3115

Rainbows - Ribbon Wand Dancing

January 2002

Teri in Central Point, Oregon, USA

Runner-Up

Rainbows!  Here is a bright festive party that is flexible and more fun than you might expect. With lots of ideas to pick from you can make your own unique party. There are several possible names for this party such as: Over the Rainbow, Color Explosion, Color Burst, All the Colors of the Rainbow. This rainbow theme also works well with St. Patrick's Day, Noah's Ark, Muppets, Rainy Day, Unicorns or Wizard of Oz parties. 

The Main Event -   Searching for the rainbow and it's pot of gold will be the main event for this party.  Children will be delighted when they come to the end of the search to find a large box that when opened a bouquet of rainbow colored balloons attached to a pot of gold (gold chocolate coins that is) pop out!    If you just can't get enough of the extra touches you could arrange to have a child helper for the party that is dressed as a leprechaun.   

Invitation Suggestions -  You might want to make an invitation like this one using construction paper and satin ribbons.  You might start the wording something like this: Catch a ride on a cloud, over the rainbow to a colorful party! Don't forget to ask the children to come dressed in a color of the rainbow!  

Party Music Ideas -  Somewhere Over the Rainbow The Rainbow Connection Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head  Decorating Ideas -  rainbow balloon arches bubble machine blowing bubbles outside the home's entrance  doorways hung with streamers in a rainbow pattern colorful Christmas lights hung around rainbow balloon bouquets unicorns a giant cardboard rainbow attached to the side of your child's slide (for sliding down the rainbow) pots of gold - use black cauldrons from Halloween, stuffed with paper and topped off with gold plastic coins, available from Oriental Trading Company Replace lighbulbs in the party area with colored light bulbs umbrellas rainboots rain coats paper rain drops  

Games and Activities -  Dress up fun - To add to the children's colorful attire you may want to apply rainbow colored body glitter to their arms or cheeks (careful to stay away from the eye area).  Rainbow or cloud hand stamps are fun.  Watch for the rainbow colored ink pads for the rubber stamps.  Rainbow face painting is one more option.    Rainbow hats - I love this one!  Using the Chinette type paper plates cut out the center area.  Use your child as a model to determine the right size hole to cut. You want this ring shape to be able to fit on the child's head like a hat. 

Next, you paint the plate sky blue and let dry.  Then when dry you punch holes on either side (about 6, one for each color).  Then with the curling ribbon in each color of the rainbow you tie a length of ribbon to hang down from each hole in a rainbow pattern.  Hot glue little puffs of pillow stuffing around the top of the plate for clouds.  Now you have a sky blue hat, clouds included and even the rainbow.  These are very cute! 

Wrist Streamers -  By tying colored ribbon to elastic you can make rainbow wrist streamers.  You can even tie them on to pipe cleaners and twist them gently together to make a streamer bracelet.  It depends on the size of the child but approximately 1 1/2 " streamers work well.  You could also cut them 1 yard long and tie them in the center to the pipe cleaner or elastic to double up  on the ribbons.  

The Cloud Game - Make 4 clouds out of poster board (2 for each team). Divide the children into two teams and line them up.  Give the first child in each line 2 clouds.  Set the course they will take ahead of time (across the room, around the table and back).  The object is to make it around the course and back only stopping on the clouds.  The first team to do this wins.  They could also do this using rainbows instead of clouds.  I like the clouds better.   

Ribbon Dancing - Provide the ribbon wands for children and let them dance with them in a roomy area or outside.  Kids love these and it makes a great photo opportunity.   Bubble blowing 

Pass the rainbow parcel - Same as pass the parcel but with each layer being wrapped in tissue paper in a different rainbow color.  If you are unfamiliar with the game you wrap a small gift in paper.  add another gift and wrap again until you have wrapped enough layers for each child at the party. They sit in a circle and pass the parcel, each unwrapping a layer and a surprise.   

Collect the clouds - Hide and scatter a bag of cotton balls around the party area.  Have the children see who can collect the most clouds.  You don't have to give a prize here, just let them know it is for fun.  

Find a rainbow - Hide a length of ribbon in each color of the rainbow for each child  around the yard or party area.  They all look until they have collected one of each.  

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow- Have the children follow clues that will eventually lead to the treasure.  The treasure being a large box. When the box is opened a bunch of rainbow colored balloons float out.  Attached to the balloons is a pot of gold (black, plastic cauldron filled with chocolate coins).  Pour a scoop into each of the party favor bags.  

Table Decoration Suggestions -  bright colored table cloth sprinkles with gold glitter sky blue table cloth with rainbow colored streamers running down the length of the table  a rainbow colored balloon attached to the back of each chair or even three on each chair! Sprinkle the table with Skittles for the children to eat. Set the table with bright colored paper plates and plastic silverware in varying colors.  Make clouds out of poster board with a bit of pillow stuffing glued on and hang from the back of each chair so it looks as though each child gets to sit on a cloud at the rainbow table.  

Party Food Suggestions -  Changing color drink - provide a yellow drink and add blue ice cubes. As the ice melts the drink turns from yellow to green! Jell-O jigglers made in rainbow colors and arranged in an arch on a cloud of whipped cream. Rainbow sherbet rainbow Popsicle's instead of ice cream rainbow cupcakes rainbow colored Vanilla Wafers by Keebler rainbow shaped cake  Pot of gold cake with black liquorice handles and in the center chocolate gold coins. Rainbow parfaits Jell-O in rainbow layers.  The trick is to let each layer set before adding another layer.  One layer for each color of the rainbow of course.  Top with a gob of whipped cream tinted blue for a cloud!  

Party favor suggestions - For a favor bag, how about using the white lunch bags and attaching colored streamers around the top?  Even a clear cellophane bag tied with a rainbow ribbon would be pretty. For favors how about some of the following: cotton candy (clouds), bubbles, crayons, prisms, kaleidoscopes, rainbow stickers, Skittles (rainbow colored candies), Rainblow gum, plastic gold coins, gold chocolate coins, ribbon wands  

Photo Ideas -  Arrange the children into an arch to look like a rainbow, pose them in front of the rainbow balloon bouquet individually or in a group. Remember to get a picture of mom and certainly of the whole family. It is nice to have a helper take the pictures so you can run the party.   Your Child's Party!    This party plan was created by:  Teri Sutton of Once Upon a Time www.princessparty.com &  Children's Parties International www.childsparty.com  teri@princessparty.com

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