Moms of Boys - Please help!

[labst60]

Hi everyone!

My DD's 3rd bday party is coming up and I'm not sure what to do -
We are having about 20 kids (10 girls and 10 boys) and DD wants a princess theme party. For the "craft" I planned on getting foam "king" crowns and tiaras and having them decorate the crowns/tiaras with stickers.

I was also going to get bead necklaces and rings for the girls - but what to get the boys for "dress up"?

My thought was swords (either foam, plastic or inflatable) - think that's okay for their age (3-4 years old)?

I'd really, really appreciate ideas and input!

Thanks!

 

[Stephres]

My thoughts:

swords=weapons

I would plan lots of activities that get the kids moving and no activity should be too long. If you can move inside to outside that would be great too. The best little kid party we went to was Dora-themed. All the kids got a map and we herded the kids all around the yard doing various activities: blowing bubbles, grabbing candy and putting in the backpacks, playing with a parachute and tie-dying t-shirts. We were never in one place for a long time so the kids never got bored and antsy. Maybe a treasure hunt for the princes and princesses? Good luck!

 

[momto28weeker+1]

I wouldn't do swords. JMO... My three year old would do some damage with any kind of weapon. Not because he is unmanageable, but because he is a 3 yr. old boy.

My dd had a 4th princess party with boys and girls and I made brown paper grocery bags into prince costumes. I took gold drapery material and swagged it on the side. I also used golden ribbon for a belt. The boys could also decorate their own. We also decorated crowns and tiaras. A kit at Walmart.
HTH

 

[ldo]

It was he and another boy and 12 girls!! He got invited b/c his twin sister did (nice of the host) and he didn't "mind" a bit. So, trust me, 3 yr olds don't care--watch out--the boys may steal the dress up clothes!
I would just give the boys necklaces too--or you could do a "badge" or "medal" type one on a necklace--they sell cheap ones at party stores.
Also for 3 yr olds--basic, simple games---toss the bean bag, coloring, etc.

 

[hopesmommy]

For my DD's princess party, we did not dress up. But for the goodie bags, I found knight and horse action figures at Michael's. You could get cardboard and make shields for the boys (without the swords). I agree the boys could do too much damage with the swords. We did a treasure hunt and it was great fun for adults and kids of all ages (4 to 10).

 

[bcvdreamer]

What about pirates? You could give them an eye patch, bandana and a tatoo.

 

[kim_o]

I like the pirate idea....though my 2.5 yo DS would opt for all the princessy things ;-)

 

[Tam1067]

I, too, advise against swords which will be dangerous to your house...

My boys have always loved pirate stuff, and if you could certainly do the crown if it's boyish. I just did my DS's classroom party, and we had door hanger decorations (foam) from Michael's. They had lots of foam stickers with boy themes like sports, monsters, and other similar things.

 

[katerkat]

I would go for the shield. My almost-three year old and his friends all have a couple of swords each and they aren't too good at blocking.

 

[foltzy]

We're doing a princess theme for my daughter (she'll be 3) the girls are going to do tiara's and wands, the boys are going to do shields and crowns. I bought stuff off Oriental trading and looked up princess and knights.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[LJRJR]

I think the pirate idea is great. Make it a pirate and a princess party, with eye patches and a bandana. I picked up pirate bandanas at Target, but that was about a month ago. I have one princess (7) and two pirates (3&5), and agree that the swords might cause them to start hitting things with them . My boys dont mind the princess theme (atleast not yet), just a long they are included in the event that is what is important to them. We take them to Cinderella Castle for dinner and the pricess dinner in Norway, and they are thrilled. My boys know that the princesses love everyone, and that is what is important to them.

 

[chip007]

We did this a few year ago with my niece. Grandma made "armor" for the boys (vests made out of shiny silver material) and we had helmets for them too. The girls received princess hats.

 

[kylieh]

Pirates are popular - DD5 was at a fancy dress party for a class mate a couple of weeks ago, around 40 kids from 3 different classes!!! Almost all of the girls were ballerinas or pincesses and the boys were pirates, pirates, and pirates, and one Jedi for good measure!!!!

Pirates are easy on the parents also, and most boys love them!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I vote for the pirate and princess theme. Fun! There's so much out there for both.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I'd plan for some of the boys to really want to dress up in the girl things. At 3, my son didn't really get boy/girl differences yet. He would probably want to dress up like a princess since the majority of the kids (girls) were. I imagine that you might have some (though not many) girls want to dress up like pirates too. I say this and could totally see my husbands face...

NO TO SWORDS... I personally don't buy that stuff for my son. He's too young and I don't like all the hitting that he comes up with on his own without props, so I would say nope.

Pirates are good, but I'd expect that would get the boys in rowdy fight mode that isn't the best when you have little princesses running around.

Doing the things as goody bags would be good, or stickers on the kings hats sounds nice too. It depends on how many boys and how close to 4 they are. The closer to 4, the more fiesty and ready to "fight" they are.

One activity that is always a hit with all the kids in my neighborhood is bubble blowing - so that could be an activity outside if you have the weather for it. Those big bubble wants are about $1, and you could do something like that for the boys, but be prepared for the girls to want it too.

Another treat idea that I noticed most boys liking.... wild animals and cars/trucks. That is almost always a hit with everyone too!

 

[jacobsmom]

The Pirate idea is great, but please no swords! LIttle boys crash just about everything and something WILL get hurt or broken even with foam swords. Think bandanas, fake tattoos, trasure hunts (have them make maps), compasses, looking glasses.... that kind of thing.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I have to agree to no swords for all of the reasons listed. I think the Pirate angle is cute....and even though I LOVE the idea of fake tattoos, think about the parents of the kids coming. There are some parents that get just as offended about fake tattoos as they would about "weapons".

 

[maxtomsmom]

I like the pirate and princess theme too, but you can do a prince and princess one as well. Provide old dress shirts and ties for the boys. You might be able to find generic crowns and capes. For an art activity they can both decorate castles (oriental trading company has ideas). If you're in a pinch you can make your own castle with gray construction paper. Then provide the jewels and stickers for the kids to decorate. Or, the boys can make a shield- decorate their own coat of armor.

I agree with some pp that swords can be more trouble than they are worth. Some parents may also have strict no weapons rule in their homes.