Tag Archives: Kid’s Parties

Sep13

Spa & Glamour Party Activities

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Spa & Glamour Party Activities

Spa Party

Applying the facial mask

Continuing from our previous post, Celebration Ideas for Kids Aged 7 and Up, here are some activities you can include for the Spa and Glamour Party. It’s best to have more than one adult to help out during these parties. If you have extra time because you have a small number of kids, you can include some party games like, Musical Statues, Pass the Bag like Pass the Parcel but  using a glam bag instead (you can get a cheap one at thrift stores) and have some hair clips , hair ties, headband and even play jewellery as part of the goodies in the bag and Pin the Tiara on the Lady – yes, your “glam” version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Spa Party:

  • Have the guests come in their bathrobes (with clothes underneath of course!). You can either buy or make some towelling headbands for the guests. For a tutorial on how to make the towelling headbands, head on to The Haby Goddess’ blog.
  • Set up a few small plastic bowls on a table, plastic spoons and paintbrushes (if you can them in white -great!)- this is where they will be mixing their own masks. Have a bowl filled with oats, a smaller bowl with natural yoghurt and another with honey. You can call this the DIY mask station.
  • Set up another table as the manicure & pedicure station. This is where you and/or another adult will be doing the kids’ nails and toenails.
  • Set yet another table as the tattoo station. Have a variety of sticker tattoos and glitter jewelled stickers for the kids to choose from
  • When guests arrive, sit them down at the table and hand each kid a towelling headband to place around their head. Get the kids to mix their own masks in the bowls, then making sure each kid has a partner, paint each other’s faces with the oatmeal mask. Once they’ve all done that, take a group photo – this will make a great Thank You card too! You can either take the group photo and later on print them and stick them onto card stock as a Thank You card or, even on magnetic paper. If you have a Polaroid camera, then this is another instant option. Polaroid images can be included as part of their loot bags.
  • After the photo session, give each kid a face towel and head them off to the bathroom to wash their faces. This is when you also start clearing up the DIY mask station and set up the party food.
  • As the kids are busy eating their party food, take each kid and bring them over to the nail station.
  • Those who have finished having their nails and toenails done can then proceed to the tattoo station. This whole “pampering” process would take quite a lot of time, depending on the number of kids you have.
  • Once they’ve all been primped and painted, it’s cut the cake time! Then loot bag and yes – HOME!

Glamour Party:

In most cases, the activities are similar to having a Spa Party, the only difference being, the “Mask Station”, instead of that, have a “Hair Station”

  • Set up the Hair Station by having some hair gels, glitter, hair ties, hair clips, fake colourful hair extensions, curling/crimping irons (if you have any, if not it doesn’t matter really) and hair spray.
  • Set up the Pamper Station – manicure & pedicure
  • Set up the Tattoo Station – this could include some face painting if desired.
  • Set up another table as the Jewellery Station – this is where you would have bowls of different beads and stringing supplies
  • Set up a Glamour Photo Station – if you can be bothered with painting a huge cardboard into a background, then place this on a wall as a mural for each kid to take a photo in front of with the host. If not, it’s still fine, simply hang some tulle on a wall. Like the group photo idea in the Spa Party, the photos can be used as Thank You cards, magnets or on Polaroid as part of their loot bag.
  • Set up a table for the party food. This could also be set up in your kitchen.
  • When guests arrive ask them to select the station they want to proceed to first. This is why it’s handy to have a few adults around at each station. The remaining guests can have their party food first. If they’re not hungry yet, they can start at the Jewellery Station to make their own jewellery – this forms as part of their loot bag gifts.
  • Basically, the guests and host gets primped and propped up at the different stations and once they are ready gets to take a photo with the host at the Glamour Photo Station. The primping and propping takes ages to finish usually, or at least the jewellery making station. Once they have finished taking their photos, it’s cake time and then loot bag and home. Make sure you ask for the parents’ permission if their kids are allowed to have products on their hair – there are natural products available out there too!

