Are you planning a birthday celebration for your winter baby, but daunted by the idea of bad weather spoiling the fun? Fear not! There are so many ways that you can make an indoor party just as fun, or minimize the risk of rain getting in the way of a good time. Here at Hooray Day, we’re all about helping you get the most out of your precious time. We love to share all kinds of tips, tricks and hacks so that you can say Hooray to your special day! Check out our ideas for making the most out of a special occasion during the colder months!
Outsmart the weather! Do as the professional event planners do and check out the long range forecast for the date you have in mind. If you look up ‘extended rain forecast’ for your area online, you’ll find that a number of sites, such as Accuweather’s, forecast several months in advance with a reasonable degree of accuracy. If you’re really serious, you can also use a paid service like Dry Days to help you plan around days that are likely to be rainy or very cold.
Cut your losses. Take the weather out of the equation and plan to hold your celebration indoors. If your kids are very little, an outdoor celebration is no doubt preferable. In the middle of winter, it can be a big risk though, and may cause you a lot of stress in the days ahead of the party as you obsessively check and recheck the latest updates from the bureau of meteorology. Remember that, rain aside, wind can be just as much of a party downer. If you can’t handle the idea of hosting a dozen or so little ones inside at home, consider hiring a town hall or bowls club for the day – they have heaps of indoor space, are not generally expensive and you can usually still bring all your own food and decorations!
Let me entertain you! If you’ve decided on an indoor celebration, it goes without saying that you’ll need to put a bit more thought into how to keep your little guests amused. Luckily, there’s a huge range of party games that are perfect for playing inside! Classics such as Pass the Parcel, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Blind Man’s Bluff and Musical Statues or Chairs are perfect. If your guests are too young for organised games (under three or four) a dress up basket and some props related to the theme of your party could make for some really fun play. Alternatively, a couple of craft stations set up with play dough, crayons and some printed pages for colouring in would also keep little hands busy.
Snuggle up! Make the most out of the weather and pick some cozy activities and food for your celebration. If your guests are three or older they might enjoy a movie related to the theme of the party, complete with popcorn, lollies, drinks, blankets and pillows to snuggle up with. Older kids might like some indoor pampering activities, like manicures or pedicures and hair makeovers. Warming food and drink like babycinos, sausage rolls, quiches etc. will go down a treat. You could even go all out and think about some mulled wine for your bigger guests!
Get a professional in. If coming up with a couple of hours’ worth of indoor activities still seems a bit much, think about hiring some sort of entertainer for your little guests. There are so many different varieties to choose from – magicians, balloon twisters, face painters, musicians, bubble artists. Could be a worthwhile investment if it takes a load off your shoulders, and might even mean that you have time to relax and enjoy a bite to eat or much needed drink with your fellow parents.
Have a backup plan. If you’re going to gamble on the weather and plan to hold your celebration outside, have a few back up indoor games ready to go just in case! Games like Musical Chairs, Statues or Blind Man’s Bluff are a lot of fun and really don’t require a lot of prep. Just make sure you read up on the rules of play beforehand, and have some prizes and lots of fun music downloaded. Worst case scenario, you can always turn your celebration into an impromptu dance party.
Clear the decks! If you’re brave enough to host outside during the rainier months, at least spare some time to prep the inside of your house, just in case the worst should happen and you get rained out. We’re not talking about cleaning or sprucing the place up, more about making sure that anything you don’t want manhandled or broken is safely stashed away. This includes anything precious, fragile, dangerous, or that your child might not want to share. Also make sure there are some surfaces cleared for food or gifts in case you need to move things inside in a hurry. If there’s a sudden stampede indoors, you don’t want to be scurrying to hide a favourite doll or grandma’s vase.
Keep things dry. If your celebration is going to be outdoors, but there is a possibility of a light shower beforehand or during, hold off on arranging any decorations or taking any food outside until the last minute. Also make sure there are some supplies on hand (e.g. old towels) to dry off any damp surfaces such as chairs or tables before guests arrive or after a sprinkle during the party. If you have very little guests attending, it might also be a good idea to have some plastic backed picnic blankets at the ready, in case you need to spread them out over damp grass.
A ‘Prepare to Celebrate’ guide comes with every Hooray Day Party Kit. It’s crammed full of tips and tricks on everything you need to know about children’s party games, plus loads more, including food and decorating inspiration. It’s like having a party planner in your pocket!
