Thursday, February 12, 2009

Theme Party Thursday: John Deere/Farm Party

Invitations: For this invite I would probably do a red barn or I would look online for free printable coloring pages of John Deere Tractors (click here for some ). Anyway, here is sample wording for the invite:

Cluck-Cluck, Oink-Oink, Baa-Baa, Moo!
We're having ourselves a shin-dig and we want you!
Our "Deere" little (child's name) is turning (age)!
Y'all are invited to a John Deere party!
Location: The (last name) Farm,
(address)
Date:___________
Time:___________
Neighs only: (phone number)


Games/Activities (choose 2 or 3)
Caught In The Barn Ahead of time, paint a big cardboard box red to look like a barn. Make "barn doors" that open and close on either end. For the game, play some music, and let each child crawl through the barn. When the music stops, the one who is caught in the barn is out. Keep playing until there is one player left, who is the winner.

Haystack Hunt Make a loose pile of "hay" (blankets & pillows). Inside the "hay" hide several small toys. Let the kids hunt for the toys. (This is a good finale game as everyone gets a "prize".) Do inexpensive things like the little plastic farm animals and tractors, which you can usually get at your local dollar store.

Herding Cattle Ahead of time blow up several white balloons, enough for each child to have one. Use black permanent marker to make "cow spots" on each balloon. For the game. Have each child stand at one end of the room. Tell them they must herd the cattle by swatting their balloons in the air. The first one that makes it to the other side of the room wins.

Barnyard Have the guests sit in a circle. Have one less chair than there are guests. Have one person stand in the middle and be "it". Assign them each an animal name. Repeat the animal names so that there are more than one of each kind. When the person who is "it" calls out "chickens", for example, anyone who is a chicken gets up and changes seats with another chicken, including the person who is "it". The child left standing without a seat is the new "it". Continue so several animals have a turn. Also, if at any point the caller calls out "Barnyard", everybody has to get up and change seats.

Seed to Sow Place some potting soil in small little pots. Let each guest plant a few seeds, and then they have a plant to take home. Try a radish seed, because it will grow quickly and the pot will be just the right size.

I Spy a Tractor This is essentially the "hot-cold" game. One person leaves the room while another person gets to hide the toy tractor. Soon the first child is called back in. As he hunts for the tractor the rest of the group calls out "cold", "colder", "warm", "warmer", "hot", "hotter" depending on how close or far he is from finding the tractor. Continue until everyone has had a chance to either hunt for the tractor or hide it.

Tractor Rides If you have a riding mower or small tractor, give each child a ride on the tractor. Also, take their picture on the tractor. This would be great to include with any thank-you notes.

Coloring Pages Google "tractor coloring pages" or "john deere coloring pages" to find free printables. These are good for the kids to color while waiting for all guests to arrive.

Misc. If you have any stories with a tractor as the main character, read that. Also, check your local craft store for simple crafts, like animal magnets, etc.

Food
Pigs in a blanket: Get hotdogs, refrigerated crescent rolls, and slices of American Cheese (cut into smaller strips). Place cheese strip on hotdog. Roll hotdog up in crescent roll. Brush each crescent roll with lightly beaten egg and bake according to package directions. Also have a tray of fresh cut fruit and veggies. You could serve food in pie tins and tie rafia or twine around utensils rolled up in napkins.

Party Favors
Use brown paper lunch sacks and let the kids decorate them with tractor stickers (this can be done at the start of the party, while waiting for others kids to arrive). Check your local John Deere dealer for little keychains, etc. Bandanas and toy tractors would also be cool party favors. You can make these as simple or as extravagant as you wish. Oh, and I've noticed Wal-Mart has started to carry little John Deere trinkets. During the party, any prizes won can be placed in their goody bags.


You could also make "Haystacks" ahead of time, and place them in a plastic sandwich bag and tie off with raffia. Place one haystack in each bag.

To make Haystacks...(check ahead of time for any peanut butter allergies).

6 C. Frosted Flakes

1 C karo syrup

1 C sugar

1 C peanut butter



Line counter tops with waxed paper. Pour frosted flakes in large mixing bowl. In saucepan mix syrup and sugar. Bring to boil, stirring frequently. Turn heat to med-low and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Pour mixture over frosted flakes and quickly stir to coat evenly. Drop by Tablespoonful onto waxed paper. Let cool a few hours. Store in airtight container.

4 comments:

greenolive said...

Great now I don't know which party to throw for the boys. I guess options are good. Why don't you just fly out here in April and throw the party for me? I'll let you choose the theme.

Green said...

This one would do for the hubby :)
Those are his fav toys

Susie said...

You are too cute!

Ruthykins said...

okay, now make a train party. doesn't necessarily have to be thomas the tank engine specific.