Ages 3-5

When you think of spring, you think about bright colors, flowers, butterflies, ladybugs, and baby animals -- all perfect for a spring-themed children's party. Whether you're planning a birthday party or want to jazz up a play date, these ideas are sure to be a hit with your little guests!

Decorations:

Brightly colored balloons -- Inflate with helium and place around your party room

Brightly colored crepe paper

Butterfly antenna headbands for the guests -- Paint small Styrofoam balls red, poke black pipe cleaners into balls, and wrap other end of pipe cleaners around headband

Food:

Ladybug cake

Fresh fruit

Rainbow-colored Goldfish crackers

Cheese sandwiches cut into the shapes of butterflies (or other fun shape)

Activities:

Make a Caterpillar -- Cut up cardboard egg cartons, add pipe cleaner antenna, and let the children paint them, add glitter to them, glue foam shapes on them, etc. (Do this activity first, so that the caterpillars are dry by the end of the party.)

Sing-Along -- Select songs that have a spring, animal, or insect theme, such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Mary Had a Little Lamb, I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee, The Ants Go Marching, and Old MacDonald.

Mother May I

Pin the Dot on the Ladybug -- This is a variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, except the target is a much larger area. Each child receives a small prize for sticking a dot on the ladybug. (Make the ladybug out of red poster board, and make the dots out of construction paper. Use tape to attach the dots.)

Backyard or Indoor Fishing -- Each child takes turn fishing for paper fish using fishing poles with magnets on them. A small prize is given for each fish caught. (Cut out shapes of fish and put a paper clip on each. Put the fish in an empty kiddie pool, playpen, or area sectioned off in the room. Cut 3-foot pieces of yarn or string, attaching a small magnet to one end. Attach the other end to a 2-foot dowel.)

Party Favors:

Each child takes home his caterpillar, a balloon, and his prizes from the games.