Age group(s) for this birthday party activity:
Elementary School

Cost of birthday party activity:
Cost of food and summer activities that can be played indoors.

Birthday party planning information:
My son has a January birthday. His brothers and sister have June and July birthdays and usually have their parties outside with squirt guns, etc. My son was upset one year because he was bored with the same old indoor parties of bowling and roller skating. He wanted a summer birthday so that he, too, could have a picnic. I asked him why he could not have a picnic anyway. He set off to make this party different and fun. Each child was invited to a winter picnic. They were instructed to wear shorts, t-shirts, sunglasses, and summer footwear. My son decorated our basement play room for the pary by printing some summer graphics off our computer (sun, insects, etc.) and hanging them from the drop ceiling. The basement was then heated to make the kids comfortable in their summer clothes. Music was played on the stereo and they playd age appropriate games for outdoors that could also be played indoors. Party food consisted of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and juice jugs. Birthday cake was also supplied, decorated in a summer-type theme. Party food was eaten sitting on the floor on a picnic blanket. Food was served on trays to the children and plastic "ants" were added to the tray and blanket to give the effect of insect invaders to their food. For treat bags, the children went "fishing". My son had picked out candy to stuff the treat bags with and picked a different bonus prize for each bag. Each bag was sealed and then given a number. The children "fished" with a fishing set for plastic fish which were numbered according to the numbers on the bags. Whichever fish and number was caught, was the goodie bag that the child received. At the end of the party, the children put on their boots and headed outside in the snow in their summer attire and we quickly snapped some pictures of the winter picnic birthday party. When thank you notes were sent, each child also received a copy of the kids out in the snow in their summer attire. The party was a huge success!

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