Holiday Workshop Children's Party  This party took place on a P.A. day in early December. We had 10 kids ranging in age from 6-10 yrs. We had them for most of the day, so we let the activities run a long time. You can adjust this depending on the timing you have by choosing your activities accordingly. In the past, we have found that for a party at this time of year, it is a good idea to send out invitations earlier than you normally would. We sent ours about a month ahead, and only had two who couldn't make it this time.  Since I myself have a December birthday, I know that people tend to overcompensate for the holiday overlap. I had always wanted a Christmas themed party, but never had one for this reason, so when I got the request, I decided to go for it. The invitations were printed on Christmas stationery found online (online printables). The relevant information was printed on each, and these were sealed along with Christmas confetti in red envelopes. The envelopes were made to look like wrapped gifts by using a length of green curling ribbon and gluing it as if for a package, tying off and curling the ends. The address was printed on the tag�. An alternate idea we considered was making Christmas crackers. These are made by using an empty toilet roll, tissue paper, ribbon, confetti and a few small candies. Roll tissue paper around the tube and tie off one end. Fill with the rolled up invitation, confetti, candy, etc. Tie off loose end. Decorate with stickers and leave the centre empty for the address. To prepare, several work stations were set up throughout the house. The kids were given their choice of activities, with adults helping where needed. Since the kids could all read, we had instruction cards posted at each station, which helped when new kids arrived part way through the activity. To help the kids see what was available and help us keep track of who had been where, we gave them each a card with their name on it and a list of activities with a checkbox beside each. We gave out a sticker for each completed station. The main rule we enforced was one of each activity per child, so that everyone would have a chance to try everything. We also emphasized to them the importance of sharing and not wasting materials. We had the house decorated for Christmas, and also had signs up for each station, along with streamers and balloons in red and white (left over from Canada Day). Outside our front door, we placed two giant candy canes (you can paint cardboard carpet tubes to make these, and add flexible dryer venting for the hook, or buy them). It made the house look like a gingerbread house (and the snowfall the day before didn't hurt!).  In the background, Christmas music played.  As the kids arrived, they received their cards, plus an elf hat ($ store), and were asked to take a look around and choose an activity.  The activities: Station 1: Gingerbread house building (basement) We picked up two large appliance boxes and cut out a window and door in each. Then we made up a couple of buckets fake snow paste (www.greensim.com/lemonade/concoctions.html) for the frosting and put out plastic spatulas for spreading it. We added colourful construction paper cut into large shapes (candy-like circles, ovals, stripes etc.); coloured packing materials, tissue paper etc., and several glue sticks for the kids to make candy� to add to the houses. We also cut out a cardboard roof for each house, and left it off so the kids could decorate it as well. If you choose to do this, be sure to locate it in an easy-clean area near a sink.  Station 2: Tree decorating  Using inverted ice cream cones (the pointy-bottomed sugar cones), the kids decorated their own trees. We used a white butter cream frosting tinted green with food colouring. If they are not to be eaten, you can use ready-made frosting for these, but the hydrogenated oils make those a bad idea for eating (especially for kids). For decorations, we supplied silver and gold balls, star and snowflake quins, mini m&ms, shoestring licorice and mini gumdrops. We also provided a napkin and name tag for each tree.  Station 3: Bead ornaments  Using a variety of beads, kids could make their own ornaments. We found some Christmas beady buddy patterns on the making Friends� website and put out a few of the easier ones for the kids to try. We also provided pipe cleaners for those who found the patterns too difficult. Tri-bead canes and wreaths were popular, as were snowflake� ornaments (3 lengths of beaded wire twisted together).  