Tea parties are an excuse for kids to have a party. The tea party does not have to be for a birthday; it could just be for fun. Serve real decaffeinated tea at the party, and offer herbal tea options as well. For summer tea parties, make unsweetened decaffeinated iced tea or mix half lemonade with half iced tea. Serve cake, freshly cut fruits and finger sandwiches, all matching the tea party theme of your choice. Any of these tea party ideas could be for kids only, or changed into mom and daughter or mom and child parties.
Fairytale Tea Party
Invite kids to dress up as a character from their favorite fairtytale. Write “Once upon a time there was a tea party” on the invitation. List ideas on the invitation to prompt parents and guests to think about characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Cinderella, and include fantasy fiction including Alice in Wonderland. Make simple cone hats with paper and decorate with tulle poking out from the top. Kids could follow a pre-made Hansel and Gretel treasure trail to find party favors. Kids could decorate magic wands made from straws and paper or decorate hats for the party. Give treats and teas magical names including Sleepy Apple Tarts, Hansel and Gretel Trail Mix, and Princess Potion Tea.
Garden Fairies and Elves
Draw a map of a simple garden, with your house in the middle. Decorate the map with glitter. Roll up the invitation and secure with a ribbon. Place the invitations in empty water bottles. Add craft charms including stars and rhinestones to the the bottle. Make a “Secret Fairy Garden Map” label for the bottle and give to kids as the invitation. Provide fairy wings and tutus for the children to wear at the party. Have a fairy and elf make up table to help kids transform into fairies and elves. Decorate with shiny gold or silver helium balloons and metallic ribbons. Use inexpensive foil tissue paper to decorate the table. Use icicle or white Christmas lights to decorate the doorway. Make edible magic wands with pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate. Create marshmallow mushroom treats by dipping the tops of marshmallows in chocolate. Hide party favors in and around trees in the yard.
Under the Sea Tea
Make invitations in the shape of a shell and invite kids to join the Under the Sea party. Customize the theme to fit the age group and interests of the child, which could include The Little Mermaid, SpongeBob, Free Willy, Shark Tale, Finding Nemo. For older kids, focus on a more educational sea life theme or opt for a Pirates of the Caribbean sub-theme. Kids can make shell jewelry with shells from the arts and crafts store. Decorate with dark green streamers, hung vertically to look like kelp. Use a mix of light blues and dark blues for the tableware and balloons. Hang a row of silver and green streamers in the doorway, so guests can enter the under sea world. Decorate miniature cupcakes to look like sushi. Fill a sandbox with trinkets and have kids use a shovel to go digging for under sea treasures.
