Toddler Party Entertainment

I LOVE stations like we do on party day at my child development center,Creative Corner. Have several small tables where 4 kids at a time can work:
1.cupcake decorating with all kinds of sprinkles (then you don't have to have a big cake)
2.Playdough table with all kinds of rolling pins for playdough and cookie cutter things. Let each child take home a small can of playdough as part of the party favors.
3.Bubble table with all kinds of bubble wands and a huge tub of bubble mix..(get recipe online)
4.Moonwalk/bouncey
5.Large splash pool with dollar store toys to play with in the pool and water guns.
6.Table for water color painting and let child take home their painting or let them paint a muslin triangular shaped bandana...
7.Have a standing sandbox to play in that they don't have to sit in and get all sandy.

Party favors:
bubbles (6 pack from dollar store) squirt gun,bandana they painted and small pack of playdough or beachball from Dollar Store.

Don't forget to put the chldren's names on anything they work on prior to the party starting like the bandana, beachball,bubbles,

Make it a beach themed party and have the children arrive in swimsuits. Ask a couple of Moms to plan on helping you with certain stations.

Children this age have such short attention spans and need to keep moving before they get bored.

Good luck and have FUN!

We had pony rides in our backyard twice (once for my son's 4th birthday and once for my daughter's 4th). We hired EJC farms out of Magnolia. We've also rented a moonwalk for my son's 3rd and that also went well. We've attended parties that have rented the inflatable water slides and the kids really seemed to enjoy that as well.

You could also keep it simple and have the kids wear swimsuits and plan a lot of water activities. You could turn on the sprinklers for a while, have water balloons, serve snow cones for a treat, etc.

If you're looking for indoor entertainment you could do a disney theme and choose a disney movie to watch. Then have popcorn and other theater "treats" for the movie.

Good luck,
K.

PonyLand in Angleton also does pony rentals for parties.

I love moonwalks (and so do the kids. LOL)

Any animal handlers are better then clowns or magicians or people in funny costumes.

I went to a party where they had a silly singer. The kids (and adults) LOVED him but I can't remember his name. He sang familiar songs and songs that were special and funny.

I don't like doing parties at my house...it's so much work (and I have 4 little ones.) We did a party at Ponyland for $100 plus food costs (and if you do the timing right all you need is cake!) We did a morning party at Chuck E Cheese. I got coupons online for tokens and brought our own cake. I brought in capri suns and bought sodas for the adults. It worked fabulously, kids had a blast, and it was pretty cheap since we didn't use their party package.

S.

When my eldest daughter turned three we had a "fairy princess tea party". I had a local florist make little floral wreaths for their heads (you can do this yourself with ribbon and a glue gun....buy the inexpensive mini rosebuds and baby's breath) and a party consultant brought little tables, tea sets, and fairy wings for them to wear. We served cupcakes, strawberries, carrot sticks and tiny sandwiches. We hid teeny fairy dolls around the back yard and had a fairy hunt. Finally, a fairy came to the house (she looked more like an angel) and kept the children busy with stories and face paint (glitter dust, etc). The party lasted 1 1/2 hours and most of it was outside. If you have it in the morning, it will not be too hot. We got great photos and everybody loved the party...especially the birthday girl :)

With a newborn at home, you may seriously consider having someone "babysit" the newborn inside the house (minimize the interaction that young) & try to keep all the party children outside for the most part (water activities sounds great). If you are going to be in the sun provide several cans of the spray-on sunscreen, shaded areas (canopy, etc.) & plenty of liquids - popsicles would be fun (less mess if kids are in swimsuits). Have a great time!

I've used Fry's Fun Farm a couple of times. They bring about 30 animals and set up a pen and the kids can get in there with the animals and feed them. They are there I believe about an hour which works out great. I would have them set up about 20 or 30 minutes after the start of the party so it gives ppl time to get there and eat then once they are done it's cake and presents and then parties over. We had them at my son's 2nd and 5th party I believe and both went over well.

For my daughter's 3rd Birthday we had Mr. Johnny and Sharon --perform. It was so fun and interactive -- the kids loved it! They sang songs - played with balloons and scarves and musical instruments and led the kids in dancing and all sorts of fun! I would definitely look into them. http://www.mrjohnny.com/

Good luck!