Of course, if you’re pressed for time or have a lack of available adults to help out…or would rather NOT do all the work yourself, there are places out there that host such parties.

Have you got any more ideas on the type of activities to include? Share some with us.

Jul31

A wrapper of an idea!

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A wrapper of an idea!

My 4 year old had a party today, and yes, I had present ready, card had already been made, then I realised – oops…no wrapping paper! So, posted a tweet up on twitter and…thankfully my dear friend Jacinta from Cupcakes of Kensington gave me this FANTASTIC suggestion. She normally gets her child to scribble on some paper and uses that as wrapping paper instead. Not only would that save the environment – non waxed paper are easier to recycle by the way, but saves money because we know they only end up being ripped apart and thrown in the recycling bin. So off I went this morning to get my 4 year old to draw something on some brown drawing paper we already had. He was – thankfully EXCITED! Actually, it became more of a family affair (minus the parents). All three kids joined in to create the “ultimate” wrapping paper. It was nice to see his eldest 8 year old sister lending him VOLUNTARILY, her collection of coloured gel pens and highlighters ( a very rare occasion indeed). When it was all done, I just wrapped up the present, added some ribbons I already had and prepared my 4 year old of what’s to come – the fact that it will be ripped up, when the birthday boy opens the present. That’s the only part I really cannot bear to watch. But I will update you in a later post.

The making of the wrapping paper

The wrapping paper in the making

All wrapped up

All wrapped up

Other “Eco-friendly” ways of wrapping a present for kids include:

  • Your kid’s art work from kinder that he/she has had for a long time and you just have to recycle and not keep.

This could be tricky. Try and use the…at least you can give it as a present tactic or, it’s so beautiful that you have to use it a wrapper.

  • Old magazines, try not to use newspapers…the ink drives me nuts, but if it doesn’t drive you nuts then hey, who am I to stop you.
  • Fabric – If you’ve got old fabric that you’ve got no use of, why not wrap it with that? Provided it’s not some vintage fabric.
  • Tissue paper – not the ones you use to wipe your noses with. Those tissue wrapping papers. Not store bought, but you know how some stores LOVE to use those to wrap your items with? Save those, you never know when it might come in handy. Simply dress them up with ribbons and your on your way!

If you have any other great money saving ideas on gift wrapping, do share it with us!

Jan29

Candy Hair – Kids Salon & Party Room

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Candy Hair – Kids Salon & Party Room

Ever run out of ideas on what type of party to have for your little ones?  Well, I was browsing and Googling the internet in search for the party that would not only be easy for me to organise but also one that my 7 year old and her close friends would enjoy.  I knew she would be over indoor playcentres plus the fact that her birthday falls during the school holidays, there would be the issue of overcrowding in these places.  Then I thought of having a craft party – many would let you have it at home – but I did not want to deal with a huge clean up after that.  And others are just too far away from where we and our guests were staying.  Then, I stumbled upon a new concept store – Candy Hair at Southland, on Kidspot!  It’s a hairdressing salon just for kids and it also has a party room with different types of parties that your child can choose to have.  They have 5 different types of parties – Princess Tea Party, Little Ladies Tea Party, Glam Catwalk Party, Sparkling Spa Party and even for the boys – Swashbuckling Pirate Party.  Each theme would have a relevant backdrop, make-overs and dress-ups!

When I went down to have a look, I was thoroughly impressed.  It had a bright and colourful interior, with novelty hairdressing chairs and entertainment at every station.  Your child can choose to watch a DVD, play an X-box game or read child appropriate magazines and books! The staff there were also very friendly and professional. I was SOLD!

My daughter had her party there – the Sparkling Spa Party.  They each made and put facial masks on each other (all natural of course), had mini make-up and mini manicures and pedicures too!  All in all, they all had great fun and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this place to anyone!  Honestly, this was one of the parties, where I got what I paid for and did not worry for once if things were going to go smoothly.  Rachael at Candy Hair, thank you for making my daughter’s day a special one.

