are the party face painters. Have each child take a turn getting
their face painted anyway they want.
Hand
Puppets
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Brown Paper Lunch Bags, crayons or
markers, different color yarn and tape
Instructions: Have the children make puppets
of them self from the paper bags and the supplies you give them.
Pinnate
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Materials: Candy filled Pinnate and a stick
Instructions: Each child is blind folded, and
turned three times, then they walk toward the pinnate, and each
gets two swings. Always a big hit!
Side
Walk Museum
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Lots of sidewalk chalk
Instructions: Let the kids decorate your entire
driveway with their chalk art and then do a tour of their art
work..
Rhyming
Ages: 5 and Up
Mess: Low
Materials: A big cardboard box and household
items that rhyme ...examples could be a hat and a bat, a shoe
and a bottle of glue and so on.
Instructions: Put one of each item in the box
and have the children sit in front of you. Pull one item out and
then tell them to tell you if the next item you pull out rhymes
with the item in your hand. Tell the children to yell the answers...be
sure not to pull out the object that rhymes right away. Kids love
this.