M.

GO SOMEWHERE! I promise. McDonalds, a pizza place-it will be so much easier on you. Since she is three - the party is not THAT big a deal- as long as there are presents and a cake- she will know she had a party. We were moving when my middle one turned three- had to be out of the house 4 days after her birthday and we also had a 9 month old at the time, so we had family with cousins to dinner at a pizza place ( just a casual restaurant- not a Chuck E Cheese place). They let us bring a cake. She got presents- we called it a day. I had always thought it was easier to have parties at home until I tried it somewhere else. I promise- she won't remember if you have a big blow out party or just a few friends, what she will remember is that there was a party.(And truthfully, they don't remember any of it unless there are photos!) And 10 -15 toddlers is a LOT of kids to keep organized and entertained for the length of a party- epsecially if you have to stop and nurse an infant or put her to nap. Just my thoughts, but my kids are all up there in years and I realize now how much effort was wasted when they would have been just as happy with less. Save the big parties for when they are really old enough to appreciate them! (Or plan them themselves- which is what my 13 yr old daughter is doing this summer- and having a great time with the organization...)

I don't do parties at my house anymore...it is actually cheaper to have the party someplace else. For my son's 3 year party we had it at ToysRUs...they did everything. For one cost they gave me the invitations and thank you notes, ordered the pizza, ordered the cake, provided drinks, had two sweet girls who did face painting and temp tattoos (and ran the party), they provided a huge Thomas the Train play set for entertainment (it was a Thomas the Train themed party), made and gave out the goodie bags and balloons, Geffory the Giraffe came and led a birthday parade around the store with the kids all dressed up in play clothes (which surprisingly was my son's favorite part that Geffory came to his party), they set up and provided all the party supplies (plates, napkins, table clothes, party hats, etc..)all with Thomas on them.

We just showed up about 10 minutes before the party was to start, they did everything, when it was over we loaded the gifts in the car and went home. It was the best $200 I ever spent. I am not sure I could have purchased all the Thomas themed party supplies alone for under $200, much less the pizza, drinks, cake, etc thrown in...

Plus I can't have a party with out splurging to have my cleaning lady come so that can be another cost.

This past weekend my son went to a party at a local "art studio" each child made about 10 pieces of art (with the help of the three teenage party helpers), had pizza, drinks and cake, played outside and then went home. I grabbed some literature on the way out...up to 20 kids for right at $200 and once again they do the whole thing. The goodie bags had sunglasses, bubbles and a pack of candy with room to store their masterpieces as well. Oh and this party two mom's went in together and we celebrated two little girls birthdays (so the moms split the cost).

I know this isn't exactly what you were looking for but it is my two cents. My son will be 5 in October and all he is talking about is having a Chuck E. Cheese party and I hope that is still what he wants in another 4 months because I am ready to sign up for it.

Depending on the ages of all of the kids and how much you want to spend.. Remember that August here is HOT!! My daughter's birthday party was just last weekend and we have rented one of those big inflatable water slides for the past four years! Since she was 3!! It's a hit every year, the kids love it, teenagers love it and the parents even love it!! The moonwalks are just too hot in the summer time. I rent from A. Bouncers in Tomball and I think they have free delivery to your area. ###-###-#### or www.angelbouncers.com
If you don't want to spend that much, then set up a pool and/or slip-n-slide and water toys in the back yard and let the kids play in the water. They will love it and it will keep them entertained for the whole party!
Good Luck! Have FUN!! =)

I host parties for kids in your home and service San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Since you are located further then my service area you can order the supplies for the party online and host the party yourself. I know you will be caring for a newborn so perhaps a family member wouldn't mind helping out.

The Party 2 Go option provides everything you need including suggestions for hosting the party yourself. This is a wonderful option because the children get to take home all of the supplies. It is your entertainment and favors in one!

I offer Build-Your-Own stuffed animal parties and Princess Parties. You can order everything you need to host the party yourself on my website.

www.mylittlebug.net

I hope you find the perfect entertainment for your daughter's very special 3rd birthday!
M.