Birthday Party Ideas for Spring

Spring is a season bursting with inspiration and possibilities. Those of us with birthdays in spring know that while the symbolism of spring is quite lovely, the weather isn’t always predictable, so plans for outside parties always require a plan B. Here are some spring party themes that work inside or out:

  1. Decorate with flowers, both real and homemade. Concentrate on seasonal blooms like cherry blossoms and daffodils. Serve cake or punch garnished with edible flowers. Extend the floral theme to invitations and party favors.
  2. Center your party around one or more of spring’s many holidays – green food and drink for St. Patrick’s Day, candy, eggs, and bunnies for Easter, nature-centered activities for Earth Day, pranks and surprises for April Fool’s Day. The possibilities are almost endless. Many beautiful and interesting insects emerge in the spring. Decorate with cut out butterflies, dragonflies, ladybugs, or grasshoppers. For younger guests, provide wearable wings.
  3. The spring is one of the best times to visit local farms, when baby animals abound. Many farms have facilities available for party rentals. Send guests home with a small stuffed toy representing one of the animals they met that day.
  4. Inside or out, a gardening party can be great fun. Have guests pot their own flowers to take home and serve a menu that revolves around fresh vegetables and spring greens.

Young Ears: The Best Kids Albums

The days of music for kids being unlistenable for adults are over. Some of the modern artists for the younger set make music that parents can also enjoy. Here are five essential records that parents will enjoy, too:

Dan Zanes – House Party
Zanes is one of the most popular names in children’s music today. He has multiple albums on the market, but House Party is one of the most accessible, full of fast-paced songs that will get your kids moving.

Laura Veirs – Tumble Bee
This Canadian singer-songwriter is known for her grown-up work, but her first kids album, produced with husband Tucker Martine, takes classics from the Smithsonian Folkways collection and gives them a new spin.

The Deedle Deedle Dees – Strange Dees Indeed
Brooklyn-based historical rock band takes some of the most important people in the annals of humankind and crafts catchy, addictive tunes about them.

Gustafer Yellowgold – Gustafer Yellowgold’s Wide Wild World
This entertaining concept album draws from the excesses of 70s rock to tell a rollicking tale of a strange creature who fell to Earth from space.

Jim Copp & Ed Brown – Agnes Mouthwash and Friends
The totally unique records created by Copp and Brown in the 1960s still hold up today. They’re bursting with strange, funny characters and addictive tunes, and kids of all ages love them.

Child’s Play: Great Crafts To Share With Kids

Crafting is more popular than ever, and it’s a great way to bond with your children. Creating something together that you can look at with pride – or give as a gift – can teach valuable life lessons about patience, following instructions and self-expression. Here are some ideas for craft projects that adults can share with kids.

-          Freezer paper stencils are easy and fun. Cut the designs out of the paper and then iron the paper onto the shirt. Paint within the negative space to create cool shapes and designs, and then peel off the freezer paper when you're done.

-          Make your own board game. Several retailers sell blank board game templates – draw a board with crayons and markers, use index cards to make events, get a pair of dice and play!

-          One fun craft that kids love is melting down old crayon stubs and molding them into new creations. Adult supervision is required for the melting process, but once you’ve liquefied the wax you can use ice cube trays, cookie molds and more to make new art supplies.

-          Potato stamping is a fun way to decorate paper, fabric and more. Cut stencil shapes from firm, fresh potatoes, dip them in ink or paint, and go to town to create funky, home-made designs.

-          Making musical instruments can be a fun activity that can lead into more creative play. Put beans in cardboard boxes, tape tightly-stretched paper over the top, make shoebox banjos with rubber bands – the possibilities are endless.