Picnic Party (Creating a Perfect Picnic Birthday Party & Indoor Picnic Party Games)

Picnic Party

Creating a Perfect Picnic Birthday Party

Need a fresh idea for a birthday party? A picnic party may be just the thing.


This picnic idea is great because it is so versatile. The obvious picnic birthday party would usually happen outdoors on a beautiful summer day. But what about those of us born in the chilly winter months? After you’ve done all the usual winter birthday party ideas (like roller skating, bowling and laser tag) consider an indoor picnic party.

Invitations
Create birthday picnic invitations using a picnic/outdoor theme:

• Bug themes - ants, bees, ladybugs, butterflies ...
• Teddy bear picnics
• A jungle safari theme
• Indiana Jones theme
• Fish / Finding Nemo theme
• Beach Picnic/Hawaiian theme

If it will be an indoor picnic party, get everyone to wear their summer clothes (or beach wear, safari wear ...), sunglasses, hats (this is especially fun on very cold winter days!).

Decorate

Look for summer-themed graphics on the computer, print them and place them strategically around your home. The "dollar stores" are a great source of birthday party supplies in a variety of themes. Try to look for napkins, paper plates or cups with your selected summer theme.


Spread a large tablecloth or picnic blanket on the floor for your picnic. Scatter plastic bugs or ants around the food. If you have a tent (and the space to put it!), erect the tent in the living room and eat inside it.


You may also consider cranking up the heat in your home to accommodate the kids wearing their summer attire. If you have a fireplace, put on a "campfire" and roast marshmallows.

The Food

Birthday picnic fare could include such things as hamburgers or hotdogs, potato chips and juice boxes. Depending on your picnic theme, you could also serve fish crackers, animal cookies or teddy bear graham cookies. For a healthy snack, consider an ice cream cone filled with freshly cut fruit. Or perhaps fruit kabobs.


Create (or buy) a summer-themed birthday cake. Items like small candies, string licorice and even cereal all make great edible decorating tools.

• Ice cream is a summer staple! An ice cream cake is fairly easy to make on your own, or purchase one and have it decorated to your theme.
  
• Cupcakes - great because of their versatility. They can be decorated individually with things like bugs or flowers. For something different, place them on a serving tray (side by side) in the shape of a caterpillar or snake and decorate accordingly.

Indoor Picnic Party Games

• Cocoon: Have children wrap up a 'caterpillar' in a toilet paper cocoon. Whoever finishes first wins!
• Bear Hunt: Great for Teddy Bear Picnics. Have the children bring their own bears to the party. When the children are not looking, hide them throughout your house and go on a bear hunt. Warning - younger children may not like you taking their teddy bears away!
  
• Bug Catchers: Purchase butterfly nets/bug catchers and plastic bugs from the "dollar stores". Hide bugs throughout the house and go bug catching. Or try hanging butterflies off the ceiling and catch them in your nets.
  
• Skin the Snake: Players form a line, bending forward slightly. Each person puts his right hand through his legs, his left hand grasps the hand of the person in front of him. The last person in line carefully lies down. The others slowly walk backward straddling him, lying down when getting to the end. The chain should not be broken. When everyone is lying down they can try to reverse the process until everyone is standing again.