Barnyard Animal Birthday Party

A barnyard animal party guide with farm animal games,
crafts and activities. A favorite theme for babies and toddlers!

Begin your party planning with the whimsical
Old Macdonald's Farm Animals, or the Farm Friends party patterns.
Your party box will be conveniently delivered to you door!
Then, complete your party planning using the games, activities and party ideas provided below.
Remember to have fun celebrating this special day!

BARNYARD PARTY INVITATIONS
Either purchase invitations matching your theme, or make your own
with card stock paper. Your local scrap booking center will have die-cut machines available for your use. Cut ducks, cows, pigs and other favorite animals. Use a bright gel pen to write your message and party information.
Variation: For an extra special invitation hand deliver a small
animal beanie toy or rubber duck with the note attached.

FARM ANIMAL PARTY DECORATIONS
Bright colors are in order here. hang streamers and balloons.
Place animal puppets and stuffed animals where they can be seen and played with. Cover your table and set with Barnyard Animal plates, napkins and cups. Use a stuffed animal for a centerpiece and attach a bouquet of balloons to the stuffed animal. Advanced Decorating - Use a large appliance box to paint a red barn for the children to play in. Drape furniture with feux fur and cow print fabric.

PERSONALIZE IT!
Personalized party items make a great addition to every party theme. They coordinate with Barnyard party pattern and can be printed with your child's name, the names of each of your guests, or a message!
Click here to personalize >>

BARNYARD ANIMAL PARTY GAMES AND ACTIVITIES
Select the activities from this list that will best suit
the age group of the children.

A Special Welcome
Upon arrival give each guest a cap decorated with their name
and an animal. Painters caps can be purchased at a hardware store for less than $1.00. Use fabric paints to write the names. Decorating is a breeze if you use pre cut stencils or painting sponges from a craft store; ducks, pigs cows, etc.
Use kid safe face paint to paint noses and whiskers on the children's faces. Enlist a helper or two!

Put on a Show
Ask some creative friends to coordinate a puppet show
using farm animal puppets.

Parachute Play
Use a large bed sheet or purchase a GYMBOREE style playground parachute. Gather the children and some adults
to form a circle around the parachute. Hold the edges and
work together to move it up and down. Once the children get the hang of it, allow a few children at a time, to go under the
"dome". Then put a stuffed cow, duck, horse...in the center and make then hop and jump as well.

Oh No! Old Macdonald
Before the party hide several farm animal toys or cards
around the party area, yard etc. Paint or decorate a box to look like a barn or simply use a basket. To play, explain to
the children that old MacDonald's animals got out of the barn. They will then search and collect the toys/cards and return them to the barn.

Fill the Barn
Use the same barn box as the game above.
Mark and "X" on the floor where the children will stand.
Place the "barn" a reasonable distance from the "X" and provide beanie animals for the children to toss into the barn while standing on the "X".

Art Time
If the children are old enough, add an art project to your party. Provide paint with water books, play dough with animal cookie cutters or animal shaped sponges and paint.
Don't forget the art smocks or large T-shirts!

Bubble Fun
Little ones love bubbles! Toddlers can blow their own bubbles with spill proof bubble bottles and wands. Otherwise, adults
can blow the bubbles and the children can catch them.
Play music for this activity as well.

Circle Time
If you are not comfortable leading a story, songs and finger plays.
Hire a preschool teacher or Kindermusik teacher for a special circle
time to honor the birthday child.
Sit with several stuffed animals on your lap.
Sing Old Macdonald Had a Farm with children.
When it's time say the animal ...on his farm he had a ______ hold up an animal and the children sing/shout it.

PARTY FAVORS
It's always nice to ay"thansk-you" for coming" by sending your party guests home with a favor. No need to spend a fortune at this young age; asimple gesture is all that's needed. We suggest: Coloring books and crayons, bubbles, playdough and a farm animal cookie cutter, small farm animal stuffed toy or a cookie you've prepared with animal cookie cutters.
Exclusive Birthday in a Box favor sets are a fun and unique way to give your guests a special treat! The Barnyard Celebration party favor set is designed to coordinate perfectly with your party theme.

BARNYARD CAKE
Turn a simple sheet cake into a farm with green and brown frosting and toys placed on the top. Playmobil and fisher price toys work well for this. Or, get creative using sheet cakes. Make a Barn or animal shaped cake.
The Family Fun's Birthday Cake Book can show you how step-by-step!

*From http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/party_animal_farm.htm