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Dora the Explorer Parties

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Dora the Explorer Party

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January 2002

Cathy in Delaware, Ohio  USA

 
 

My three year old daughter loves Dora the Explorer, a popular Nick Jr. character, but without party supplies on the market, it was a creative challenge to plan this party.  We found invitations on the Nick Jr. website, with envelopes at a local discount store.  The guests arrived to find a map in the entryway, which directed them to the party room using Dora's approach of three landmarks (example: coat rack, kitchen, party room), which I drew with the help of a coloring page on the Nick Jr. site.  The party room was decorated like a fiesta, with huge bouquets of tissue paper flowers, streamers, and balloons, in colors of red, yellow, purple, turquoise, and orange. The flowers were easy to make: I layered three pieces of tissue paper (some in the same color and some mixed), and then grabbed the middle of the tissue paper (while it was flat on the table), securing the three sheets with a pipe cleaner.  Fringing the edges of some of the tissue ahead of time added a nice look.  The guests colored Dora placemats as they came in (from the same website), as an icebreaker.  The next activity was to make shakers, which we then used in a parade around the house (a good way to use some energy). Plain white paper plates were decorated with markers by each child, then folded and stapled at the edges halfway up. The children then put a few scoops of beans inside, we finished the stapling, taped the staples to avoid any poking ends, and we had our instruments. After the parade, we returned to play "What is in backpack?" Each child had a turn at putting his/her hand into backpack and guessing what an item was-- I usually helped with a hint or two. The children were excited to find out they would take home all of the items we found in backpack, including a small flashlight, magnifying glass, beaded bracelet (we made to look like Dora's-- boys got a bouncy ball instead), a pencil and eraser, sunglasses, and a Dora coloring book and story/coloring book (both of the latter from the Nick Jr. site, and secured with construction paper covers and yarn binding).  All party favors were in a purple bag, with foam paper eyes, mouth, and eyebrows added to look like "Backpack" from the show.  The next activity was to make binoculars out of toilet paper and paper towel tubes.  I told the kids we needed to binoculars to find Dora's house and the surprise.  Colored plastic wrap is rubberbanded around one end, and masking tape secured the tubes together.  Stickers of bugs, stars, flowers, and happy faces decorated the binoculars, while yarn made a nice neck strap. We took another map and found the three landmarks (I used a tunnel and parachute as a "rainbow tunnel and slippery lake"). As the children descended the stairs to the basement, I directed them through Dora's house (a simple plastic tube structured playhouse, with the cover off, and streamers and balloons decorating it), where they found a sun pinata.  My daughter and I made it with a balloon covered by newspaper strips dipped in a flour and water paste.  Once dry (8 hours or so), I popped the balloon, painted it yellow, and tied string around it.  Yellow and orange construction paper cones decorated the perimeter of the sun, with a happy face shining in the middle.  It only took ten or so hits for the candy to come out.  There was a baggie for each child with sour worms and lightning bugs, gummy frogs, and chocolate lady bugs, as well as some loose candy for the kids to collect. After blowing bubbles, we went upstairs for cake. I made a chocolate "Boots" cake from a simple face picture of Dora's best friend (from the coloring book), white cake cone cupcakes with sprinkles, and white cupcakes with flowers, all served with ice cream. Cheese quesadillas (for the kids), chips and salsa and mini-tacos (for the adults) completed the menu.  Juice boxes and soda (for adults) made drinks easy.  After presents were opened, only 15 minutes were left before time to go home (out of two hours), which left time to make sure everyone got their crafts, candy and party bags. We all had a great time at our fiesta, and it was a blast to plan as well.

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