Saw this on ivillage, top ideas.

A fun game for children and adults alike, a scavenger hunt can have many different themes

• Ages six and up
• Six or more players
• Materials needed: for each team a list of things to find and a shopping bag
• Outdoor activity
• Competitive

How to play

1. Divide the children into teams of three to four children each.
2. Give each team a list (all the lists are the same), and tell the teams where they can go to find the objects.
3. Create whatever boundaries are necessary for safety. Each team is allocated a separate territory.
4. Give the children a time limit (15-30 minutes depending on the space and age), and make sure one member of each team has a watch or will be in charge of asking the time.
5. Assign an adult to each team if needed.
6. The team that finds the most items on the list in the allotted time wins.

When making up the lists, include things the children stand a good chance of finding. For a neighbourhood-based game, some suggestions are a stamp, a biscuit, a straw, a rubber band, or a week-old newspaper. For a rural area or a park, some suggestions are a pinecone, a worm, a beetle, a white stone, something red, a feather.

Variations: Change the name of the game to suit the theme of the party: for example, a Leaf Scavenger Hunt for an Autumn party and so on.
Note: Please have an adult travel with each group if they will be going to neighbours’ homes.

Planning a party can be a nightmare for a busy mum. Take the stress out and put the fun in, with our fabulous birthday party planner. Get fun ideas for invitations, games, birthday cakes, decorations, party bags and more

getting started

• The essential birthday party checklist
• Party bag tips

party themes

• Baby’s first birthday
• Toddler bubble party
• Bugs are beautiful party
• Circus extravaganza
• Everyone’s a superhero
• Young teens party
• The ultimate pizza party

great games

• Pin the tail on the donkey
• Red light green light
• Blind man’s bluff
• Scavenger hunt
• Dodge ball

Party planning checklist for busy mums

Staying organised while you’re planning your child’s birthday party is easy with this sanity-saving checklist

Four weeks before the party…

• Choose a party theme with your child.
• Draw up the guest list. Enlist several adults to help the party run smoothly. For three- to five-year-olds, ideally you’ll need around one adult for every four children, and for six-to ten-year- olds, one adult for every six children.
• Pick the party date and time. Parties are generally one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours long.

Three weeks before the party…

• Make or buy the invitations and send them out.
• Make or buy decorations, party bags and prizes.

Two weeks before the party…

• Decide on activities and games to play. Consider the age of the children and plan games and activities accordingly. Plan more games than you expect to use, in case you run out of activities before the party is over.
• Plan your menu. Remember that parties are not a good time to introduce new foods to children. Serve familiar favourites.
• Arrange for extra help on the party day from friends or relatives.

One week before the party…

• Order cake from a bakery if you are not baking your own. Bake cake and freeze it, if making your own.
• Make any other foods that can be made ahead of time and store foods in the freezer.

One to two days before the party…

• Write out a final schedule of activities for the party.
• Buy remaining food for the party. Buy film and have the camcorder at the ready. Check batteries for the cameras.
• Finish decorating the cake, or pick up the cake from the bakery. Make sure you have plenty of candles and matches.
• Decorate any indoor areas (save outdoor decorating for the day of the party).
• Prepare food that can be made ahead of time.

The day of the party

• Prepare foods and drinks that could not be made ahead of time.
• Set up any outdoor decorations and craft areas.
• Plan a nap for your child - and yourself! - after the party.

Remember, young guests will be excited and there are bound to be mishaps. Keep your sense of humour, and even if every aspect of the party doesn’t go as planned, the most important part is to enjoy your child’s big day!

Party bag tips

I’m organising a six-year-old’s birthday party and don’t have the faintest idea of what to put in the party bags. All ideas and ingredients for party bags really appreciated.
swati_rBargain shopping
Most supermarkets have a range of party favours, which are very cheap (under £1). They do packs of stickers, whistles, yo-yo’s, etc. Asda do a pack of four medals on a ribbon for 99p, which are great to use for prizes for games. I got these for my daughter’s fifth birthday and they went down really well.

You could try Poundstretcher for cheap packs of lollies and sweets, as it can work out pretty expensive if you have a lot of kids coming. They also do cheap sets of paper plates and cups in loads of different designs. I got Disney Princess ones for my daughter’s party; I think they were about £1.50 for eight plates or eight cups or party bags - which is cheap compared to other shops. They also do the plain white ones even cheaper if you don’t want to spend too much money. I’ve got three kids and I know how expensive children’s parties can be once you add everything up!
Lorr1976

If you’re planning to have a party every year it might be worthwhile visiting Ikea and buying the brightly coloured kids plastic plates and beakers. They’re sold in six-packs and are only £1. It saves buying expensive themed party accessories every time.
Jojo5679

H&M do lovely girls’ jewellery sets, starting at £1.25 for a pretty necklace and bracelet or diamante bracelet and ring set also for £1.25. They also do little handbags, hair bobbles etc. They’re really good value, and are also excellent for birthday presents.

