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

Cost of birthday party activity:
Usual cost of food and cake, party favors, and boxes, if you buy them.

Birthday party planning information:
For the little boy or girl who is crazy about trains!
Invitations: Using constructions paper, cut out invitations in train shapes.
Decorations: Check costume or party stores for train-themed party goods and inexpensive conductor and engineer hats.

Other suggestions or comments:
Activity: Search your house for cardboard boxes, or buy some from a moving store. Cut a hole that's a little larger than a child's waist in the bottom of each box. Remove the top flaps. Set the boxes down on plenty of newspaper. Paint the boxes using bright primary colors. A plastic cup, painted mostly black, can serve as the smokestack. Cut out little handles on the sides of the boxes and have the guests hold their trains in place around their waists. They can play Red Light, Green Light, or runaround a homemade train track to blow off steam.
Party Favors: plastic whistles; short books about trains