• Musical Statues:  Everyone moves and dances while the music plays but when the music stops they must keep as still as possible - any one caught moving will be “out”.  Judges may need a bit of discretion but they can pull funny faces to make the kids laugh.  The last one standing wins the prize.
• Musical Chairs:  Play music while the kids circle the chairs and then when the music stops everyone scrambles for their chair.  The kid who misses out on getting chair is “out”.  Remove one of the chairs and repeat the process.  It is always good fun and it can be a bit boisterous so make sure nothing of valuable is in the area.
• Pass the Parcel:  Wrap up a present with lots of layers of paper and then pass around the group of kids.  When the music stops, the kid holding the parcel unwraps a layer from the parcel.  Continue the process until the last layer is unwrapped with that kid winning the prize.
• Pass the Bomb:  All the kids sit in a circle and pass an object around; ideally something that looks like a bomb but could be anything.  The kids holding the object when the music stops is “out”.  As each kid leaves the game, make the circle smaller and repeat the process.

All these games can be played both inside and outside and to add that extra dimension you can use lights and create a really great atmosphere.  The great thing with these games is that they are interactive, they add an exciting dimension to the party plus they are just great fun for the kids to play.

• Shop 4 Toys:  They provide a huge range of age appropriate toys that are great fun, educational and get the brain working.  Toys range from arts and crafts through to science kits as well as games.  For each toy purchased they provide a free birthday gift wrap and handwritten card.  Shop4Toys specialises in gifts for children who might not be geographically close which can make it difficult to know what to choose.  Shop4Toys will help you work it out.
• The Toy Bug:  The owner of the Toy Bug has a son diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the idea for the store came about by looking for toys that gain a child’s attention, are interactive as well as being great fun.  The toys are chosen to help children learn while they play.  There are toys that help with sensory issues as well as social skills.  The range of choice is huge.
• Bunyip Toys:  This store stocks a wide range of toys from many different suppliers and has the largest range of Playmobil toys in Australia.  You won’t find licensed or screen based toys here.  Bunyip Toys like to encourage unstructured play that is not influenced by advertising or TV shows.  They choose toys which allow your child to use their imagination and develop their creative spirit.

As an alternative to buying an individual game or toy we can help you construct a fantastic loot bag that is full of fun games, toys and other goodies that adds that extra bit of variety for any party.  You can select your theme from a wide range suitable for all ages.  When your child prefers lots of things instead of one big gift, a loot gift is perfect.

No matter what your child loves to do, there is a toy that will make it fun and special for them.

The Cake Pops were invented by Bakerella (Angie Dudley) whose invention was so popular that she was featured on the Martha Stewart show.  Cake Pop mania took over the world after that.

You can see why they are so popular but there is a certain level of skill needed in making and decorating them.

As shown on the left, this is an Easter egg cake pop and if you’d like to have a go at making it, this article at Kentucky.com will tell you step by step how to create one.

If you still need inspiration, have a look at these glorious and delicious creations by Bakerella.

They are little works of art on a stick and look almost too good to eat.

You still have time before Easter to get into the kitchen and become creative.

Then, when you’ve got icing everywhere and bits of cake crumbled all over the floor, you’ll know who is responsible for it all.

That Bakerella woman has a lot to answer for.

Here are a few examples that caught my eye.  I could be tempted by these.

Angry Bird Cookies.

These clever biscuits from Nadiya’s Tastes of Maldives  are bright and colourful but more importantly, they pick up on a current craze.  That means they will be instantly popular with the kids.

Tractor Biscuits

Choose biscuits that suit the theme of the party.  This little tractor cookie would be great for a farm themed event.  If your child loves Thomas the Tank Engine, boats, fire trucks or Formula 1 racing, you can decorate (or order) biscuits to suit.

Puffy Biscuits

Biscuits don’t always have to be flat.  Sometimes the fun is in eating the plump, luscious biscuits decorated with puffy marshmallow sweetness.  They are colourful and full of fun.  Who could resist them?

Funny Faces

Give kids the chance to create their own funny face biscuits as a party activity.  They might create something as good as these ones.

Biscuits don’t have to be dull or served straight from the packet.  Use a little imagination and see what you can create.

When choosing your games, remember to make them suitable for the expectant mother.  She isn’t going to want to sprint around the house in a treasure hunt!

Here are a few ideas for you.

The Price is Right

Collect a range of baby goods like dummies, bottles and nappies.  You’ll need about 6 items.  To win this game, the guests must guess the price of each item, just like the game on TV.  The person who is closest to the correct price wins.

Guess Who

Each guest brings a photo of themselves as a baby.  Pin them to a board and let the guessing begin.

The Nappy Game

Who can remember how to fold the traditional nappy?  Have the guests fold a nappy and put it on a baby-sized doll or teddy.  The neatest fold and best fit wins.

Pin the Dummy on the Baby

The aim is to pin the dummy on the baby’s mouth.  All you need is a cut-out of a baby and a dummy, a pin or some blue tac.

These games are a lot of fun and can be a great way to help guests get comfortable with those they don’t know.  Just keep them simple and you’ll all have fun.

