Making birthday party hats is a great start to any kid's birthday party
Got a kid's birthday party coming up? If you've hosted one already, you know there are lots of preparations to be completed. You'll probably find yourself doing those last-minute setups and decorations even as the guests start arriving. In order to keep those happy, giggling youngsters entertained, there's nothing better than a party game to keep them occupied while you attend to the finishing touches. We've got a great idea to accomplish just that. While it's easy enough to pick up birthday party hats, why not let the kids make their own birthday party hats as a pre-party game activity?
The supplies you'll need are simple: a sheet of white or colored lightweight cardboard from the office supply or stationary store, a roll of elastic twine, markers, crayons, stickers, and some acrylic paints. With a few buttons, bits of trim and lace from your sewing box, and some glue sticks you're almost ready. Several fake feathers and fake flowers along with a bag of glue-on fake jewels from the crafts department and you've got the ingredients for the greatest birthday party hats ever! Set each of the decorating elements in small bowls in a row along the center of a card table or kid's work table, so each child has easy access.
For the birthday party hats, take a measuring tape and measure each child's head, from forehead to just above the ears and all the way to the back. Jot down the measurements and child's name in pencil, right on the cardboard. For a simple cone hat, run the tape measure in a curved line, adding half an inch at each end for stapling the birthday party hats together (this should be done under your supervision to avoid any accidental ouchies!). The guest of honor may be offered the option of a crown-style birthday hat, easily sculpted with a few extra cuts to the cardboard. This makes the birthday child easily identified for photo purposes. The measuring process remains the same.
If you don't feel you have the time for making the forms for the birthday party hats, as may be the case with a large group of kids, you have another option. Many party stores carry undecorated birthday party hats.
With hats in hands, let the kids go for their personal favorites among the decorations. An older sibling or another Mom can supervise and maintain some kind of order to the creative game while you attend to those last minute details.
This game activity carries additional benefits that enhance the party. They'll be proud of their custom birthday party hats, which may be taken home as an unusual party favor. Their creativity will live on in posterity through birthday photos for years to come.
You may find that kids enjoy the birthday hats making game so much that other Moms will start following suit! What fun!
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