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INVITATION IDEAS
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Using index cards, write the greeting “Party” in the middle of the plain side of the card. |
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Then using animal stickers, let your child help you place them around the greeting on the front of the card. |
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On the back of the card write all the details about your party.
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FAVOR IDEAS
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Animal crackers – each child could be given a box of animal crackers. |
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Cards – small decks of animal cards could be given out as a favor. |
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Books – small animal books would be a sure hit with preschoolers. |
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DECORATIONS
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Use the new animal paper plates. |
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Purchase animal napkins. |
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Decorate the birthday cake with zoo animals. (Animal crackers or plastic toys.) |
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Purchase animal balloons or piñata.
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FOOD IDEAS
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Frosted animal crackers. |
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Ice cream with animal crackers on top. |
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Cake with animals on top. |
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CHILD INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES
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Elephant ring toss. Here is a toy you can make your preschoolers will enjoy playing with. Cut out 6” – 10” elephant shapes (side view) from cardboard. Attach a 6” string to the end of each elephants nose. Tie a small plastic or rubber ring to the end of the string. Have the children try to flip the string up, so that the ring will land on the elephants nose. |
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Animal Puzzles - Let your party goers make their own animal puzzle. Give everyone a picture of an animal (approximately 4” x 6”). Set out some large craft sticks and some glue. Have them turn their pictures over and spread glue across the back. Then have them place four craft sticks on the glue. Let them dry a bit and then using a utility knife, turn each picture over and slice between the sticks. Place each child’s animal sticks in a zip-lock bag. Pass the puzzles back to the children and have them put the four stick pieces back together to show their animal picture. Let children take their puzzles home.
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FRONTS AND BACKS
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Find some pictures of animals facing sideways. |
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Glue them in the middle of an index card. |
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Cut the cards in-half, through the middle of the animal. |
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Have children sit in a circle. |
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Pass out the rear of an animal to each child. |
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Then hold up the front of an animal, perhaps even make the animals sound. |
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The child with the rear of this animal comes up to claim her front. |
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Continue holding up front cards, until everyone has found their front half. |
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Play again if interest lasts. |
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CIRCUS ANIMALS
Have the children pretend that they are circus animals doing tricks.
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Elephant Walk - Lay a string on the floor and let them take turns walking and balancing on the string. |
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Pony Parade – Have children prance or gallop around in a circle pretending they are Circus ponies.
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GUESSING GAME
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Have the children sit in a circle. |
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Let them take turns going in the middle of the circle and acting and making the sounds of an animal. |
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Other children get to guess what animal the child in the middle is imitating. |
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PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY
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A must for an animal party. |
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ELEPHANT PEANUT TOSS
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Draw the outline of an elephant facing front, on a piece of paper. |
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Cut out a large circle where the elephant’s mouth should be. |
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Let the children take turns, tossing peanuts into the elephants mouth. |
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Give out a small prize to the child who gets the most peanuts in. |
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ANIMAL HUNT
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Hide animal crackers around the room. |
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Have the children go on a hunt to see who can find (or capture) the most wild animals. |
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Be sure that everyone finds some. |
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Let children keep the crackers and eat them whenever they wish. |
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