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"Then you keep moving round, I suppose?" said Alice. "Exactly so," said the Hatter...

Plan a tea party, birthday or play day around a fairies and elves theme with fairy princess party invites, fairy tale party decorations, fairy princess costumes, favour and magical fantasy activities galore. Have each guest craft  their own flower halo crown and magic wand. If you're really ambitious or the kids are old enough, you could even have each child craft a set of fairy wings.

It's all about the little details that focus on a fairyland atmosphere for your child. Choose crafts and games with a magical motif or modify existing favorites such as pin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs to follow a fairy theme.

Set the table with dainty small bunches of flowers, flowing ribbons, glittering stars and fairy-small treats. Serve fruited herbal teas (no caffeine) or home-made organic lemonade with a spritz of cranberry juice in little china cups, cut out tiny sandwiches (crusts removed from the bread) with cookie cutters and offer each guest magical beans (organic jelly beans) or sugar-free sweets wrapped in fairy print fabric or tulle netting tied with narrow ribbons.

Finally, read or tell a  favourite fairy tale to cap off the end of a perfectly magical day and calm things down a bit before sending all the fairy princesses back home to their own castles.In lieu of gifts get each guest to bring a favourite song to share at fairy circle time after story.

Pick a Theme

Mad Hatter Tea Party
Buy a bunch of big straw hats, ribbon, pearls and jewellery from thrift shops, and silk flowers. Each guest decorates a hat to wear during the party, and then takes it home as a favour. Hand out prizes for the craziest, prettiest, and most creative hats. To prevent jealousy, consider having enough awards for each child to receive one. A cover idea for your invitations is "Don't Be Late, For a Very Important Date." Following the "Alice in Wonderland" theme, add "Eat Me" tags to small cakes. At intervals during the party, announce to the guests that it's time to run around the table, or ask everyone to move down one seat.

Teddy Bear Tea Party
Since many young children often host pretend teas with their stuffed pals, a "teddy bear" theme might be just what you're looking for. Address bear-shaped invitations to the kids and their teddy bears, and encourage them to come dressed in party attire. Serve a cake decorated with a bear motif and use bear cookie cutters for sandwiches and as a party activity make bear shape cookies and decorate and use as favours.

Dress Up Tea Party
Do you have a trunk full of old dresses, scarves, jewelry? If not, search through thrift shops, garage sales and flea markets for cheap prom dresses, feather boas, and high heels. Maybe some of the guests' mothers could also contribute items. Part of the fun of this party is letting the children try on the clothes, make their choices, and then sit down to tea as little "ladies and gentlemen". Boys also feel special when they dress up and enjoy interacting with children of the same age. Even if you have small boys, or both boys and girls, a tea party is a special event that will become a treasured memory - hunt around for vests, hats, bowties, etc

Storybook Tea Party
You might get ideas from the pages of your child's favourite books. Using Beatrix Potter tales as a theme, extract ideas directly from her little story books. Madeline, Winnie the Pooh, and Cinderella provide other opportunities for a special tea party theme.

Tea Parties for children give us a chance to have fun with our kids, as well as create very special memories. Don't forget to invite siblings, teddy bears, and Grandma, for when hosting a tea party, the more the merrier!

For children, tea parties are just a means to learn the way. Grace, honor, respect, sharing, caring, reflection, appreciation, giving. A "way" of building self-esteem, confidence and poise.

Children appreciate being trusted with the china and take as much pride as the girls in pouring the tea without a spill. Tea Parties for children are not just for girls! Boys also feel special when they dress up and enjoy interacting with children of the same age. Even if you have small boys, or both boys and girls, a tea party is a special event that will become a treasured memory. children are bombarded daily with negative messages. Activities such as tea parties for children, reading, family game nights and craft time will stay with them forever as memories of family and love.

Do not limit your tea parties for children to sitting at a table drinking your tea and nibbling. It's important to have everyone join in a exciting activity. While everyone is drinking and enjoying their tea and treats, quietly read a story  -  Manners is a good choice eg The Pop-Up Book Of Manners - A Please and Thank You Book - Created by Dick Dudley and Illustrated by Susan Gay.

After tea and treats it is time for another activity. Depending on the theme, this activity can range from an arts and crafts project to travel exploring a visiting fire truck. Try to find something impressive that your child has never done before to make it a special event.

Plan your tea party today, and enjoy a time of magic and whimsy with your children!

Tips to Hosting a Triumphant Children’s Tea Party

Let Them Invite a Friend Tea is always more fun when it is shared with a friend. The friend can be human or stuffed. Human friends are nice because they initiate conversation, laugh at your jokes, and help to pour the tea. Stuffed friends are great because they are a source of comfort in new surroundings. They also sit quietly and rarely reach for the last piece of cake.

Encourage Dressing Up Children feel special when they dress up. Clothes make a statement about personality and style. At a young age children start communicating their tastes. They show interest in certain colours, fabrics and notions like buttons and zippers. The key is to observe and listen.

Most children would be happy to dress up if they were allowed to be comfortable and be part of the decision-making process. The girl who prefers simple and soft clothing should not be expected to dress in cascading ruffles and lace.

The boy who prefers clothes that are neat and classic should not be expected to dress in knickers and bow ties. They will retaliate and usually in the middle of the tea party.

Keep The Menu Simple - Sandwiches, Tea, Treats

Children generally do not eat smoked salmon and asparagus sandwiches. However, organic peanut butter / avocado sandwiches cut in fun shapes and organic cheese sandwiches with the crusts removed are always a hit.

Tea can be many things at tea parties for children. Generally children are not that fond of real tea but they do enjoy carob milk, chamomile tea, home-made lemonade and punch as a substitution. But, if you prefer the real thing, here‘s your recipe:

Children’s Tea Ingredients: 1 cup milk 2 tsp. vanilla  4 tsp. decaf black or green tea (or 4 tea bags) 1 quart boiling water Pour the milk into a saucepan, add the vanilla, and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Remove the pan from the heat and let it stand until the milk is cool. Place the tea leaves in the teapot and add the boiling water. Cover with a towel and steep 5 minutes. Pour about 1/4 cup of the cooled milk into the teacups. Stir and strain the tea into the cups. Makes 4-5 (full cup) servings.

If you can, serve the tea in real teacups, preferably smaller cups that fit comfortably in a little one’s hand. These cups probably should not be your finest china, but special spoons. china teacups and cloth napkins picked up at flea markets and yard sales are the best kinds of cups for children to practice on. These pieces do not have to match. They are generally inexpensive and will allow children to learn social graces without feeling awkward or scared. Treats served to children should be decorative, delicious and easy to handle. Sticky desserts with frosting and crumbly cakes should be avoided. Organic sugar-free cookies, strawberries, mini muffins are fine.

Tea parties can take place anywhere for any occasion in any season. The place is not the point. It's the practice. Don’t forget this is going to be fun for you too.

Now you are ready to go. ENJOY!

http://www.royalteaparties.net/index.html

http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com/2007/09/tea-parties-for-children.html