Need help with ideas for dd's luau b-day party

[Mom21]

Her party isn't for over 2 months but I want to plan ahead and buy a little at a time. She wants a luau party. We have a pool but will have to hire someone to heat it. It should be nice outside, but the temp of the water will be a bit chilly. What can I do for children that will range in age from 4-13? Most will be dd's age (8-9), but I have some friends with youngers and dd has some older friends. Need lots of ideas to include food, decorations, games, crafts, etc.

My dd has only had 1 party in her life (age 6) as we have no relatives in the area so she doesn't even get a family party...just me, her, and daddy normally--we go out to eat and have a cake at home---that's it. I want it to be nice. We have a pool with a deck and a tiki hut.

Also this is dd's first year in school--3rd grade--we homeschooled. I have always thought it polite to invite all children in the class. Well dd is in a dual class. She has 2 teachers that co-teach and 37 children in the class. She also is in pull-out math with some of her classmates and other classmates from another class. She likes some of them from the other class and will want to invite them. Honestly if she has to invite everyone, along with other children she knows that she wants to invite, we will run over 55-60 kids easily. I realize less than half will most likely come but still......

Should she invite everyone to be polite? I know those she doesn't like most likely don't like her and won't come, but I don't want her to hurt anyone's feelings. I certainly hate seeing my dd hurt when someone hands out invitations in front of her and she isn't invited. As much as our children try to be brave, it does hurt. But, boy howdy, that's a lota kids.

Anyway , would love any and all ideas from all of you creative people, especially on a budget as the pool heater will take a hunk out of my budget but will be necessary. Thanks.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

My daughter did a luau party this year and had so much fun! We made chicken kebobs with peppers, mushroms and pineapple, the local party store had lei's (I know that some might have a kit where you can make your own), I went to walmart.com and picked some beach songs and printed out the words, the girls did karaoke. On the invitation I put come dressed for a luau, for snacks we had cut up fruit and fruit dip, we made smoothies for drinks. It was a lot of fun.

 

[clh2]

I would see with your DD if she could only invite the girls - not both. That would cut the guest list in half, and yet if you invited all the girls, wouldn't really be excluding anyone. Hope that makes sense.

Although my DD is now in 6th grade, when she was that age, there were no "boys and girls" parties, just girls only and boys only.

Plus, if I had a pool, there is no way I would want to keep my eye on 57 3rd grade kids, who will all have differing swimming abilities.

My DD was an excellent swimmer at that age, so I really didn't worry about her being at someone's house for a swimming party. But - I also always inquired about who was going to be lifeguarding. And, while many did not have certified lifeguards, I needed to know that someone was going to be keeping an eye on things.

Another big fear I would have is what is going to happen if it rains? Have a really good back-up plan!

Other than that - have a great time. I always had DD's parties somewhere else, and never at my house. It just worked better for me.

 

[ducklite]

Two suggestions for you:

1. Look at www.orientaltrading.com for TONS of cheap Luau stuff--everything from lei's to favors.

2. Hire a lifeguard. I'm not kidding. Call your local Y, community rec center, or town parks and rec program to hire someone for the few hours during the party. Having a professional certified lifeguard is the best way to avoid a tragedy, and should only cost you $30-50. The lifeguard can also be the "bad guy" that enforces the rules. Edited to say that the life guard could very likely just be a local high school or college kid--anyone is fine as long as they are Red Cross Life Guard certified.

Anne

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Okay, I've "been there, done that" on luau parties for this age group, so here are some thoughts:

Limit the guest list to 10 girls, tops. You will go nuts trying to keep track of all those kids in the water! A pool party generally has more "yes" responses than a regular party in my experience.

Some food ideas we used: Check on the web for interesting cake ideas. I personally like the one with blue Jell-o pool surrounded by Teddy Graham swimmers, but never attempted it. My DD had "sand cups" (vanilla pudding with Nilla wafers), decorated with candy shells. But look on Paretns, Family Circle, etc. for good cake ideas. Also some of the party sites.

Oriental Trading Co. is a great source of favors and decorations.

For food, we just did burgers and hot dogs, and fruit on skewers. Also, we bought plastic "tiki cups" and served punch--each girl got to keep her cup, made for less mess than 4 dozen unclamied cups at the end.

My favorite activity is water balloon volley ball--using beach towels, you "fling" the balloon over the net, to another team of two waiting to catch it. Other possibilities: hula contest, limbo (although the one from OTC is too high for kids--use a broomstick on two chairs or some such), possibly lei making (sheap flowers from the craft store), and you can always do "Hawaiian bingo" or any other game that you can turn into a luau type theme--for example, if you want to hunt for a pinata, it can be a hunt for Paradise Lost, that kind of thing.

I find that I like to spend a lot of time planning and thinking, versus spending huge amounts of $$. Of course, with a baby due in March, and my "birthday season coming in April, May, and June for the older three, they'll be lucky this year if they get a cake on the right day!

Good luck, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

 

[Glynis]

Last summer (I think) there was an article in Family Fun magazine on how to make a hula skirt out of a cheap plastic tablecloth. That might be a fun thing to do with the girls. I'd also check out oriental trading. They have great decorations, etc. I also saw a picture in a magazine of a cookie lei. You make sugar cookies and cut them out in flower shapes and then frost them in beautiful colors. You can string them on yarn, or just leave them on trays for snacking. There was also a recipe for chicken salad that was served in a hollowed out pineapple half. It looked delicious.

Have fun with it!

 

[Mom21]

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I have a notebook for keeping ideas. Keep them coming!

As far as a lifeguard, that was already on my list. Maybe even two depending on how many kids we have. No way I can keep up with everyone.

I really like the idea of a girl only party, but 2 of my dd's best friends are boys. One lives 2 doors down. I can't see excluding him when he will know there is a party, but he wouldn't feel comfortable being the only boy. Also a few of my friends will want to bring all of their children which will include a few boys.

keep the great ideas coming. I need them.