Creative Moms (or Dads!), need help with birthday party idea!

[ctd1103]

We're having my son's birthday party this weekend (he'll be 6) at our local YMCA for a pool party. The way the Y structures the party is 1 hour in their event room, then 1 hour in the pool... I wish they'd do it the other way around, but... isn't an option. So for the first hour we'll have pizza and birthday cake, but I'm thinking I need something fun and a little structured to help keep them entertained for the first hour... thought it might be a good idea to have them make their party favour, although, this is where I'm stuck... I'd like for it to be something simple and low-mess, as I'll be having to schelp in whatever supplies are needed... cookie decorating station or cupcakes? Or does that defeat the purpose of then having pizza and a birthday cake...? It's a pool party with a rocket-ship/Wall-e theme, anyone have and fun ideas to help keep a group of 15 six year olds busy for a good 30 minutes or so?? TIA!

[Kathy B]

Don't forget you will need some time for gift opening!

Here's an idea from family fun that could be both the craft AND the party favor. (Throw in a roll of lifesavers with each if you like).

Poolside Cover-ups

[Missi]

Here's some crafts you can order from Oriental trading company, but you would have to rush order. The color your own beach balls would be cute.


Honestly though, I think between getting settled with everyone there, eating pizza and cake, and opening presents, you will fill the time. I would have them eat right away so their food can settle through the present opening before they hit the pool.

Good luck!

[Blissful_in_TX]

You could do something old school like pin the tail on the donkey but change it up like "land the rocket on the moon".

And this is random but we went to a party where they gave the kids one of those pool noodles and threw a balloon in the air that the kids tried to bat at and keep in the air. They looooooved it.

If they're already going to have swimsuits on, you could do wet games like water balloon toss. Put them in pairs and every time the balloon is caught they take a step back.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Since this is indoors, scratch that last idea.

For DS's last bday I used Rasterbator (sp) to create a big cutout of Thomas the train and Sir Topham Hat. I took pictures that I included with their thank you notes. You could possibly do something like that with Wall-E.

[Terri_A]

We decorated rubber flip flops for a spa party once - it would work for a pool party too...although I don't know how a boy would do them...hmmmm...

[ctd1103]

Originally Posted by Terri_A

We decorated rubber flip flops for a spa party once - it would work for a pool party too...although I don't know how a boy would do them...hmmmm...

This is such a great idea! I will have to remember this for when my daughter is of age! (thinking a group of boys may not enjoy it as much!

I like the idea of the noodle and balloon game... wondering how many kids will get whacked with a noodle and not appreciate it tho.... hmmmm, will have to ponder this one. I also remembered how much kiddos love a pinata, maybe I could do that...
keep the suggestions coming, still a little undecided. (we do gift opening at home later on, so time for that is not a factor...)

[Remoulade Sauce]

You could do some "astronaut training" exercises like:
hand/eye coordination - pin the leaf on Eve
lung capacity - blowing balloons with straws
gravity - spin around in swivel chair and see who can walk the farthest

you could have a planet shaped pinata and call it a meteor shower

nasa has a kids section on their website, you might be able to find more stuff there

have fun!