DIY Network

Kids' Party From "Ask DIY" episode ADI-213

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Create a party that will be the envy of every child in the neighborhood. Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E

Q: I'm having several couples over for dinner, and they all have children. How can I be sure the kids are entertained?

A: (Jeanne Benedict, Ask DIY Entertaining expert) Let the kids be kids and don't make them sit at the table! For kids from 5 to 10 years old, have a great indoor picnic with a sandbox theme, following these tips:

• Put a comforter on the floor in a spacious, child-friendly room and ask the kids and their parents to bring some pillows they can sit on.

• Plan an activity such as a photo shoot. Create a backdrop by anchoring a sheet to drape down from the mantel with bricks or heavy books. If you don't have a mantel, drape a sheet from a doorway. Put several sturdy plastic crates on the floor below and cover them with more sheets in contrasting colors. This area (figure A) gives the kids somewhere to pose, sitting on the crates or propping a foot on them. Furnish some fun costumes and a Polaroid camera, which a responsible older child can operate so you won't waste film. Frame the instant photos in decorated frames, available at any office-supply store. Throw the photos, some stickers and some party noisemakers into a basket to give as party favors.

• Make a "sandbox" with fun toys. Drape some net and plastic beach toys and ocean animals across the comforter.

• Use sea-theme cookie cutters to cut chicken nuggets from chicken patties (figure B).

• Set up a sandbox-theme ice-cream-sundae bar for dessert. Wash all the plastic toys well before using them, even if they're brand new. Then fill a plastic truck with zippered plastic bags of ice (figure C) and load it up with dishes of ice cream in fun containers. Scoop the ice cream ahead of time and refreeze it.

  Safety Alert and Tip: Before filling any of the plastic toys with goodies, be sure to line each with either aluminum foil or wax paper in case any of the toys contain lead.

• Fill a plastic dump truck with animal crackers and a plastic speedboat with Gummi bears (figure D). Put other sundae fixings in clean plastic sand pails (figure E), and have adults assist the children in putting together customized sundaes.

More Questions for Jeanne:

Q: I'm having a kids-only party. Do you have any ideas to help me keep it under control?

A: Try having the party outdoors and make sure you have age-appropriate activities. Two hours is plenty of time for the kids -- and plan to do the cake at the end.


Q: I want to come up with a great theme for my husband's birthday party. What do you suggest?

A: I think the best theme parties are based on a person's personality. Does your husband like Elvis, for example? If so, have an Elvis party with karaoke and serve peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches.

Books:

Sophisticated Entertaining: Spirited Food for Grown-Up Parties
By Jeanne Benedict
ISBN: 1557883459
Penguin-Putnam Inc.
Hardcover, 320 pages (October, 2000)

Best Birthday Parties Ever: A Kids Do-It-Yourself Guide
By Kathy Ross
ISBN: 0761314105
The Millbrook Press (1999)
2 Old New Milford Rd.
Brookfield, CT 06804
Fax: 203-775-5643 Web site: www.millbrookpress.com

50 Fabulous Parties for Kids
By Barbara Mauriello
ISBN: 0517880733
Crown Publishing Group (1994) Random House Inc.
299 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10171
Phone: 212-572-2275
Fax: 212-572-4949
Web site: www.randomhouse.com