Orange, black, red, and brown, these are the most thought of colors associated with fall. It is not a season that should only be celebrated for a few months; sprinkle it into activities throughout the year. For example, a child born in February may get a Mardi Gras or Valentine's themed party every year, so why not mix things up by having a dress up party reminiscent of Halloween. There is a lot of fun to be had by changing the theme to bring a bit of Fall flavor to a chilly winter or scorching summer day. Of course, there is nothing wrong with throwing a Fall party in the Fall; it would be just a little bit more of a good thing.
Throw a Monster Party
With a graveyard cake, vampire bats hanging from the ceiling, spider webs covering doorways and ghosts popping out of mirrors, a monster party is always fun. Powdered donuts are transformed into eyeballs and green food coloring turns pudding into slime. To make things even more fun, have a trunk of old Halloween costumes available so the kids can play dress up. A homemade piñata can be fabricated easily and decorated to match any theme. A monster party is only limited by the party thrower's imagination.
Have a Pumpkin Decorating/ Carving Party
Creativity in children is wonderful. Why not foster that spark and have a party simultaneously? When your child shows you something they have worked very hard on, the look on their little faces when you gush over it is priceless. For the very young, carving is out of the picture but that doesn't mean they cannot get in on the fun, paints, stickers, and glitter will decorate a pumpkin just as fast as a knife will. For the older kids, drawing a scary or silly face and scooping out the pumpkin goop is a lot of fun. A pumpkin party is a great way to get a little one-on-one time during a birthday; all while making a mess and having a good time.
If pumpkins are out of season, improvise by having the kids make their own with coffee cans or pots for plants. A little bit of orange, black, and green paint can turn almost any container into a makeshift pumpkin.
Host an Indians and Pilgrims Party
The children can either come to the party in their own outfit or making the outfits can be incorporated into the party games. To make an Indian headdress, set out construction paper and children's scissors. If scissors make your pulse race then have the feathers and headbands already cut out so that stapling or gluing is the only thing necessary for the kids to embellish their headwear. Making a pilgrim hat is just as simple. Black, yellow and white construction paper and some glue are the only tools needed. A few old brown tee shirts can be cut into Indian frocks and old black and white tees can be fashioned into pilgrim wear. The designs do not need to be elaborate to be enjoyed. Imagination will fill in the gaps that imperfect construction may leave.
Cecilia Williams - I'm a Licensed PTA and I have background experience as a Physical Therapy Specialist with the US Army. Many times I've been asked to ...
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