Station 4: Christmas Crackers Since we didn't use this for invitations, we decided to let the kids make their own. We added strips of stickers and tiny toys as well. These are made by using an empty toilet roll, tissue paper, ribbon, confetti and a few small candies. Roll tissue paper around the tube and tie off one end. Fill with the rolled up invitation, confetti, candy, etc. Tie off loose end. Station 5: Baker's Clay (aka Bread Dough) We make up some baker's clay, and tinted some red and some green, as well as leaving some untinted (for recipe, see www.greensim.com/lemonade/gifts.html). We also left out cookie cutters and dough moulding tools (rolling pins, plastic knives, extruder, etc.) and let the kids make their own ornaments. Once they were done, they could put it on a baking sheet and when the sheet was full, an adult made sure there was a hanging hole (if desired) and baked it for them (275 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-60 minutes).  Station 6: Cards and Gift bags At this station, brown lunch bags (pre-hole punched for tying with ribbon) and pre-cut and folded cardstock were provided for the kids to decorate. Our tools included more Christmas cookie cutters, paint brushes, styrofoam trays with tempera paint (for stamping with the cutters), ribbon, construction paper, scissors, glue sticks and glitter glue (which we distributed in small tubes to avoid excess mess). The gift bags closed by folding over the top and using a hole punch to punch two holes near the middle. The ribbon was threaded through the holes and tied to close the bag. We let the kids do their own thing with the cards. Some made pop-ups, and others went wild with glitter glue.  Station 7: We didn't plan for this one, but since we had a big snowfall the day before, we set up a building area in the back yard for the kids to play in the snow. They had fun building a fort and several snow people. Our recycling boxes became snowbrick moulds, and the sand toys came out to do snow duty. If you build a fort though, be sure that it can not collapse on the kids. This has been known to cause suffocation in some instances.  We ended up lending out several pairs of mitts, hats etc., so if you plan on doing this, it is best to inform the guests parents ahead, and also have a few spares on hand just in case. Also, be sure to keep this area well supervised.  Alternate station: Bird feeding Combine coconut oil shortening and birdseed in a large bowl until well mixed. This is an adult job. The kids take a handful and use it to mould a shape around a piece of twine. Let set, and hang on a tree for the birds to enjoy. Be sure to provide wipes and/or do this near a sink for a thorough wash-up. We do this every year to help celebrate the winter solstice.  We found that although this part of the part was very craft-intensive, letting the kids choose what they did made it more accessible for even the less crafty types. One kid spent most of the time in one of the gingerbread houses making naughty and nice� lists. After the activities, we had a clean up time. Most of the kids were great about helping with this we provided lots of cloths for the messier areas (the trees and the houses were messiest). The outdoor play and gingerbread house made the activities last much longer. You may wish to limit the timing, or leave the outside play for the end when the parents pick up the kids.  Next, one of the adults gathered the kids together had them contribute words for a Christmas-themed Madlib (fill the blank stories where you fill the blanks according to the parts of speech indicated before you read the story). We make our own, but you can always pick up one of the books if you prefer. While the kids were busy with that, the rest of the adults finished the clean up and brought out the food. We were going to have make your own pizzas and sundaes, but since the kids had been doing so many crafts, we opted to do Christmas themed foods instead. We made pinwheel sandwiches to look like Christmas ornaments, a snowball� cheeseball and crackers, veggies and dip, mini-pizzas, cranberry punch (cranberry juice and gingerale), and cake (served after the games).  After the food, we have Reindeer Games.  Game1: Obstacle Course Every one of Santa's reindeer must keep in flying form, and here is a great way for them to work on their speed and agility. We used old Christmas wreaths (don't use your good ones for this!) as tires for the kids to run through, a skipping rope with red and white stripes (15 skips but with the snow, we skipped this part), an artificial Christmas tree they had to circle, a play tunnel we called the milky way�, our climber's slide (down the chimney�) and a 2x4 they had to balance on (walking the roof). We were going to divide them into teams and race for this one, but they just wanted to do it for fun, so we didn't bother. We ended up playing this after cleanup and before lunch as a way of wrapping up the outdoor play (once they'd tried all the activities, they all migrated outside) and bringing the kids back indoors for cleanup, madlibs and lunch.  