Food & Party Planning Ideas
1 Year Old Winnie-the-Pooh Party
Everybody loves Pooh, especially toddlers who fall asleep with the "silly old bear" in their arms every night. The very first birthday is a special celebration for family and friends and the Winnie-the-Pooh theme makes it special for the birthday child too!
Invitations
- Send a helium-filled Winnie-the-Pooh mylar balloon in a cardboard box to family and friends. When they open the box, Pooh Bear pops out, anchored by a bear-shaped container of honey! A tag attached to the balloon can give all of the party information.
- Cut out a large number one from construction paper and decorate it with Pooh stickers. Tell your guests that "it's the BIG 1" and give the party details. Don't forget to ask everyone to bring their stuffed animals to the party too!
Party Setting and Decorations
- Hold the party in the "Hundred Acre Wood." Either held outside or inside, add child-sized cardboard "trees," green carpeting for grass and a large "One Hundred Acres" sign. Use a red-checkered tablecloth to emphasize the "picnic" atmosphere.
- Place a round wicker basket in the center of the table to hold Pooh and his friends. A bouquet of helium balloons attached to the basket creates the illusion of a hot air balloon for the intrepid animals.
- Themed tablecloths, plastic utensils, paper cups and napkins are easily found at local general merchandise and party stores or at www.partymakers.com.
- Create a collage of photos taken of baby's "special firsts" (such as first ice cream, first steps, etc.) Have the collage enlarged at a photo shop and mounted on poster board as a personal decoration.
Activities and Games
- Take a Polaroid photo of the children in attendance with their own stuffed animals. Display the photos on a poster board.
- Have the older children and any willing adults play "Pin the Tail on Eeyore."
- Sing "Christopher Robin Had Some Friends" to the tune of "Old MacDonald had a Farm." Young children love to make sounds and motions to coordinate with the animals mentioned. Piglet says "oink oink," Tigger says "growl, growl," Eeyore says "hee haw," Pooh Bear says "hee hee hee."
- Peekaboo is another favorite of very young children, have them play the game with their stuffed animals.
Menu Suggestions
- Children can enjoy a lunch of Pooh Bear and Piglet-shaped sandwiches. These and other shapes can be created with cookie cutters. Sandwich fillings should be simple, such as peanut butter and jelly.
Party Favors
- A Winnie-the-Pooh storybook or bib makes a nice favor. A Winnie- the-Pooh videotape makes a larger door prize.
- Winnie-the-Pooh cookies (use Wilton's Winnie-the-Pooh Cookie Treat Pan).
Cake Decoration Suggestions
Winnie-the-Pooh himself is the star of the show! Use the Wilton Winnie-the-Pooh cake pan.