Well, here are some tips for baking the perfect cupcake.

• Make sure you fill your cupcake cases to no more than 2/3 full – this will mean they don’t overflow, or form a very tall “peak” in the middle.
• Know your oven and adjust the cooking time and/or temperature setting accordingly, or use an oven thermometer.  If your cupcakes cook too fast, they will rise too quickly resulting in a “peak” in the middle, but might still be uncooked in the middle, while brown on top;  if they cook too slowly, they won’t be light and fluffy.
• Always make more than you think you’ll need; any that don’t look perfect, can be put away for lunch box treats.

Now, for the recipe.  This one has been adapted from the Australian Women’s Weekly “The Cake Stall”.

Ingredients

2½ (375g) self-raising flour

250g butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1¼ cups (275g) caster sugar

5 eggs

½ cup milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F – again, make sure you know your oven, don’t just rely on the temperature setting.
2. Line two 12-hole muffin pans with paper cases.
3. Place sifted flour, butter, vanilla extract, sugar, eggs and milk in a large bowl;  beat on low speed with an electric mixer until ingredients are just combined.  Increase speed to medium and beat for two minutes or until mixture has changed to a pale colour.
4. Fill cases to no more than 2/3 full and bake for 15-20 minutes.  Cupcakes are ready when a skewer inserted into centre comes out dry.
5. Leave to cook for five minutes in the tray and then move to a cooling rack.
6. When cool, decorate with icing or frosting of your choice, as well as any other decorations, like Smarties, lollies, cupcake toppers, or sprinkles.

If you want to make the decoration process easier, have a look at these cupcake decorating sets with themes such as Racing Cars and Mermaids.  These kits, along with the recipe above, will undoubtedly turn your cupcakes into crowd pleasers for sure!

Sometimes the image speaks to you and then you discover upon opening, that the wording inside the text is extremely banal or totally inappropriate.  And of course, what may be appropriate for one person may not be suitable for another.

So what should you do?  When shopping for birthday cards for kids – the choice is easy.  While The Spotty Napkin is best known for their range of quality party decorations, loot bag merchandise and cake bling, they also carry a range of birthday cards to suit all ages from 1-10.

The birthday cards are printed on white card stock and are blank allowing you to write your special message inside each one.  The cards are designed to be cute and quirky with the intention of lifting the spirit, brightening the mind and cheering the soul.

Choosing the right birthday card is extremely straightforward.  There are two cards in each age group (one for a boy and one for a girl) – making the decision quick and painless.

So whether you are shopping for your party decor and need a card, or have found a card and fancy a few extra things to go along with it, remember The Spotty Napkin when looking to add originality and style to your next birthday event.

A home baked birthday cake was so much more personal, wasn’t it?  It’s one of the things that I remember well from my childhood.  Pre-made cakes were so ordinary.  You can give your children the same experience and it doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming.

If you need some recipes, check out the Quick Chocolate Cake, the Simple Butter Cake or the Easy Jelly Party Cake (yum!).  OK, that last one uses a packet mix but still, it will be mixed with your own special brand of action so it still counts as homemade.

You will need to have some decent baking tins and there is a great variety of pans and muffin tins on the chefstoolbox.com site.   There is everything that the budding cook needs on this site, including moulds to make eggs look exciting and, once you get the urge, you are sure to want to buy some of the bundles of pans too.

All that is needed after this is the will to cook, with a cookbook or two maybe, and the chance to show the world your culinary delights par excellence!

Yes, I think you should try making your own cake.  No one else will have one like it.

These fresh fruits are just one of the many benefits that the arrival of the summer months bring.  Did I mention they make great party snacks?

Summer fruit is a healthy treat which can also translate to fun and colourful food for children especially as there are so many delicious ways to serve it up.  It is amazing how even the simplest of things can make a dish appealing to kids.

Add an icypole stick into your watermelon pieces and children will be more than happy to nibble their way through a mountain of watermelon.  You can even use a cookie cutter to cut the watermelon into decorative shapes.

Or how about piling small scoops of melon in a simple icecream cone?  Fruit skewers also allow for a wide variety of fruit to be used depending on the freshness and availability and are always popular at any meal or event.

Kids love icypoles or popsicles so how about trying your hand at making your own?  Grab a couple of peaches, a large handful of strawberries, a dash or two of honey, mix with some milk (approximately half a cup) and blend.  Freeze and simply serve.  And smoothies are definitely a winner in the sunshine months as an alternative to a traditional milkshake.

However by far the most creative thing I have seen done with watermelon are these Watermelon Slice Cupcakes.  Both kids and adults will love these watermelon cakes topped with yoghurt and a melon cherry.  I doubt anyone will be complaining about how healthy this dish is as they are eating it.

Long live the summer!!

This year, when the kids are driving you nuts in those days leading up to Santa’s arrival, why not give them something to do?  Why not let them make their own party hats this year?

You don’t need a lot of equipment and it doesn’t have to be messy.  All you need is some paper plates, a stapler, scissors, colourful paint, glue and cotton wool.

This little video will show you how to make them and how good the end product can look. Pop over to Ehow and have a look.