Game 2: Present Wrap There are many variations on this one. You can just have the kids wrap up boxes, or you can make it more challenging by adding hoof gloves or even mitts that they must wear. You can also have the kids work in teams where the wrapper is blindfolded and the partner gives them instructions.  We did it with gloves, and went through a lot of tape! This is a race, of course, but we also gave out a prize for the neatest present. The winners received a candy cane.  Game 3: Tree Wrap Inspired by the book, Moosletoe�. For this you need some willing adults, green crepe paper rolls, tree garlands, and lightweight, unbreakable ornaments. We also used shower curtain hooks so the kids could hang the ornaments better. The kids are divided into teams, one per adult. Each team should have a roll of crepe paper, a box of ornaments and at least one garland. Add a few goofy hats etc. to make it interesting. They must make their adult into a tree by doing a mummy wrap� sort of thing with the crepe paper roll, then decorate the tree with the garland and ornaments. Don't forget to put the top on the tree! This one is a hoot, and provides lots of photo opportunities.  Spare Games: Pin the nose on Rudolph / the carrot on the snowman These are variations on the classic pin the tail on the donkey. Find or make a large picture of either a Reindeer or Snowman and hang it on a wall. Make as many noses as there are guests, and write the guest names on each one. Put double-sided tape on each nose as it is given to the player. Blindfold the player, spin them around and let them go. Closest to where the real nose goes wins. You may also wish to reward the furthest.  Present pass. Wrap inexpensive gifts for each child. Write the name of each child on a piece of paper and place in a bowl. Have the kids sit in a circle. Emphasize they are not to open the gifts yet, then hand them out so that each child has one. Play music and have the kids pass the gifts around the circle. When the music stops, pull a name from the bowl. That kid can unwrap their gift and then sits out (let them pull the next name out). Continue until the gifts are all unwrapped.  Present Shake Game Wrap several items that have distinctive sounds when shaken. Be sure these are not fragile items! Some suggestions: a puzzle, a musical chime toy, a piggy bank with a couple of coins, a bell etc.). Make sure they have a variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Make a master list so you remember what is inside, and have the kids guess the contents of each package. These do not have to be things you intend to give away, but could be depending on the other activities you choose.  Since we had the kids for most of the day, we had a quiet time at the end with Christmas videos.   Cake After the games, we served the cake. The cake was a chocolate layer cake, made with enough layers to stack up into a tall cube-shape. We iced it with a thin coating of apricot jam and fondant icing tinted golden yellow. We made a ribbon and bow using red fondant icing and red candy clay. Using white candy clay, I made a gift tag. Using a toothpick dipped in food colouring, I wrote Happy Birthday XXX. If it isn't a birthday, you can of course, substitute the words to suit the nature of the party. It was very simple, but very effective. You can also use fruitcake if you wish, although you will end up with a somewhat shorter present.  An alternate cake idea is to make a few Yule logs (from a jelly roll) and provide icing, candy clay and sprinkles and have the kids decorate them themselves. Depending on the size of your cakes, you can have individual cakes or groups of up to 5-6 kids working on one cake together.  Instead of ice cream, we served Arctic Floats found on the greensim/lemonade site. You make hot chocolate but add a scoop of ice cream on top. The kids like to be able to drink their hot chocolate sooner as the ice cream cools it down. After the cake, we had present time. We handled this by trading a gift for a loot bag� (which we wrapped to look like Christmas presents). The loot was similar but unique for each child. Italian charms were in, so each kid received one to suit their interests or personality, as well as a Christmas mug (various pictures) and a handful of assorted wrapped candy. The kids also had their assorted projects to take home with them. If they hadn't made a gift bag, we simply used a plain one to package it all up. We wrapped the trees in plastic wrap first though!  It was a crazy party at a crazy time of year, but well worth the effort. The kids went home exhausted, and despite the huge potential for mess, there really wasn't much to clean up afterwards. The kids also had a head start on their own gift making and wrapping and had a blast playing with their friends in the snow.