My eldest turns five this week (I can't believe how fast that time has gone!) so for her birthday we're going to have a shared party with one of her friends from school in a few weeks time.
The bar has been set pretty high with the children's parties that we've attended so far, but one we really enjoyed was one set on a farm doing a few outdoor activities like den building and forest pictures. So we thought we'd try something similar and arrange a "forest school" type party here on the homestead, with the village hall type building we have near by rented out for food afterwards or in case it rains.
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| A "forest" picture made on the ground |
The party is going to be a couple of hours long and I have a few ideas for actives that they're going to do. The main one is I'm going to build a nice big log circle in advance so there can be a small fire burning, marshmallows can be toasted over it and it can be the meeting point when the actives are done.
What actives do you think would be good for an outdoorsy winters party for a group 20 or so of 5 year olds?
I'll really welcome any ideas to help keep them entertained!
Sounds like a great party theme and similar to what will do on a much smaller scale in May, brave people to have 20 kids.
ReplyDeleteMy little girl is only 3.5 years old (so what she likes might be a bit young) but at her forest school they did a treasure hunt based on the stick man.
1. Each had a map with numbers and the kids followed them to final prize it was a hidden marshmallow pack for the children to use for smores (a soaked kebab stick, 2 choc digestives and 3 marshmallows in a plastic bag)
2. Make nature crowns and leaf art.
3. Another thing could be make some minibeast home and let them decorate them and then children could take them home.
I'm sure whatever you do, it will be a blast!
I like the treasure hunt idea - I think that's great. A theme for it would be good as well - Thanks!
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DeleteA good blazing fire is a must! How about a Quiz (easy), then each child could win a bag of marshmallows to roast. You will need very long roasting twigs. You may also need to keep a big tub of burns cream handy.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we won't be needing the burn cream! Long tiws are no problem as we'll be having the fire down in the young willow coppice.
DeleteI would second the treasure hunt idea ! Our oldest had a birthday in January and when he was young we would arrange a party in the park and have them do a scavenger hunt with pictures, like who can find a green leaf, a brown twig etc. Good luck with the party !
ReplyDeleteYeah, I like that idea as well. A good one with pictures and maybe a few letters they can read.
DeleteI am with the treasure hunt. Maybe along the way they could get stamps in a little card, when they go past an area, so they are looking all the time for things. A bit like geocaching. Or instead of stamps how about a sticker?
ReplyDeleteAlso like the idea of a mini bug hotel. but they could be hard to control, with so many children at once. so maybe an idea for in a few years.
Birthday parties just used to be pass the parcel, so cake and musical chairs. Things really have changed, havent they.
One of my great nieces went to a little girls party, where is was a pamper day (afternoon), they had manicures and pedicures!!! At 5 I would have prefered being outside over nail varnish. I am not even sure I knew what it was at that time. My other great niece came home with a party invite with a piece of paper that said that whilst every safety precaution would be taken, the parents knew the risks involved and they would not sue if the child died. I cant remember what that was about. But I remember the letter enclosed. lol wild right.
What about the kids making damper bread. Twirl it around a stick and an adult cook it over the fire and then it could be taken to the village hall to be eaten?
http://www.food.com/recipe/australian-bush-bread-damper-41616
What about pintrest for some ideas?
When they collect their sticks. Maybe you could tell them what tree the sticks come from and they could draw the leaves? bit of learning thrown in?
Bear Grylls for kids! love it
Good luck
I'm going to do the damper bread with my girls one night soon but I think it'll cook too slowly for this party (raw dough is rubbish!) but I think marshmallows or something similar would be good.
DeleteI thought about the teaching bit with the leaves and trees but then I might be making it harde than it needs to be.
DeleteHow about choosing some January sown seeds to sow each, each one can take a pot home with their name on and your little one can ask they how it is going in a week or 2 when they hopefully germinate?
ReplyDeleteSee who can be the quietest and tell you a sound each that they can hear, a bird, cracking of the fire, cows, sheep, rustling of the trees.
The treasure hunt is a must :)
Take care
I like that idea as well but I think it's better if I keep them out of my garden (they don't know the rules!) and more into the woods!
DeleteA bit of quiet time would be good but it's not very likely with that many kids (although I'm sure it'll be the parents making more noise)!
This party sounds absolutely adorable! There are so many good ideas here I'm going to steal for future use!
ReplyDeleteSteal away - I'll tell you what works and what doesn't!
DeleteWow, can I come?
ReplyDeleteI'll send you an invite. You're five right?
DeleteSounds fun Kev, I'm sure most of them would be happy throwing corn to the chickens and enjoy a hot chocolate round the fire.
ReplyDeleteYeah but I think I'll keep them all away from the garden and farm yard bit as there's too much machinery and things to hurt themselves on!
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