Children’s Birthday Party Ideas: The Wild West
Invitations
Invitations are always a fun part of the party. Anticipation is half the fun! You can let your child pick out some western-themed invitations, or you can make them yourself. One way is to make them on your computer with western motifs and all of the information on the inside. If you tend to be the crafty type, go to your local scrapbook store and pick out some cardstock for the card, and some western die cuts and paper that has a bandanna print or other western theme. Cut the cardstock to invitation size. Cut a piece of the western themed paper into a square that is smaller than the front of the card, and attach it to the front. Then, you can use your computer to write something campy or cute regarding the Wild West theme. Print and place it on the front of the card, making sure the decorative paper shows around the edges. Place a western die cut on one of the corners, and fill the inside with the party information and another western die cut, brad, sticker or other scrapbook item.
Decoration Ideas
While purchasing an entire party package complete with decorations is a great way to go if you are a busy parent, you can also do the decorating for your child’s Wild West themed birthday party. For instance, when we think of cowboys, we think of blue jeans and red handkerchiefs knotted around the neck. Put a note on the invitation asking the guests to wear jeans. Bandannas are relatively inexpensive, so purchase one for each child attending the party. You could also purchase inexpensive cowboy hats for the party, which are available on a variety of sites and also at places like Wal-mart. By giving the small guests props, it helps them get into the spirit of the party.
Use red and blue crepe paper to make streamers across the ceiling of the room. Add balloons that are filled with helium in the same or complementary colors. Get some rope that looks like a lariat and loop it around the room on the walls at waist height. Use some plastic horseshoes from your children’s horseshoe game and borrow their plush horses and place them around the room.
Use a gingham checked tablecloth on the table, and scatter western-themed confetti or small die cuts from your scrapbook store over it. Buy plates and cups with cowboys on them if you can find them. If not, go for blue and red ones. Buy napkins in white and stamp a western motif on them. Serve pretzels or chex mix as a snack item, since it always seems like there is one kid at the birthday party that doesn’t like ice cream and cake.
What About The Cake?
For the cake, you have lots of different options. If you have some experience with cake decorating, buy a horseshoe shaped cake pan, or one shaped like a cowboy hat or horse. Follow the directions for baking and decorating that are included. Another option is to bake a plain rectangular cake and add western items on top. You can get a package of tiny horse, fence corral, cowboys, small barn, etc from any discount store. Ice the bottom half of the cake in green for grass and the top half blue for the sky. You can pipe the words “Happy Birthday” with a pastry bag or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off. If the idea of writing on a cake with icing cares you, there are always those hard letters made out of sugar that you can buy next to the cake mixes. Plus, a local bakery is a good option for a cute cake, as well.
Serve Neapolitan ice cream so that everyone can have the flavor they prefer. For drinks, you can serve root beer, which would be great in plastic mugs if you can get them. Other drink options include frappe, which is basically sprite and the sherbet flavor of your choice mixed together right before the party begins.
What About Games?
The ideas for games at a western-themed birthday party are endless! You can play horseshoes in the backyard or in the basement if you have a child with a winter birthday. Plastic horseshoe sets are available online and in stores that are safer than real horseshoes! Pin the tail on the horse would also be a great game. Sketch a horse on a large piece of poster board, or find someone you know that can. Color it according to your choice. Cut one horsetail out for each child attending the party. After each child takes their turn, write their name on or next to their tail so you can see who is the closest.
A version of ring toss could be a “lariat toss.” Get some large rope and several large wooden beads. Cut the rope in lengths so that when the ends are together, they make about ten or twelve inch circles, depending on the age and skill of your partygoers. Thread one of the beads onto the rope. Using a staple gun, overlap the ends of the rope and staple them. Slide the bead over the staples and secure it with a bit of glue. These rings can then be tossed onto glass coke bottles, or wooden stakes make from a two by four with holes drilled into it a foot or so apart and a wooden dowel glued into each hole.
A three-legged race or gunny sack race would also be a fun game for partygoers to play. Even musical chairs using country music would be another good game.
No child’s party would be complete without a piÃ?±ata. These are readily available online and come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. Choose a horse, a cowboy boot or hat, or some other western-type piÃ?±ata. Make sure that when you fill it with candy you save some additional candy for anyone who doesn’t get as much as everyone else. I have small paper sacks or plastic bags with everyone’s name on them for the children to put their candy in. That way, they know which bag is theirs, and we can put them to the side while we do other activities.
A Note About Prizes
As a child, I always felt bad when I went to parties and did not win a prize for any of the games. I was often an envious onlooker and I know that other children got their feelings hurt, as well when they did not get a prize but other children did. So what I do is one of two things. Either I don’t offer prizes at all for the games and make sure that the goodie bags have lots of fun stuff in them, or I give large candy bars to the winners, but make sure I have one for everyone and just announce at the end of the games that everyone who didn’t win one gets one for being a good sport and coming to the party.
Last, But Not Least
Goodie bags are another great place to incorporate your western theme. Small plastic toys, games, balloons, gum etc. are always well received. Give them at the end, when their parents pick up the children so that no one’s stuff gets lost or misplaced.
I always do games first, then food, then gifts. This way, the gifts do not get damaged form all the guests playing with them. Once the gifts are unwrapped, it is time to go home. I also like to take a picture of my child with each guest and the gift they brought. This way, you know what each person gave your child when you write thank you notes, and if you get doubles of the birthday photos, you can include a picture of each guest with their thank you note. Some people might think thank you notes are outdated, but they are not.
If your child is younger, always remember to have a talk with them before the party about being gracious about every gift, even if they don’t like it or they already have one. This is the way to teach them that it is the thought that counts, not the gift.
