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Little Golden Books
Birthday Party Planning Guide
Exclusively at BirthdayExpress.com
BirthdayExpress.com is every host’s secret for making birthday wishes come true! Our Little Golden Books party planning guide offers step-by-step instruction to help you plan, prepare and execute a memorable day for the birthday guest of honor. The helpful checklist ensures that no detail is forgotten, while the themed games and recipes take the guesswork out of finding treats and activities that complement your décor. And we know you’re busy, so the entire guide is printable – keeping you organized on the fly, from balloon blow-up to confetti clean-up!
Party Checklist
4-6 Weeks Before the Party
Select Date:
Time:
Place:
Plan a safe, inviting place for kids to have fun. Set time to 2-3 hours for young children, and 3-4 hours for older kids.
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Create Guest List
Just fill out the handy list in this guide!
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BirthdayExpress.com is the place! You’ll find over 150 party themes, with party pack options for all of them. Expecting more guests? Choose our Pack Add-On option
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Order Birthday Costume/Outfit & Gifts
BirthdayExpress.com has lots of fun choices. Look for our costumes, T-shirts, hats and special birthday gifts designed to match our party themes.
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Book Entertainment (optional)
2 Weeks Before the Party
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Order Cake
Schedule to pick it up one day before the party.
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Let the birthday child help by adhering the stamps and putting the invitations in the mailbox.
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Create List of Parent Phone Numbers
Keep on hand in case of emergency.
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Plan Party Menu
Check out the recipes in this guide. Ask parents if kids have any food allergies.
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Choose Party Games & Collect Party Supplies
This guide has ideas that match your party theme!
2-3 Days Before the Party
1 Day Before the Party
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Make Food & Drinks, Bake/Get Cake, Buy Ice
Set out chilled/heated foods just before kids eat.
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Childproof & Decorate Party Area
Remove breakable items and objects that could prevent guests from moving freely. Decorate with balloons, crepe paper, and other items included in your party pack.
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Set Up Party Games, Fill Favor Boxes & Piñatas
Invite your party child to help!
Party Day!
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Fill Birthday Balloons with Helium
After the Party
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Include party photos!
Activities
Puppy Pass
This is a great game for a younger crowd, and loads of fun!
Supplies:
Directions:
Puppy Pass is a party game guaranteed to get the kids and grown-ups laughing. Arrange the children sitting in a circle. Pass the puppy around the circle to the music, when the music stops the person holding the puppy is out. The music starts again and the remaining children pass the puppy until the music stops. The last person in the circle is the winner. As a prize for being the last you may give them the puppy..
What’s in the Bag
Supplies:
- non transparent bag
- items that have anything to do with Golden Books stories (small plastic animals, puppy, elephant, lion, train etc).
Directions:
A great guessing game that you can make entirely age appropriate. Put a few things in the bag (can be golden book related such as puppy, kitty, elephant, lion, train, boat, etc.). Let the child reach into the bag and choose an object. Encourage them to feel it, roll it in their hands and imagine what it might be. Ask them to guess before pulling it out. As a prize if they guess correct they make keep the item.
Doggy, Doggy Where’s your Bone?
Supplies:
- any object to use as a bone, or use a bone
- chair
- blindfold
Directions:
One child is chosen to be “IT” and plays the role of the dog. He or she sits in a chair with their back to the group. The object is placed under the chair. This is the “bone. While the dog is turned backward with his or her eyes closed (blindfold is optional) someone quietly steals the bone and hides it – usually they just sit on it or hide It in their cupped hands. Then everyone sings: “Doggy, doggy, where’s your bone? Somebody stole it from your home.” Then the dog has three chances to guess who took it. If the dog guesses right, then he gets to do it again. If he guesses wrong, than the person who had the bone gets a turn as the dog. Usually, all of the children will try to look “guilty” by sheltering their laps or holding their hands together as if they have the bone.
Little Golden Books Pull-String Piñata
Supplies:
Directions:
Piñatas are always a hit at birthday parties. Give your little ones a treat with the Little Golden Books piñata, which perfectly matches your party theme! Pull-string piñatas are especially fun, because kids choose a ribbon and pull together—so everyone wins! They can also be opened the traditional way (by hitting it with a stick) – either way, remember to add the piñata fillers and let the festivities begin!
Recipes
Puppy Chow
Estimated Total Time: 18 minutes
Ingredients:
- 12 oz. box Crispix cereal
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup crunch peanut butter
- 12 oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate chips
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
Supplies:
- medium microwave safe bowl
- large bowl
- large plastic food bag
- wax paper
Directions:
In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips and microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once during cooking, until mixture is melted and smooth. Place the cereal in another large bowl and pour melted mixture over the cereal. Stir until the cereal is thoroughly coated. Pour the powdered sugar into a large plastic food bag. Pour the coated cereal into the powdered sugar and shake until it is well covered with the sugar. Pour the cereal onto wax paper to cool and dry. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature.
Animal Cracker Cake Batter Dip
Estimated Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups chocolate cake mix
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup marshmallow fluff
- animal crackers
Supplies:
Directions:
Combine cake mix and milk in a medium bowl. Whisk in marshmallow fluff. Serve with animal crackers and enjoy! Anyone who enjoyed Dunkaroos oh so many years ago will love this chocolaty treat!
Checkerboard Sandwich
Estimated Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- white bread
- dark bread (wheat, rye, etc.)
- thin sliced sandwich meats (your choice you can use cheese as well if you choose)
- butter (optional)
Directions:
Cut crust of the bread so it makes a square and use one piece of white bread and one piece of dark bread for each sandwich. Butter one side of bread and then lay meat of your choice on sandwich and then put other color bread on top. Cut in half and then in half again to make 4 squares. Put on plate and then turn the two opposite squares over showing the darker bread and it looks like a checkerboard.
Fantastic Fruit Dip (works with sour cream or yogurt)
Estimated Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup lowfat or nonfat sour cream or 1 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
Supplies:
Directions:
Kids love dipping their food. This sweet and simple dip will encourage even finicky kids to eat lots of healthy fruit. Mix until the brown sugar dissolves. Serve with a platter of fruit. (sliced apples, strawberries, grapes, sliced kiwi fruit, mandarin orange slices, cantaloupe, pear slices.