Story Book Party

It's a struggle all parents may face sooner or later...what to do for your preschooler's upcoming birthday party! Visions of lots of little ones clamoring for something fun to do right now can seem overwhelming for some parents.

Taking the children to a high-priced, packaged "party place" is simply not an option for many parents. With a little advanced planning and your child's favorite story book, the next birthday party you plan can go off without a hitch! The book Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming provides numerous ideas for creating a fabulously fun birthday! Here are some simple suggestions:

Read: Begin by gathering the children together and reading the story. With this book, it is easy to involve all the children in the story by having them make the sounds of each of the animals as you read each line. "Hens in the henhouse ~ cluck cluck cluck." "Donkeys in the paddock ~ hee haw haw." At the end of the story, the author poses the question, "But where's goose?" Goose is pictured chasing off after a butterfly.

Play: This ending leads right into an exciting game! Prior to the children's arrival, cut several butterflies out of brightly colored paper. Hide the butterflies around a designated area inside or out. When you finish reading the story, explain to the children that it is their turn to "fly" off after the butterflies. Have the children bring the butterflies to you as they find them. After all are found, it's time for a snack!

Eat: In advance, make one sandwich for each child (peanut butter works well). Place each sandwich on a small paper plate and set on a table. Have each child, using farm animal-shaped cookie cutters, "cut and make" their own sandwich. Pop popcorn prior to the children's arrival to serve with the sandwich and offer low-fat milk, 100% juice, or water to drink.

Craft: A Little Clucker.

For this simple activity you will need, per child:
one small plastic cup (yogurt containers work well) with a hole poked through the bottom, a piece of string about 18 inches in length, and one paper clip. Have the children tie one end of the string to the paper clip and insert the other end through the bottom of the cup. Invert the cup so that it is upside down with the string hanging freely out through the top of the cup and the paper clip resting on the outside of the bottom of the cup. Holding the cup in one hand, use the other hand to pull the string downward in short, quick tugs. This will create your chicken's clucking sound. These Little Cluckers make a great party favor for the children to take home!