Posted by
Alicia Cox Thomson
Monday, August 15, 2011 5:04 PM EDT
Looking at this month's party idea by event planner Marla Brown makes me long for Play Day, remember those? You'd get McDonald's "orange" drink at school, play games and spend the day outside. Sigh. Nostalgia.
Back to our Party Idea of the Month: a Kids' Playdate Picnic complete with a punchy palette, old school games to keep kiddies occupied and refreshments to keep them energized. Plus, all the little details that take a party from average fun to a day full of memories.
The fabric for the quick-sew floor pillows inspired the palette and a piece of natural art canvas serves as a picnic blanket. Both can be reused again and again! The centrepieces are mini-pinwheels in a funky vase; sand helps keep them upright.
Marla used four shades of chalkboard paint to create these custom tables, perfect for inspiring kids to doodle. Marla had a great suggestion: donate the tables to a women's shelter with a big box of chalk when you're done, if you have nowhere to store them.
The kid-friendly food consists of carrots and celery, classic finger sandwiches (no crusts!) and wraps sliced into easy-to-eat discs. Because it was such a hot day, each child was given a colour-coded water pouch along with a drink (with a reusable stainless steel straw). Monster-inspired popsicle molds make dessert easy.
Classic games include the good old Egg Race -- I love the looks of concentration on everyone's faces! The kids also participated in a a three-legged race, a potato sack race and a Treasure Hunt.