Family Fun
Tea for Two (or more)?
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
A Valentine's Day Tea Party
Our resident mom on the go - Emily's take on a way to make this traditional event more fun and inviting to the little ones and even the boys!
We're getting ready for our annual Valentine's Day tea party. It's a festivity I highly recommend trying. and one you can throw together at the last minute with little effort. Consider it a glorified playdate! We've made a Valentine's Day party a tradition since my oldest daughter was 4. She's 11 now and shares the party with her 9-year-old brother (who plays down the "tea" and plays up the "party") and her 6-year-old sister. We do the same two activities every year and it amazes me how easy it is to continue to please a crowd spanning both genders and three different age groups, especially with the oldest girls entering the tween years.
The party starts with the kids making Valentine's Day cards for their families. I just put out a bunch of construction paper, doilies, stickers, scissors, glue, glitter and markers and let them go to town. Next, each child gets four cupcakes to decorate --two to eat at the party and two to bring home. I keep it real-simple by making cupcakes from a mix and putting out pink and white ready-made icing that they smear on. Topping it off is an assortment of far more Valentine's-themed candies and sprinkles for decorating than they can fit on their cupcakes!
Once they're done decorating, I plate up each child's two cupcakes to send home with them. I put out the three kids' tea sets we've somehow managed to accumulate over the years. We fill the pots with chocolate milk, fruit punch and iced tea and even put sugar in the sugar bowl (as if the drinks need sweetening!) They just love filling, and refilling and refilling those tiny little cups and stirring and sipping away while they eat their cupcakes. And just when they're all abuzz with sugar, the party is over!
In the past, we've served pizza as well. But we're keeping it simpler (and cheaper) this year by having the party from 2:00 p.m. to 4;00 p.m. and avoiding mealtime.
A very happy Valentine's Day to all of you and your little sweethearts!
Emily
Our resident mom on the go - Emily's take on a way to make this traditional event more fun and inviting to the little ones and even the boys!
We're getting ready for our annual Valentine's Day tea party. It's a festivity I highly recommend trying. and one you can throw together at the last minute with little effort. Consider it a glorified playdate! We've made a Valentine's Day party a tradition since my oldest daughter was 4. She's 11 now and shares the party with her 9-year-old brother (who plays down the "tea" and plays up the "party") and her 6-year-old sister. We do the same two activities every year and it amazes me how easy it is to continue to please a crowd spanning both genders and three different age groups, especially with the oldest girls entering the tween years.
The party starts with the kids making Valentine's Day cards for their families. I just put out a bunch of construction paper, doilies, stickers, scissors, glue, glitter and markers and let them go to town. Next, each child gets four cupcakes to decorate --two to eat at the party and two to bring home. I keep it real-simple by making cupcakes from a mix and putting out pink and white ready-made icing that they smear on. Topping it off is an assortment of far more Valentine's-themed candies and sprinkles for decorating than they can fit on their cupcakes!
Once they're done decorating, I plate up each child's two cupcakes to send home with them. I put out the three kids' tea sets we've somehow managed to accumulate over the years. We fill the pots with chocolate milk, fruit punch and iced tea and even put sugar in the sugar bowl (as if the drinks need sweetening!) They just love filling, and refilling and refilling those tiny little cups and stirring and sipping away while they eat their cupcakes. And just when they're all abuzz with sugar, the party is over!
In the past, we've served pizza as well. But we're keeping it simpler (and cheaper) this year by having the party from 2:00 p.m. to 4;00 p.m. and avoiding mealtime.
A very happy Valentine's Day to all of you and your little sweethearts!
Emily
