Dear Diane,
My son's birthday falls on July 5th. It's much easier to plan for his birthday than my daughter's winter birthday. How can I make her winter party as fun as a summer party?
- Gloria, Uxbridge, Ontario
Gloria,
Since winter weather is so unpredictable, it's tough to plan outdoor activities. You might schedule a day of tobogganing only to have a mild spell melt away all the fun. As a result, it's best to plan an indoor party.
Hosting a tournament at the bowling alley is always a sure-fire way to impress the kids. Instead of party bags, create bowling shirts for the youngsters by printing team and player names on plain white t-shirts. This can be done with graphics printed from a desktop printer onto t-shirt transfer paper and ironed on plain white shirts. They'll make for great keepsakes when the party is over.
A lot of bowling alleys provide a birthday package that includes lunch, refreshments, cake and clean-up. This will save you a ton of work and let you enjoy the day with your kids.
Another great birthday idea is the overnight camp-in. Reorganize your furniture and bring your outdoor camping gear inside for a unique birthday experience. Set up a few 3-man tents where space provides and decorate the rest of the area with houseplants or indoor trees for complete effect. Ask the campers to bring warm pajamas, sleeping bags and a thermos filled with their favourite hot drink. A fireplace makes for an excellent "campfire," and you can make s'mores in the microwave. Turn the lights down low, and tell a round of spooky ghost stories. When the party’s over, send the kids home with a Ziploc® brand bag or container filled with trail mix. Mini flashlights and small booklets filled with ghost stories also make great substitutions for the traditional treat bag.
Happy partying,
Diane
SC Johnson
