How to Throw an Olympic Themed Kid's Birthday Party

Harness the excitement of the Olympic Games by making it the theme for your child's birthday party. Let the games begin!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sweat bands
• Olympic torch
• Wooden dowels
• Blank pennants
• Craft supplies
• 10 Jerseys or T-shirts
• Hula Hoops
• Archery game
• Badminton game
• Handball
• Mini cupcakes
• Olympic-themed stickers, pins and buttons
• Ribbon and medals
• Milk crates
• Chinese food
• Chinese take-out containers

1. Print the party details on your computer, punch a hole in the corner and tie to a sweatband, then mail the invitation in a tube or small padded envelope. Tell your guests to come prepared for fun and games--Olympic Style!

2. Set up a flag-making station for the opening ceremony and have it be the first activity that the kids encounter. Pick up wooden dowels and blank pennants at a craft store, then cruise through your craft supplies for stuff they can decorate their flags with such as felt shapes, patches, ribbon, stickers, stars and string. Once the flags are ready, line them up behind the guest of honor who is carrying a homemade Olympic torch (or the top of an unlit tiki torch crafted with an orange paper flame), start the Olympic theme music and watch them circle the yard waving their flags. Once they've made their grand entrance to the event, divide them into teams for the sporting events.

3. Google keywords "Olympic party games" for team sports--there are a million games for kids to play.
   Here are my favorites:
   * Olympic Rings: place hula hoops outside in the shape of the Olympic logo. Athletes try to toss the discus (Frisbee) into the rings.
   * Jersey Relay: half of each team stands at either end of the yard. Five jerseys are piled into the center space between them. Each team member must run to the center of the yard, put on all five jerseys, run to a team member waiting at the other end of the yard, take the jerseys off and hand them off for the next team member to put on and race to the other end of the yard. The first team whose members complete the relay wins!
   * Water Balloon Shot Put
   * Archery (there are a ton of kid-friendly versions)
   * Badminton (yes, it's in the Olympic games)
   * Handball (yep, it's an official Olympic sport)

4. Use milk crates to make the award platforms. Grab ribbon and medals at a craft store or have your kids make "medals" with cardboard and markers before the party. Everyone is a winner, so make sure you have a ribbon for every child. They can take turns standing on the milk crates getting their picture taken.

5. Serve buffet-style Chinese food with white take-out boxes instead of plates.

6. Bake or buy mini cupcakes and top with Olympic-colored frosting in the shape of the Olympic rings.

7. Have the Olympic torch brought to the guest of honor and hand out the goodie bags filled with sports-themed swag as the kids leave the games. Think Olympic-themed stickers, pins and buttons.

[havahoop]

on 11/2/2009 Child and adult hula hoops available. Custom colors multiple hoop discounts. 3 color Party Favor hoops starting at just 7$. HavaHoop.com