Party planners: A PANDA party for a 4th bday?

[WatchingThemGrow]

DD enjoyed a few boxes of the panda cere (http://www.amazon.com/EnviroKidz-Organic-Peanut-Butter-10-6-Ounce/dp/B001EO5RRM)al from TJ's earlier this year, and somehow she thinks she wants a "panda" birthday party. Last year, she wanted a train cake, so I made one, then we had 50 guests over for pizza, playing and a book swap in our backyard. It was really easy despite the fact I was 37w pg.

This year, she wants to invite all her preschool friends (13) plus all her church friends (prob another 15) to our backyard to play. It's fine with me because I enjoy seeing everyone - and it makes people feel like coming to our house to play is easy. Then, they come back and I don't have to meet people at the park, etc. with 3 little ones in tow.

Anyway, I stink with themes. Are there any games/activities/items you can dream up for a b'day party for a 4yo with a panda theme? Oh, our back yard is surrounded with bamboo, so that's part of the reason I'm up for it. A friend said we could do a Save the Panda game where they all wear safari hats, etc. but I don't know if I could find them cheap enough to get a ton of them. Any ideas are appreciated!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I know a cake idea!!! "Hello Cupcake" has panda bear cupcakes! I made them for ds2's birthday. The new book "What's New Cupcake" has better looking methodology for the bear cupcakes so you might want to look at both books.

As for anything else? I'll think about it. I'm sure there are ideas waiting to pop into my head.

I am a total and absolute novice at the decorating thing so pardon their decrepit nature. I think with the different methodology I could have rocked them (well, and a bit more patience!!):

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs017.snc3/12464_1069350191831_1768406244_145225_7071876_n.jp g

[infomama]

Beth...those look great! Here is a link to Bakerella's site with a nice closeup and a link to Hello Cupcake if you want to make them.
http://www.bakerella.com/strawberry-oreos-equal/

[SnuggleBuggles]

Beth...those look great! Here is a link to Bakerella's site with a nice closeup and a link to Hello Cupcake if you want to make them.
http://www.bakerella.com/strawberry-oreos-equal/

LOL! I have a close up of mine but as they look nothing like that I chose not to post that photo. :)

Beth

[sariana]

Here are some ideas for Kung Fu Panda; maybe some will work for a more generic panda theme:

http://www.pepperspollywogs.com/blog/index.php/kung-fu-panda-party-ideas/

http://www.chiff.com/entertain/kung-fu-panda-party.htm

http://www.kids-birthday-party-guide.com/kung-fu-panda-party.html

http://www.birthday-party-ideas-101.com/kung-fu-panda-game.html

Some generic panda ideas:

a craft: http://crafts.kaboose.com/panda.html

activities: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/pandas.htm

favor: http://www.growninmyheart.com/panda-party-favor


I usually try to figure out how to adapt a typical game (e.g. Pin the Tail on the Donkey) to my theme (Pin the Nose on the Panda). (Duck, Duck, Goose>>Panda, Panda, Pandemonium!)

One of the web sites above mentioned Feed the Panda, basically a beanbag toss through a panda's mouth. You could use pieces of bamboo instead of beanbags to make it more authentic.

ETA: Check Oriental Trading Company for hats.

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=15/8925&mode=Searching&erec=1&D=safari+hat&Ntt=safari+hat&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&N=0&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sd=Child%26%238217%3Bs+Safari+Hats

They had several options. I typed "safari hat" into their search window.

ETA2: I had to add this cute craft!:

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=48/6091&mode=Searching&erec=2&D=panda&Ntt=panda&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&N=0&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sd=Giant+Panda+Photo+Frame+Magnet+Craft+Kit

[WatchingThemGrow]

Ok, these are some great ideas! I LOVE the cupcakes!!!
Some of the activities will work also! We don't know kung-fu panda, so we'll stick with generic, but hopefully some authentic games.

Any other ideas are appreciated!

[WatchingThemGrow]

If I order the safari hats with binoculars, is that enough of a favor for the guests? If we "hid" pandas in the bamboo, what kind should we use? Those clamp on ones from when we were little would be great, but I'm not sure how to find them.

[joules]

Here are a few panda themed parties on ohdeedoh:

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-kjellprovot-ut-114366

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-chloe-noi-washington-dc-100803

[WatchingThemGrow]

Any ideas where to find some kind of little clip on pandas to put on the bamboo stalks? Would it be okay to get all adult sized hats or should I get a mix. Children's hats don't always fit DD.

[wendibird22]

Here's a recipe for a panda cake: http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/panda-cake-686231/

[citymama]

We did a panda party for DD's second! She was obsessed with pandas at that age. I made an easy-peasy Panda cake (can email you a pic if you like, but it's not as pretty as those cupcakes!) - a round cake pan, chocolate cake, dark chocolate frosting and cream cheese frosting. Two cupcakes for the ears. :) It was really fun to make.

You can play "who is hiding in the bamboo forest?" where the kids each pretend to hide and a parent calls on each kid by name one at a time, and then hop out as a different kind of animal. Goody bags could include panda chopsticks (I saw some at a kiddie store the other day and they were adorable!) and a Dover sticker book on pandas.

[sariana]

Would it be okay to get all adult sized hats or should I get a mix.

If it's not a lot more, I would get a mix. If mixing is too expensive, adult-sized hats are fine.

The binoculars are a great idea. My MIL got some for DS (5) and DD (2). DD carried hers around for days, asked about them when she couldn't see them, and took them everywhere with her. Even now that the novelty has worn off, she loves those things. "My 'nockalars!"

I think hats and binoculars would be great favors. If you're worried it's not enough, you could always look for pand coloring pages online, print out a few, and pair them with a little box of crayons.

I don't know where to get the clip-on pandas, but I think it's a great idea to have them hide in the bamboo. I hope you can find some.

ETA: Maybe something from here will help??:

http://www.thejunglestore.com/Gift-Catalog/Panda-Bear-Gifts?gclid=CMiz4sSYuaECFRZinAodJx8w-w

http://www.stuffedsafari.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=panda+&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&gclid=CLSJuo2ZuaECFRObnAodtUQloQ

http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/BBM030

http://www.thebigzoo.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=203