Applying the facial mask

Sep20

The Survival Guide to Kid’s Parties

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The Survival Guide to Kid’s Parties

Do you often dread the thought of hosting your child’s party? Do you often find trouble deciding what to have, what food to serve or even how many children should I invite? Well, I’ve just survived my daughter’s party and I’ll share with you some tips on how to host one, without the unnecessary stress attached to it.

Tip 1:
Number of guests
As a rule of thumb, I usually follow the child’s age. If he/she is turning four, then only four of her close friends are invited. To keep track on who her close friends are, just make note of who she often talks about when she comes back from kindergarten, playschool or creche. If you don’t want to “hurt” any of the other kids’ feelings, make sure you pass the invitation to their parent or carer. The best part about this is, as they get older, say when they turn 9 or 10, they would tend to just be in smaller cliques and the number of guests will still be small, say around 5 friends. Once they get to the tween or teenager stage, you would probably cut out on the party altogether and just take them out or have them over for a movie night or sleepover!

Tip 2:
Keep it simple
Seeing that you have a small number of guests, you have a few choices. Having it at home with a minimum number of 6 guests is not that difficult. If weather permits, have it outdoors in the backyard. Have some simple party games like pass the parcel, musical chairs or even musical statues. If the weather isn’t so good, then hold it indoors and have the same games.

For older children, girls especially have a simple craft party where the guests and your child make something they can take home. Include a small bag of coloured pencils for each child and this too can be their party gift to take home. Boys can have a craft party too, just make sure the thing they will be making are “boy friendly”. Try making masks and have them decorate and put them on after that!

If you do decide to have it at a place that caters for parties, make sure they allow small numbers. If not, it’s still easier and cheaper to have it at your own place.

Holding it at a park is another good option. Once again, if weather permits.

Tip 3:
Food to serve
This is something I learned through my years of hosting a party. To minimise the hassle of deciding what to serve, hold your party either in the morning and end just before lunch or have it in the afternoon, just after lunch. That way you only need to serve snacks. You don’t necessarily need to turn to unhealthy snacks. Sure, you can still have the chips and the lollies, but make it healthier by buying the healthier options like chips that are organic or have been baked and not fried. If you have the time, just make it yourself. Lollies, these you can make it “healthier” by buying natural ones. You can also make jelly cups which are pretty quick and easy and another idea is instead of making fairy bread by using fairy sprinkles, why not top the bread with chocolate sprinkles instead. Just be sure to check that guests who have allergies to certain foods. We want them to feel welcome too and it is our responsibility to make sure that the food we serve can be eaten without any worry. Drinks are the easiest bit, make sure you do have plain ol’ water to serve and some juice. That will keep the hyperactive level to a minimum and still keep the kids hydrated.

Tip 4:
Party favors
Don’t you hate it when your child comes home only to be carrying even more lollies than he/she could even eat in a day? Well, you don’t have to omit the lollies altogether, just make sure they are not the cheap, low quality ones. Since you have a small number of guests, you can afford to spalsh a bit more on good quality lollies and chocolate. Include in the lolly bag a toy or gift that can actually be used and not disintegrate within a day. Some ideas would be a bookmark, stationery, small wooden toys or even hair accessories for the girls. As I’ve mentioned before, having smaller numbers means having the means to buy better quality gifts.

Tip 5:
The clean up
That small number of guests sure lessens the amount of clean up you have to do. As long as you have told the guests that no one is allowed into the bedrooms, and you’ve carefully selected toys that they can play with and place them out for all to see before they arrive, all will be fine. Oh and make sure the bedroom doors are closed. Remember, use paper plates as they can be recycled and paper cups too. That also cuts the washing up you would have to do!

I hope these 5 tips will help you and your child have a great party ahead. It sure helped me survive my child’s party!