January Birthdays aren’t Blah — They’re a Blast!
Some people think January is blah and dismal but it actually kicks off a whole year of new possibilities. Treat January as an exciting month, especially for someone whose birthday falls during it. Choose a party theme that will make their day cheery, even if the weather is gray.
Winter Beach Party
A January beach party is especially fun if outdoor temperatures are cold. Warm things up inside with tropical decorations like palm trees, coconuts, pink flamingos and a large yellow balloon bouquet to represent the sun. Partially fill a kiddie pool with sand and partially with water to create a beach, accent with beach balls and give each guest a pair of sunglasses to wear for goofy group and individual pictures on the “shore.” In addition to pizza, chicken fingers or other main food, serve lemonade, seasonal fruit and a cake iced in vivid Caribbean colors and displayed on a table covered in beach towels. Games for a beach party are Pin the Tail Feather on the Parrot, limbo contests and Musical Lawn Chairs played to steel band tunes.
A variation to this party is a Winter Pool Party held at a hotel or swim center with an indoor heated pool and dressing areas where guests can change into bathing suits.
Winter Wonderland Party
If you can’t beat winter, join it by making an indoor wonderland. “Freeze” lights, furniture and molding by suspending plastic icicles and snowflakes from them. Feature a snowy patch with the help of fake snow. You can buy the mix, simply add water and watch it pour. You can also make snow by mixing water with the sodium polyacrylate inside disposable diapers! Either way, fake snow feels cool to the touch. Decorate the area with a sled, “snow cloud” white balloons and a snowman retrieved from holiday decor. Include snow cones on the menu and ice cube treats made from plain gelatin, clear flavoring and edible silver glitter. The cake could be a sheet cake portraying a snowy scene, or a mountain cake made of stacked layers in graduating sizes, frosted in white and adorned with miniature plastic skiers. When it’s game time, send everyone outside for some Winter Olympics, such as snowball fights with white water balloons and dogsled relays where teams pull drivers to the finish line in round, plastic sleds that slide on grass or snow.
A wintry theme can also be used when you purchase a birthday package at an ice skating rink.
A unique game to play at any January birthday party is a New Year’s Resolution version of charades. Acting out scenes like “read more books” and “save my allowance” will challenge kids while promoting positive goals.
Some gifts are especially suitable for January birthdays. A sticker calendar, diary, outdoor snow toys and cool ski caps, scarves and mittens all represent January weather or as the start of a new year.
Incorporating these party ideas will show that January is a great month to be born in!
