Age group(s) for this birthday party activity:
Preschool and Younger

Birthday party planning information:
A Winnie the Pooh theme suggests a variety of activities for young guests to enjoy!

Some of the ideas outlined in another What Works party theme page, "Teddy Bear Picnic," are very much appropriate to a Pooh bear party, too.

Simple finger foods work best for young guests. Peanut butter and Honey sandwiches, cut in quarters, are a good start. A fruit platter adds some flavor and crunch; be sure to offer a soft fruit, too, like Banana, for the very young.

Cake-wise, Winnie the Pooh is probably among the design choices available at the local bakery. Alternatively, one can bake a cake in any size, shape, or flavor, and make it festive with colorful Sprinkles, with or without cake topper(s). New "play set" toys, with Winnie the Pooh and Friends, make lovely cake toppers, and are fun for play when the party is over. Wash in mild suds, rinse n' dry, both before and after use.

If you are having lots of Parents in attendance, Rabbit's Carrot Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting (bakery kind is Fine!) may be a hit with them ;-)

Just as Christopher Robin would invite his most special friends to the party, guests should bring their favorite stuffed bears...or donkeys, rabbits, tiggers... ;-) Have a bit of Circle Time, so that these special friends may be properly introduced.

Have a Parade, indoors or out, with Rhythm Band instruments: bells, maracas, harmonicas, drums. Play music for the kids to march to, via a Winnie the Pooh video, tape, or CD.

Let children draw pictures of Pooh bear and his pals, or the Hundred Acre Wood.

Play Pin the Bee on Pooh (large drawing of Pooh, on posterboard). Bees may be made of paper, or purchased at a craft store; use double-stick tape on each bee, and let each guest take a turn buzzing in for a landing, 3 bees per child ;-)

Alternative games would be "build a Heffalump and Woozle," with some of those cards that can be mixed up to create wild critters, just by changing the head, body, or tail, etc.

At my daughter's party some time ago, we did Pin the Tail on Eeyore (who regularly loses his tail, in the stories!). Our Eeyore was cut from a remnant of grey wool, and glued to an old cork bulletin board. His eyes are buttons, and his nose is part of an old white sock. His ears were made from old black socks, and he does look quite Eeyore-ish! We made tails from the Hook side of strips of velcro (black, or very dark blue), attaching a small strip of felt fringe so they look donkey-like. The velcro stuck nicely to the wool, or to the Burlap bulletin board backing.

You might also just pull out coloring books, or crayons and paper, and let children draw whatever strikes their fancy as they listen to Winnie the Pooh stories. At my daughter's party, this happened spontaneously; an older child offered to read for me, and I said "why not?!" She did a splendid job, and the tots were in awe of her reading skills.

Coloring Books or small paperback books are great take-home items. Soap Bubbles are another pleasant idea. My daughter's friends took home treat bags that contained a few "Honey Bee Cookies," which are a recipe from the Gold Medal Alpha Bakery Children's Cookbook, from General Mills:

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. honey
1 egg
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
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Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cream together first 4 ingredients. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto an Un-greased cookie sheet.

Bake until set and light brown around the edges (surface will appear shiny) 7-9 minutes. Let stant 3-5 minutes before removing from cookie sheet; remove w/spatula to cool more. Makes approx. 3 dozen.

Other suggestions or comments:
Not every moment needs to be highly structured; if the children can just simply Play, outside or inside, and everyone is having a good time, that is what matters.

Another Take-Home cute thang would be a bear-shaped jar of honey, with a bow tied around his/her neck. Infants should never receive Raw honey; the 'cooked' type is palatable to most everyone, and Clover Honey (vs. fireweed or others) is one of the mildest available.