A Winter Themed Party for Children

The changes Winter brings, like all seasons, are unique and inspiring. Winter makes a wonderful themed party for a Child's January birthday, a Solstice celebration, or just a get together for your little one and friends.

Invitations
Since winter is filled with various holidays it us easy to find generic wintery invitations at almost any store. Homemade cards are always a great option too, and you can get y our child involved in the process. A photo of your children bundled up for the cold, winter weather or playing in the snow can be used to create the image for the front of your winter party invitations. Even very young children can help decorate invitations with stamps or snowflake confetti.

Decorations
If your winter themed party is being held in December, the Christmas or other holiday decorations you already have on display in your home are likely sufficient. Paper of beaded snowflakes can be made by parents and children together and hung from the ceiling. White glitter give the shiny appearance of fresh snow. Stuffed arctic animals, such as polar bears, seals, and penguins, can be placed around your home for decoration and play. A real fire in the fireplace or one made of cardboard, paint, and paper add a cozy touch. Paper garlands can be made of loops of paper and hung. Red and green are nice if close to Christmas, blue and white are snowy, icy colors, and red and white is nice if you're getting close to Valentine's Day. Let your child gather some natural, winter treasures for display such as pine cones, sticks, and rocks.

Activities
If you get lucky you're party will fall on a snowy day. Then the kids will be able to spend a little time outside building snowmen, having snow ball fights, and exploring a winter wonderland. Younger, preschool aged children. are better left to free play. For them arctic themed animal toys, "snow balls" made of styrofoam, and wintery dress-up clothes, such as colorful jackets, fun hats, scarves, and mittens, can be made available.

Older kids may have fun dressing up for photos and making a picture frame. Put a twist on the traditional party game of fishing for a small prize by creating an ice fishing game. Pile up all the children's winter gloves and mittens for a racing, matching game. Provide a stack of cozy blankets and let kids curl up with a snack to listen to winter stories such as The Mitten by Jan Brett, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, and The Polar Express by Chris Can Allsburg.

Food
Winter is one of the few times of the year when even young children will enjoy a warm beverage. Try hot chocolate and hot apple cider. Cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, and chocolate dipped spoons add a festive and fun touch to these cold weather beverages. If your celebrating a birthday, why not try a hot brownie sundae instead of a traditional cake. Other warm treats include popcorn and smores. If you want to serve a meal, soup and fresh, hot bread warms and fills bellies. Fun shaped noodles or toppings, such as shredded cheese and sour cream, add extra appeal for children.

Favors
Icy blue bags, white organza pouches, stockings, or oversized mittens all make cute containers to hold winter party favors. Sweet treats are always enjoyed by children. Try to find special seasonal items such as candy canes, chocolate oranges, colorful, hard candy, and gingerbread men. Small spray bottles, found with travel accessories, can be filled with water and food coloring to create snow spray paint. Depending on when in the winter season your party falls, a keepsake ornament may be an appropriate winter party favor. Small arctic animals, stickers of snowmen, snowflakes, and sleds, and snow globes are other little, winter treasures children will enjoy.