I have three daughters so I’m a party-pro! For party bags I would recommend tiny tubes of Smarties, mini Mars Bars etc. Balloons go down well, as do whistles or anything that makes a noise! Little toys and games such as cars, dolls, hair slides, soldiers, animals, crayons etc always go down well too. Try Poundstretcher, Asda, Internacionalle, Bargain Bin, Tesco etc.
i_love_ali

If you have a Pound Shop near you, you can get all sorts of little games. We had a party and spent £30 on bits and bobs for a party of 20 children.
vep1

What you’ll need

• 2 sheets of 68cm (27in) x 45cm (18in) gold paper
• White glue
• 8 strips of brown craft paper, 7cm (3in) x 45cm (18in)
• Cone formed from cardboard
• 8 lengths - 25cm (10in) - of gold yarn
• 4 sheets of 45cm (18 in) x 23cm (9in) yellow paper
• 4 large paper fasteners
• Wire

Background
The whole neighbourhood will be buzzing about this bee costume. Wear black clothing or leotard and tights beneath this costume.

What to do

1. Cover one side of each sheet of thick cardboard with gold paper. Round off all edges with scissors. Glue the strips of brown paper to the sheets of cardboard.
2. Cover the cone with gold paper and attach it to the bottom of the costume with wire.
3. Punch a hole at each shoulder and on each side. Tie a length of yarn through each hole.
4. Cut four wing shapes from yellow paper at one time. Glue the wings together in pairs.
5. Fold back the flaps and punch two holes in each flap. Punch four holes in the back of the costume where the wings will go.
6. Attach the wings with paper fasteners.

Children are easy to please! So when planning your child’s birthday party, remember that she and her guests will delight in even the simplest affair. For those milestone years, go from simply sweet to super duper with a few extra bells and whistles. Either way, you can create magical and memorable birthday parties

Invitations

Little kids love to get mail, and it’s usually the ripping of the envelope that is most satisfying. For a toddler’s party, use a classic fold card and matching envelope. For bigger kids, deliver an unexpected custom-made postcard to set the tone or send your invite in a decorated paper mailing tube. Add a few pinches of confetti or a charm that represents the party’s theme.

Party Decorations

Clusters of balloons in a particular color scheme paired with streamers are traditional party decorations. For an update, make a balloon bouquet centerpiece and hang swags of streamers on the back of each chair. Or save a little time by using your party treats as decoration: for example, use a cupcake stand filled with colorful cupcakes as a centerpiece. Party favors can do double duty, too: personalize classic party hats with glitter glue and use as place cards. For extra flair decorate party hats to go along with your theme (for example, add a long ribbon to the top for a princess or draw a Jolly Rogers skull-and-crossbones for a pirate).

Games

The crafts at your party can be basic or elaborate, depending on the age of your guests. A long table covered with craft paper and small containers of crayons is perfect for little kids. In the summertime, a bubble station is plenty of stimulation for two to four-year-olds. Bigger kids can decorate anything from T-shirts to sun visors and canvas shoes with fabric paint, fabric glue, plastic jewels and pompoms. Even better, these crafts double as party favors.

Party Food

Kids won’t sit still for long, so the best party food for the under-twelve crowd is finger-food. Keep healthy, age-appropriate snacks and water within reach at all times for those frequently needed energy boosts. Cake and ice cream with a decorative candle is an easy way to serve little kids a special birthday treat. To make the birthday treat extra special for big kids, create a serve-yourself ice cream sundae bar – complete with chocolate syrup and rainbow sprinkles – or a decorate-your-own cupcake station.

Don’t shy away from the classic party games you played as a kid. “Pin the tail on the donkey” is fun for all ages. Spin the bigger kids before each turn and hang the donkey further away to make the game more difficult. Build some calm excitement with a game of Bingo. Reinvent these traditional games to fit your party’s theme: try “pin the wings on the fairy,” for example; or customize your Bingo cards with clip art and let kids use dot paints to mark the squares. Reserve a special prize for the first-place winner and always have consolation prizes available for everyone else.

Party Bags

Always thank your guests for coming by sending them home with a party bag. An assortment of small treats – candy, stickers or small toys – is a fun and easy gift. Consider unique reusable containers for your favors: a fabric-lined bucket, a mini terra cotta flower pot or organdy drawstring bags. It’s better to put in 1 or 2 quality items than a pile of junk that will go straight in the bin when they get home. Remember it’s the bag itself they love rather than the contents.