Friday, July 4, 2014

Create A Camping-Themed Kids Party

By Elba Fenwick


A party is always a bit more exciting if it has a theme and this is especially true for children's parties. If you want to host a kid's event outside, one option that is sure to please is to plan a party with a camping theme. Pitch tents, cook up traditional camping foods, tell spooky stores, gaze at the stars and do it all from the comfort of the backyard.

First begin by planning a simple menu of campfire favorites. If you have a fire pit, the kids can roast hot dogs over the fire or perhaps create their own foil packet dinners. There are many interesting camping recipes online and you simply just need to find one that suits the tastes of your guests. You can also cook up the hot dogs or foil packs on the grill or using a propane-powered camping stove. Another option would to cook up a pot of chili over the grill or campfire and spoon ladles of chili into bags of corn chips and have the kids add a variety of toppings, such as cheese and onions.

Dessert is always a big party element and with a camping party, you might automatically think about creating some s'mores. An easier option would be to go online to Chocolate Pizza Company and simply order a few of their unique Campfire Pizzas. These are handmade chocolate pizzas topped with mini marshmallows and graham cracker chunks. Kids can just break off a hunk of the pizza and munch, and it's even packed in a real pizza box so kids will enjoy the surprise when you bring out the box and they find a gourmet chocolate pizza inside instead of a traditional pizza, with dough, sauce and cheese.

Games are an important part of any party for children, and there are many great outdoor games suitable for a campout party. Consider taking the kids on a "hike" around your yard and neighborhood. This hike can provide you with an opportunity to point out plants, birds, bugs and other creatures and you can even create a scavenger hunt for the hike. Kids can find rocks, leaves, a feather, twigs and other interesting items and put them in paper bags. You can also play games such as bocce ball, set up a ring toss or even have a sack race. When it gets dark, kids love to play with glow sticks, which usually can be purchased at your local dollar stores.

Sleeping arrangements are quite important at a camping party. Set up several tents or perhaps just one huge tent and have each child bring their own sleeping bag and pillow or perhaps some cozy blankets. You can hang glow sticks from the tent ceiling to provide a night light for younger children. Before bed, kids can hang outside on picnic blankets and share spooky stories or learn about the stars. Download an astronomy app to your Smartphone and you can provide plenty of information about the moon, stars, constellations and planets.

Decorating for this type of party is a snap. Cover a long table with a checkered tablecloth and place items such as condiments and hot dog buns, potato salad, chips and other picnic foods on the table. Use washed tin cans to hold cutlery and place camping lanterns here and there for both camp ambiance and additional light once it gets dark. Use a tin or plastic tub to hold juice boxes and water bottles. You can even hang up string lights from the trees in your yard to make everything look sparkly and cute.




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