What Mom with a toddler has not heard the happy screams when the big purple dinosaur comes laughing and singing into their living room? Well, if you have a toddler and Barney is his thing, have I a party for you!
Decorations for this party are as simple as purple streamers and purple balloons. Decorate the table with a purple tablecloth that you have decorated with Barney stickers. In the background, you may want to play a Barney tape or CD to set the mood for your young partygoers. Purple plates and cups can be bought at the dollar store and you can get the table cloth there also.
Invites can be store bought or you can make your own on your computer. There are many graphics of Barney out there. You can find them by using any search engine. Just type in Barney graphics. You can find invites also at websites that have invitations that you can make for free, just fill in your information and print.
Now, I am all for taking help from the store when I can but there is something nice about a homemade cake. Most bakery departments in your local grocery will have a Barney cake and if you want to go that route, great but if you want to save money or you just like to bake, you can make your own.
Start with a cake mix in a flavor your child will like and follow the instructions for making a sheet cake. When your cake is done and cooled, remove from pan and set on to a tray or a piece of cardboard that is covered with tinfoil. I love canned frosting as I can never get mine as thick or creamy as store bought. Head out to the dollar store and find some of the three to four inch Barney figurines, you will need four. Also look around and check it out for larger Barney figurines or even for the helium balloons (mylar). Even a birthday plate with Barney on it can be cut out to put in the center of the cake. Take your small 3-4 inch Barneys and attach them with frosting to the corners of your cake. Now for the center of your cake, you have many options when it comes to decorations. You can use four more of the small Barney statues to make them look like they are dancing on the cake or you can cut out a Barney from the shiny mylar balloons. If you do this, make sure you cut through two layers of the balloon to give it a little more weight. Lay it carefully on the cake and gently press to stick. Same idea with the paper plate. You can decorate around the edges of your cut out with frosting. Just put some of it with a little food coloring in a plastic baggy. Mix in the bag with your fingers until same color throughout and then cut the corner of the bag and pipe it out onto your cake. Same with the "Happy Birthday", it can be piped the same way.
Punch can be messy and stain clothing, how about popsicles for those youngsters. You can buy small otter pops at most grocery stores.
Two games that most toddlers can play with a little help are easy to set up and clean up for you.
One: blow up one balloon for each child that will be attending. Find a bucket or basket that will fit a balloon inside. Have each child stand not far from the basket and throw their balloon. They will have fun with this one for awhile.
Two: Hide a stuffed Barney in plain site and have them all look for Barney. Toddlers are too young for prizes so let them take their balloons home with them.
As always, this is just a jumping off place. You can add or subtract from this party as you see fit.
