Down on the Farm Party

Choose two or three relatively calm activities for a two-hour party. Have a few extra ideas ready just in case. Alternate crafts and other sit-down activities with active games to keep the pace of the party moving.

Reading is great between activities such as a game and cake time. It can be used to keep children occupied while a parent sets out the tableware and cake. Also, reading can be effective at the end of the party, when children are waiting for their parents to arrive. Some suggestions:

• Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens (Harcourt Brace, 1995)
• Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (Viking Press, 1987)
• The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) by Philemon Sturges (Dutton, 1999)
• Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed (Putnam, 1997)
• Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw (Houghton Mifflin, 1999)

Having a craft activity set up as guests arrive is a good way to corral the excitement in a positive way, since each person can start working immediately.

Ages: 4 and up

Preparation time: 15 to 20 minutes

Playing time: 10 minutes

Players: Any number

What you need:

• Egg carton cups
• Scissors
• Skewer and hole punch
• Brown or black permanent or washable marker
• Pink water-based paint such as tempera paint
• Small paint brushes (one per child)
• 12-inch length of thin elastic string for each child

Before the party:

1. Collect paper egg cartons and cut off each egg cup. These will become pig snouts. Using skewer, punch two small holes in the center of the bottom of each cup to be the nostrils.

2. With skewer or hole punch, make a hole on each side of each cup for attaching the elastic. Cut lengths of elastic before the party, but wait to attach it until after children have painted the cups.

At the party:

3. Lay newspaper or other protective cover over the work surface.

4. Have each child paint the outside of a pig snout pink. Let snouts dry (at least 20 minutes).

5. Outline the nostrils using the dark marker.

6. Tie elastic to sides of snouts. Slip elastic over child's head and fit snout over nose. Be sure to have a mirror handy so your piggies can see themselves!

This silly, simple activity will get the attention of kids of all ages.

Playing time: 10 minutes

Players: At least 4

1. Each child takes a turn standing in front of the group, making their best pig snort.

2. Appoint a panel of judges to award prizes for best snort, longest, shortest, loudest, quietest, most obnoxious, silliest, least like a pig, and so on until everyone wins and has a good laugh.

Ages: 4 and up

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Playing time: 10 minutes

Players: Any number

What you need:

• Paper cups or peat pots
• Plastic spoons
• Potting soil
• Seeds -- impatiens or sunflowers work well, as they grow in a relatively short time
• Small watering can filled with water

Before the party:

1. Gather materials and organize them as outlined below. Make copies of plant germination information, such as:

Impatiens germinate in 15 to 20 days. Germination temperature is 70 to 75 degrees F. Sow at surface. Need light to germinate. Sunflowers germinate in 10 to 14 days. Germination temperature is 70 to 85 degrees F. Sow 1/4 inch deep. Need light to germinate.

At the party:

2. Give each farmer a few seeds, a paper cup or a peat pot, and a spoon. Set a few larger containers of potting soil on the table.

3. Have children spoon soil into the cup until 3/4 full. Gently push a few seeds a tiny way into the soil, no more than 1/4 inch deep.

4. Have each child sprinkle their cup with water.

5. Give each child a note to take home, describing when the plants will germinate and how to care for them.