craft for 3 yr old bday party?

[mingagreen]

My DD turns 3 on the 23rd of April and she has about 10 friends around the same age and for her party I want the kids to do a craft. I was trying to think of a craft that would be age appropriate and I am having a hard time. All the parents will be here to help anyone have any ideas?

 

[eks6426]

Minga--You are a very brave person to do a craft project with a bunch of 3 year olds!

Here''s an idea--get some ceramic tiles and paint for them. Have the kids dip their hands in paint them put their handprints on the tile. Let dry a bit, then decorate and put their names.

Decorate small flower pots with paint or markers.

You could make necklaces from beads etc. Get large beads. This may be a bit too advanced for this age group--depends on the kids.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I love the tile idea - what a wonderful keepsake. If all parents are there to help the kids it should be a winner!

 

[AGBF]

You could color Easter eggs. We did that once. Another time we baked cookies. That was at Christmas. An adult helped cut out ginger bread figures to bake, then the kids frosted them. Santa came in the back door with a sack over his back during the party, so I still have a photo of the group.


Deb

 

[fountainfairfax]

I have a niece who will be 3 in May and since Febuary my sister and I have been doing crafts projects with her using foam stickers we buy at Michaels. The adhesive is very safe, not so sticky that anyone can get hurt and if they "accidentally" get put on the wall or furniture they come off easily.

If you haven''t seen them, they come in so many different shapes, colors, sizes (the tub of Dora the Explorer ones were a big hit, they also sell princess, spongebob, disney themed sicker sets.) The paper backing is pretty easy to remove, Kayla usually peels them off herself and then she makes greeting cards for Grandma and posters for her room, and we also get her premade template picture frames, door hangers (the ones that hang off the doornob,) tiaras- they also sell sets with precut pieces to make animal faces on wooden sticks (we help her with those and use them for learning i.e. where does the nose go?)

Not the most exciting projects, I know, but very fun and do-able for 3 year olds- she never tires of even playing with the stickers by themselves.

(word of caution: Kayla never puts anything near or in her mouth but I''m always worried about choking, so if I''m not glued to her side they go up on the top of the fridge because I think the package says 5 and up)

Good luck, you brave soul- I can''t imagine a room full of three year olds!

 

[msdarlinjoy]

Did you say 3 year old daughter?

Oh my this has got "Princess" written all over it.

I remember doing a princess theme ... They made glitter wands with ribbon tied to it, and foam heart with heart jewel glued at top, they had fun twirling them in the air and giggling.

They also made lil'' tiara''s with plastic jewels that we got from Michaels.

If you have adults there to help, you can have a few of them help with a cool touch glue gun, one adult helping with the glitter, one adult helping with the ribbons, etc...

I remember we had each lil'' girl bring in a dolly or teddy bear to join the festivities, all the lil'' ladies loved playing princess, dress up!

We also supplied lots of different colored mardi gras type strung bead necklaces that we bought at Micheals ... these were a big hit, they were inexpensive, and the lil'' ladies could layer and then take home. Their teddy''s and dolly''s even got in on the action too!

Some party favors that were a hit were lil'' containers of Bubbles, tied with ribbon which had a little card with each girls name on it and a jewel glued on the other side. All the girls had a fun time out on the patio blowing bubble and giggling while some of the adults cleaned up the projects inside.

I aslo had bought some cheap lace (Bright colors) from the fabric store on discount table, and cut strips about 4-5 inches thick and 4 feet long ... I just put all of them in a basket and the lil'' ladies picked out several of them, some draped them like scarves, and others tied a couple together like long belts ... and a few just held them in there hands and swirled them around.

If I can think of anything else, I let you know. Take care and have fun!

 

[mingagreen]

wow lots of great ideas, thank you all. I was thinking about getting terracotta pots and saucers, paint, soil and seeds and having them plant seeds, but then the parents have to help them take care of them once they take them home so that may be out, then I was thinking personalized plates but it could be expensive when all is said and done. I really like the princess idea, I was thinking silk "streamers" but the wands sound fun too. I asked my DH what he thought and in his typical manner (kid at heart) he said why don''t you get a bunch of non toxic paint and let them paint Zekes room ( our son''s room which we are planning on painting) could you imagine the mess! I don''t know where he comes up with this stuff! I would kill if I went to a bday party and the kids were aloud to have a free for all with paint! We will not be doing that.

 

[jorman]

mingagreen-

a coworker of mine just had a fairy princess party and actually had an actress dressed up like a fairy princess come to the party (totally appropriate for 3 years olds because they still believe). She bought star wands and tied lots of brightly colored ribbon under the star and added glitter. Then each child got a pair of wings and to pretend they were actually a fairy as well. No crafts needed they had a blast!

See this link for a company of actual fairies that will come to your party! Ha! So fun for little kids.
Fairies

The girls got to take home the wands and the wings and I think she served cupcakes.

Good Luck!!!

-Janna