First Birthday Parties
My son is turning five in a few weeks, and we’ve decided to let him have his first birthday party. 
He wants a Batman theme, and right now I’m trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. I do want to keep it to 2 hours, with cake, presents, and a few preschool-appropriate games. But it’s not as easy as I’d like. I plan to go to the party store today and stare dumbly at the rows of batman gear and hopefully I’ll figure something out.
I’m not an artistic or craftsy person. I know! How can I call myself a writer? I have not a creative party bone in my body. I live for instruction books. I bow down to those who know how to generate cool party games and create those activities that kids love. 
This is why I teach middle school and not elementary school. I flunked Bulletin Board Creativity 101.
So, if you had to do a Batman theme party, what sort of bat games would you have the kids play? Help! :batman:
Michelle posted in Writing @ 9:05 am | Viewed 1940 times
kacey Says:
LOL, so can’t help you on this one. I can just say I think throwing kids’ birthday parties is some insane form of torture. We had a great rule that you could only have them until you hit kindergarten. That, at least, limited the pain… :batman:
Melissa Mc Says:
Two hours is plenty for a kids’ birthday party. Some things off the top of my head I can think of:
1) Have them do a craft. See if you can find a batman template mask on the internet. They can color it in (doesn’t have to be black). If there are girls, they’ll want pink. OR get foam/cardstock frames and have them decorate them with Batman stickers. You can then take a photo of each child during the party. If you have hubby there print them out during cake and ice cream and stick in the frame so they can take them home. Otherwise send the pics with the thank you notes.
** Batman coloring sheets are a good activity to have on hand for kids to do as they arrive and you’re waiting for other guests to come.
2) Batman obstacle course - if you house is big enough set up a batman obstacle course. Have a cape and mask to put on each child as they run through. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Boys just like activity and motion.
3) Bat toss. Get toy bats and toss them through holes, into baskets, to each other. whatever you have on hand or can easily get.
4) Bat cave. If you want to get really creative, make a bat cave for the kids to crawl through play in.
5) Bat cookies. Make bat shaped sugar cookies and let kids decorate them.
6) Batman pinata. Always a big hit. Would do this as the last activity to keep kids from losing (and eating) their candy. Available at most party stores and Toys R Us.
I’m sure if you google, you could come up with some stuff. There’s a birthday party ideas website out there, but I can’t remember the link.
Have fun!
Melissa Mc Says:
I googled it. Here’s a link to that site for Batman. I haven’t checked any of these parties, but I’ve used the site for pirates and princesses before and gotten some good ideas.
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/batman_party.html
beth Says:
Umm…pin the cape on the superhero?
Yeah, I don’t have kids that age, so I don’t know if that’s lame or not. But I ditto the “keep them active” idea - liked the obstacle course thingy.
Good luck!
Jean Says:
Melissa has some great ideas. Here’s what I got from our almost-resident boy-party expert — Dru, age seven: They could just play Batman, and Superman, and Power Rangers.
mary beth Says:
Yikes. Looks like you’ve got some great advice here. Good luck.
Kelly Says:
Well I know all kinds of games I’d like to play if Batman aka Christian Bale showed up for MY birthday party…but for kids…hmmm…yeah I got nothing.
Robyn Says:
Off Topic- we pimped your book on SC. Free publicity!
Michelle Says:
Melissa–thanks for the suggestions! I’ll give those a try.:dance: