I am the classroom mother for my four year olds preschool class. I am planning an end of the year party at my house... hopefully the weather cooperates. We are on a tight budget. Anyone have ideas for crafts/ games/ favors etc? Thanks!
Thanks for all the responses. I am planning to keep it low-key and take a trip to the dollar store for the arts n crafts.
Also, got a great idea for a favor/craft. Have parents bring a blank pillowcase and have each kid put their handpint on the case in fabric paint. Then, in permanent marker, write "When I can't sleep, instead of counting sheep, I will count the hands of the friends I made in 1st/2nd etc. grade." So cute!
We are just going to throw up the bouncehouse, slip-n-slides and the pools. I'm praying for sun!
Keep it simple and they will make their own fun.
bubbles
water table outside with cups or boats (could be a couple of big water bins)
construction center with whatever you have (leggos, etc.)
sand table
dress up corner(whatever you have) with mirror
face painting (other volunteer parent in charge)
For craft ideas check out familyfun.com (I think that's it, otherwise just google family fun magazine) and also look at orientaltradingcompany.com. You can actually order kits from Oriental Trading that are cheap, cute and easy to make.
I'm sure you have some old rubbermaid containers around the house and even if they're being used, maybe you can empty them temporarily...fill them up with about a bottle of Joy liquid soap (for dishes) and water. I use the ones that are about 2 feet long and about 6-8 deep. It will make awesome bubbles!! Use found objects around the house to fill the containers and let the kids go bubble crazy! I do this for every kid party at my house and the kids love it! You can use hangers, slotted spoons, 6-pack soda holders, etc. I also save plastic lids and containers to things and just cut holes in them or cut the bottoms off plastic soda bottles, etc. It's way cheap!
Other than that, i would just get out (or borrow) as many outdoor, ride-ons, balls, sidewalk chalk, etc. and let the kids go crazy. At 4 they're not going to do too many organized activities.
Hi K.! We just planned one for my daughter's preschool. We are doing it at the school, but I would recommend getting the other parents to participate in bringing items. Set up a list of what items you need, juice boxes, cupcakes or cookies, balloons, etc and have the parents sign up to bring an item, that way you are not responsible for everything because that is way too much for one person!!! We are doing chalk for the kids to draw on the sidewalk and some foam art projects for the kids. If you have a dollar tree or dollar store in your area then I suggest going there and looking on the craft aisle. I know our dollar tree has packs of foam hearts, crowns, circles, rectangles, and butterflies in packages of 24 and they are only $1. Also, they should have some foam stickers in packages of 100 to 160 for $1. We did these at my daughter's 3rd birthday and the kids LOVED them. The good thing is that since it is just stickers and foam cut outs there are no messes (other than picking up the sticker backings off the floor). As far as favors, depending on how many kids, I would let them each take home a balloon and their artwork and call it a day!
good luck in planning! hope the party goes smoothly!!!
I have had end of school year parties since preschool (my kids are now 8 and 12) I always have ice cream sundae parties. You can buy vanilla icecream and a bunch of different toppings set everything up in a line on a table and have the other parents volunteer to serve. The kids line up and choose what they want. If it is a hot day, we set up sprinklers and a kitty pool, now we have a real pool and we use that. Keep it relaxed, crafts are alot of work, let the kids play games like tag and freeze dance. I don't think that you need favors. Keep it simple, it is more fun for you and the kids really won't miss all the extras. Oh, bubbles are always fun.
One of the cutest things I've seen combines craft activity and favors - you can buy inexpensive wooden frames at any craft store - have the kids sand them gently with adult help (or even skip this step). Then paint them or glue on foam shapes or even pasta shapes. The alphabets let kids put their names on them - adult help may be needed for the littlest shapes. Then the pasta can be spray painted and left to dry while everyone has a snack. Assign someone to take a picture of each child or try to get a group photo (tough with a large group of little ones), then email the pictures home to be put in the frames later. The pictures are free and parents can either print the one they like or download it to Target or any store that offers photo printing for just pennies. Forming an email list and distributing it can help families stay in touch over the summer too.
You can also pre-bake cupcakes or put cake mix halfway up a flat-bottomed ice cream cone and bake, and then let the kids decorate. Not healthy but who cares? You can make cake with egg whites and with applesauce instead of oil to keep the calories down, and you can microwave frosting to make it more spreadable and have a little go a long way.
Good luck.
You could get some cheap white t-shirts and have the kids decorate with puff-paint/permanent marker--works as craft and favor...
Bean bag toss
Decorate your own hat/make necklaces
Hi K.,
I'd recommend orientaltrading.com. Most items are sold by the dozen and are very reasonable priced. I'd be surprised if you can think of a theme that this company doesn't have. It's one stop shopping for crafts, games, and favors. I'd suggest giving yourself 5 business to receive shipment if you place an order with this company but it's typical to receive delivery within 3-5 days. It's a party planner/teacher's dream because once you determine the theme, Oriental Trading typically has everything you need. Have fun.
Tie dying party (if kids can bring their own shirt, and parent to help). That way they would have a fun albeit, messy time outside, and a favor. Or cheap wooden frames that the kids can decorate/stamp/glitter/add foam stickers/glue pasta...whatever...and take a group picture of the gang to send home with each kid (if you have a home photo printer.)
Our son is almost 4, and some of his favorite things right now involve simple things like stickers, paper, making beaded bracelets with pipe cleaners, etc.
If you have a local school supply store (ours locally is United Arts and Education), you can usually find great deals on canvases, stickers, construction paper.
One of the best things we got for his birthday party last year was a disposable helium tank. The kids had a blast picking their balloons and helping to blow them up.
The other thing our kids' day care did last year was to decorate cheap white kitchen tiles with markers, glitter, etc. I have to admit we tucked them away somewhere and haven't done anything with them, though.
