Kids will love a luau.
Bring the feel of the tropic islands to your home by planning a luau. A luau is a great summertime party that can be held outdoors, and can even be done indoors during the winter to brighten a dreary day. By planning ahead, children and their parents will appreciate the laid-back fun they'll have at this event. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prepare and send invitations. Purchase or make initiations that have a tropical look to them to let the recipients know you'll be throwing a luau-themed party. Include the date, time, location and RSVP information on the correspondence. Send the invitations about two to three weeks in advance.
2. Plan fun luau activities. Since kids won't settle for sipping tropical drinks and chatting by a pool, you'll need to come up with at least a few fun activities. For example, learn a traditional hula dance and teach it to the kids. If you're not the dancing type, hire a professional hula dancer to demonstrate some dances and then teach the kids some basic moves or a dance they can do on their own that incorporates arm and hand movements. Other activities can include hula-hoop competitions, relay races and a limbo competition. Offer prizes to the winners of competitions. As a crafty activity, the kids can make their own leis as an alternative to purchasing premade ones.
3. Decorate the venue. Paper or foil palm trees are perfect for lining walls and can be purchased at most party supply stores. Decorate tables with fitted bright-colored tablecloths and wrap them with raffia table skirts. If the party is being held outside, place tiki torches in areas kids won't be able to knock them over. Torches can also be used as indoor decorations if they are not lit. Place bouquets of fresh or silk tropical flowers and paper lanterns throughout the area.
Have fun centerpieces on all the tables that have a tropical feel, including a bowl of shells, a fake sandcastle or a fishbowl with a goldfish swimming around in it. If the party is in the evening, the tables can be illuminated with small flameless votives that light-up with batteries. Give fun centerpieces, like the fish, away as prizes.
4. Prepare the food and refreshments. The word "luau" means "feast." Have a table or two set out with feast items that are kid-friendly. The feast can include pieces of fruit placed on skewers, kebabs with ham and pineapples or plain chicken, finger sandwiches, rice, snow cones, cubes of cheese with colorful toothpicks, hot dogs and cupcakes with blue frosting topped with a small plastic palm tree. Provide healthy fruit juices and smoothies as beverages. Use colorful plates, cups and napkins to accompany the consumables.
5. Say, "Aloha!" In the background, have tropical music playing. As the guests arrive, greet them with a flower or lei, and hand them a nonalcoholic smoothie or snow cone to begin the festivities.
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