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Written by Penny Warner with Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kits
If your child is crazy about Buzz and Woody, host a "Toy Story" Party that features all the characters from this wildly popular series. Because "Toy Story 3" is coming soon to a theater near you, you'll find lots of birthday products and toys on the shelves to match your party theme.
Your child will love spending time with the toy box gang-Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Ham, Slink, Rex and all the others. What could be better than a toy-themed party that takes guests "to infinity, and beyond"?
Invitations Download pictures of Woody and Buzz from the Internet to use for the invitations. Cut them out, glue them onto blank cards, and write, "To infinity, and beyond...." on the outside. Inside write, "You're invited to Space Ranger (child's name) for a rootin' tootin' party that's out of this world!" Fill in the details and sign the invitations "Universe Protection Unit." Place in envelopes decorated with "Toy Story" stickers.
Costumes Ask the kids to come dressed as their favorite character from the movie. Have the guest of honor wear a Buzz Lightyear costume (you can order one online), or create your own Woody costume, with a cowboy hat, yellow plaid shirt, jeans and boots. Tie a red kerchief around Woody's neck, add a black and white vest cut from fake fur, and attach a holster to finish the look. If the guests don't come in costume, offer them sheriff badges, red kerchiefs, and cowboy hats when they arrive so they can look like Woody, too.
Decorations Turn your party room into a giant toy room! Use your Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit to fill the ceiling with green and purple helium-filled balloons (Buzz's favorite colors), and then tie silver stars to the ends of the balloon ribbons. Twist crepe paper streamers down the walls and around the entry ways. Hang a sign at the front door that reads, "Welcome to Star Command" and make more signs to post on the party room walls that read, "Extremely Dangerous!" "Space Rangers," "Universe Protection Unit," "Code Red," "The Claw," "Pizza Planet," "Red Alert," and so on.
Play space tunes in the background from movies like "Star Trek," and "Star Wars." Make a rocket ship out of a refrigerator box, painted black and covered with silver stars. Set out Magic 8-Balls, Mr. Potato Heads, Little Green Men, Army Guys and other "Toy Story" figures and toys.
Games & Activities Entertain the kids with some "out of this world" games for the space rangers and "giddy-up" activities for the cowpokes.
Where's Woody? Place "Toy Story" toys around the room. Take pictures of each toy, then create a "Where's Woody?" hunt. Begin with Buzz and place a picture of another toy underneath him. Have the kids find the next toy, and then look beneath it to discover the next picture-clue. Continue until the last toy leads to Woody, hiding underneath.
Make Your Own Moon Rocks. Find some smooth stones (or have the kids find them in the yard). Let them paint the stones with glow-in-the-dark paint and cover them with glitter. When they're dry, place them in their to-go party bags.
Beyond the Box. Let the kids paint and decorate a large cardboard box and turn it into a rocket ship, a space station, or a toy chest.
Moon Walk. Rent or buy a bouncy house and let the kids "walk" on the moon. Add inflated balloons for a galaxy of fun!
Personalized "Potato" Heads. Blow up pink or brown balloons. Let the kids decorate them with stickers, pompoms, wiggly eyes and markers to personalize them.
Outer Space. Plan some outer space activities for the kids to play, such as Meteor Blast (dodge ball), Flying Saucers (toss Frisbees), and Cosmic Showers (toss water balloons).
Here Comes Woody! (or Buzz!). Have an adult rent a Woody or Buzz costume and make a surprise appearance!
Refreshments Serve mini pizzas from the Pizza Planet! Let the kids add their own favorite toppings from a Pizza Bar. Use "Toy Story" plates and cups, and crazy straws to sip their LGMs-Little Green Milkshakes (whirl mint ice cream with milk in the blender and pour into glasses.) Make a "Toy Story" cake by frosting a rectangular cake with blue icing and top with tiny "Toy Story" figures.
Favors Say goodbye to your guests with star-shaped, helium-filled balloons, glow sticks, Slinkies, Mr. Potato Heads, cowboy hats, space toys, dinosaurs, pink piggy banks, or other toys from the movie.
Penny Warner has more than 25 years of experience as an author and party planner. She has published more than 50 books, including 16 specific to parties. Additionally, Warner writes a weekly newspaper column on family life, penned a column for Sesame Street Parents magazine and has appeared on several regional and national TV morning programs. Her latest book, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY, debuts in February 2010 from NAL/Penguin. Balloon Time is the leading brand of consumer helium balloon kits in North America. Balloon Time kits feature a helium-filled tank, latex or foil balloons and ribbon, and are available at national retail chains, party goods and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, visit BalloonTime.com.
