need construction birthday party inspiration

[thiswillbe]

Has anyone done a construction-themed birthday party, or pinned ideas for one? I'm trying to get ideas for the kids' pseudo-birthday-party on Sunday (we're having church people over after church, so it'll basically be a bunch of adults, but I want the kids to have fun, too, since I'm not sure if we'll do a kid party this year).

Also, what do kids *do* at a kid bday party? Part of my hesitation planning one is that I've never been to a kid party, so I don't really know how they "work."

[awkwardpenguin]

No help on construction themes, but there are lots of ways to do a kid party. For three year olds, I'd expect the parents would mostly stay and keep an eye on their kiddos. I'd do a craft project, a game or two, and cake and ice cream. Maybe also light snacks depending on the length and time of day of the party. A three year old party would only last an hour to an hour and a half.

I think the general way kids parties work is region and class specific though. In the area I grew up (working class New England), kids parties were held at the kid's house and after 5 or so, the parents just dropped the kids off and picked them up later. But when I lived in Arizona and nannied for a wealthy couple, their kids parties were big deal affairs where the parents stayed, wine and appetizers were served along with the food for the kids, and there was always some sort of big deal activity like a fancy face painter or pony rides or a bouncy house. I'm partial to the low key kids party, but it really depends on expectations.

[twotrue]

Didn't tattooedmeegs just do one?

[hensmum]

Plastic hard hats (dollar store)
Caution tape (Home Depot)
Blocks
"dirt" = crumbled choc cookies on top of cake with a small toy digger (my target had a set of mini-construction vehicles, cheap)
toy diggers to play with

[tattooedmeegs]

Mar 7, 2013 14:50:45 GMT -5 twotrue said:

Didn't tattooedmeegs just do one?

I did!

I designed her invitation:



Got her a shirt from Zazzle.com:



And ordered all the plates, cups, napkins, etc from Birthday Direct (link: www.birthdaydirect.com/construction-trucks-party-supplies-c-1076_2180.html). They have decorations too.

Our favors were cookies a friend of mine made:



And we got the cake from the Acme!



As for games, etc... we had ours at a play gym this year, so it was a bit different, but in previous years we always just broke out all of Gwen's toys and let them all go crazy. I wouldn't worry about that party being "themed," just let kids have fun.

[tattooedmeegs]

I just found this pintrest board with a construction party theme, too: pinterest.com/tvanlent/theme-it-construction-party/

[ElsaVonM]

Those cookies are intense. You have a talented friend.

[tattooedmeegs]

Yeah, she does that as a side job. She is damn good.

[thiswillbe]

Wow! Thanks for all the ideas and the pics! I ordered a few things from Amazon the other day (toys for the cake, etc.) so I might be in better shape than I thought. Thanks, everyone!!