How to Throw a Noah's Ark 1st Birthday Party

Ever wondered what kind of things you can do at a Noah's Ark first Birthday Party. Here are a few ideas to get it happening.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose your date and time. Keep it 2-3 hours long with the party well thought out so there is no dead time in between. You are dealing with little ones and even antsy older ones.

2. Make your guest list. If you want it simple, you may have to cut those outside relatives and friends you rarely see, otherwise be ready for a true 1st birthday party of tons of people and running around.

3. Send out your store bought or hand made invitations at least 1 month in advance. If you hand make them, be sure to make the invitation the correct size of the envelope they are being delivered in. Microsoft Publisher is a great program for making invitations. You can choose from different clip arts or find some on the web that you can save or copy and paste. Be creative but make it easy, especially if you have quite a few to make. Otherwise make it a standard letter size or store bought. Another way to send out invites is through www.evite.com. This helps lessen the snail mail to be sent and send them out to email savvy friends and family.

4. Start your ideas - theme, games, food, drinks, goodie bags, etc. Since it's a Noah's Ark for a one year old, such games can be cooperative games instead of competitive games like, coloring a large drawn out or already poster of Noah's ark and using as display and an activity for the kids. Another game can be Animal Charades and/or sounds. Put out Noah's Ark puzzles or themed activities to keep them busy. Have Story time of Noah's Ark. The one thing that is a kid saver, a bounce house. They won't be bored with this. Get one with the Noah's Ark themed panel on it. Buy those animal plates, cut out the eyes, punch holes on the sides and turn them into masks. Coloring pages come in handy.

5. If you don't want to deal with food, have it catered, otherwise ask for friends and family to help with the menu items at least 2 months in advance and remind them a couple of weeks before the event and a couple of days before as a final reminder. Drinks can juice boxes for the kids and canned or jugged drinks for the adults.

6. Have a Decoration Station where they can design their own treat bag with Noah's Ark stickers, coloring and mark their name with letter stickers. Roseart sells animal shaped and sounded markers for little ones like the Crayola Beginnings. At the Decoration Station they can also decorate their own cupcakes by frosting them and sprinkling animal sprinkles all over. Goodie bags can have animal cookies, animal shaped fruit snacks, some Bible favors you can buy at the dollar store or even Christian bookstore, Noah's Ark bookmark, and whatever else you'd like to throw in.

7. Since the kids will decorate their own cupcakes, make enough for everyone and have other desserts to go with it, like Rice Krispy treats or ice cream, or brownies. Buy a small round cake just for the little one to have fun with for a memory shot.

8. Presents can be opened at the end or when the party is over and your relaxing inside. It's not a must. A Piñata is also not a must. If your goodie bag is filled enough, save yourself more things to buy.

9. If you want to avoid feeling tired and barely have a chance to eat or hang out, ask friends and family to help out in as many areas as they can.

Tips & Warnings

• Your child may not even remember all this, but your family and friends will have a blast in the creativity you've put out.
• Designate camera and video people.
• Remember to plan out the party order so you have no dead time. This helps keep the party going and before you know it the hours have gone by. Give or take a little here and there. Have someone be your reminder call to keep you on top of the order.
• Most of all, be creative, easy, simple, have fun and take a deep breath.