Kid Dance party
Put on the music and move those feet,
it's time to dance
and get into the beat
A kid dance party can be such fun and works really well for kids over 10 years. Younger kids tend to get bored and tired and need other activities so if you want to have a dance, make sure that you have other activities organised as well.
Depending on your child's character and age you might find a kid dance party works best with inviting only single sex friends and you could include a sleepover as well.
For my son's 12th birthday he wanted a kid dance party and invited nearly the whole class – boys and girls. We parents had to sit outside the room but we got to sneak peek in the door! Funnily enough, very little dancing was done and they preferred to play games such as 'Spin the Bottle' and 'Truth or Dare'. Any games that I suggested were a "No, No"!
So the main thing I learnt is to use your discretion with older kids. Discuss party plans with your child beforehand and let them make most of the decisions.
*My favourite Kid Dance Party Suppliers *
Party Box (UK site)
for general party goods, glow in the dark products, pop star costumes and wigs, limbo stick and balloons.
Kids Party Cabin makesparties (US)
for a huge selection of glow in the dark items, pinatas, costumes and kid dance party items.
Birthday in a Box (US site)
for general party goods and extremely good value party packs.
Shindigz (US site)
for Rock Star party tableware, lighting, fog making machine, disco accessories.
Pinatas (US site)
for piñatas of all sorts.
* Kid Dance Party Invitations *
Your invitations could go something like this:
It's funky disco time and this is a one-off special party invitation for a special birthday.
Get on your dancing gear and meet at
Funky Fred's Club (you could make up a name here using the party child's name): Address
Doors open at: (time of party)
Date :
Admission by invitation only
Buy some cheap CD record-ables and write the party instructions on the label side. Record a few of the party hosts favorite songs on the CD or alternatively you could record the party details onto the CD using your best DJ voice!
Instead of buying CDs, get some fluorescent colored CD jewel cases and use printing software to make insert labels with the kid dance party details. Inside the jewel case you could insert an entrance ticket for the party in the shape of a CD saying "One night only. Admit One".
Insert a song request form with the invitation and allow each kid to request three songs. Ask them to return it to you in advance of the party. This helps you or the DJ to plan the party music.
Write the kid dance party invitations on sheet music so that it looks like song lyrics.
* Kid Dance Party Costumes *
Ask the guests to come dressed in funky dance costumes and you could give a prize for the best dance costume. For those kids who forget, have a few accessories available to hand out such as neon necklaces or bracelets or coloured hairspray.
* Kid Dance Party Decorations *
Before you start, think of the image that you want to create for the kid dance party. Do you want the party room to look retro (lots of brightly coloured accessories); cool-modern (stick to two or three basic colours such as black and white); smoky underground (dark colours with subtle lighting) or to follow a particular colour theme.
Below are some suggestions for tableware which would look great at any kid dance party.
* Remember that you can hire lighting, fog machines and DJ equipment. *
Keep room furnishings to a minimum so that there is lots of dance space. Remove rugs and carpets if possible.
Hang colored streamers from the ceiling or put up a balloon net.
Scatter large cushions and bean bags in a couple of corners rather than using bulky chairs
Have a DJs corner. Test all equipment beforehand and make sure that there are no trailing wires.
Be creative with the lighting. Use Christmas fairy lights, neon or lava lamps and the odd spot light with a colored bulb inserted. Avoid strobe lights or check with the other parents first as they can cause epileptic fits in some kids.
Hire a fog or bubble machine.
Line the walls with silver foil or black plastic sheeting.
Use fluorescent poster board/card to create shapes and stick them to the walls/
Cover the windows with brightly coloured sheets of cellophane
Hang a revolving disco ball from the ceiling.
Create an entrance to the disco room with a foil curtain and hang fairy lights around the doorway
Set up a bar in one corner and have an adult dress up as the barman. Pin up a non-alcoholic cocktail menu and use fancy plastic cocktail glasses.
At the entrance to your house, lay out a red carpet and put up some fairy lights. Set up a big chalk board with written details of the DJ or band
Place a bouncer at the door (big brother might enjoy this role!) who can collect the tickets as the kids arrive.
* Kid Dance Party Music *
You have two choices here. Either you can:
1. Create your own music. The music will make or break the party. Let the kids choose the music as they know what is in and they are more likely to dance if they are familiar with the music and know the all important dance moves.
2. Hire a DJ. This is often not as expensive as you might think and the advantages are that the DJ will have a vast array of music and will provide the equipment and often the lighting. Many DJs can organise games plus teach the children party moves and steps. You can then concentrate on other things such as food and drink.
Click here to find a DJ in your region
* Kid Dance Party food *
Nibbles and finger foods work best and make sure that you have a lots of drinks available.
Mini burgers
Chips and dips
Hot dogs
Nuts and nibbles
Chicken and chips served in individual baskets
Sparking fruit punch using fruit juice and soda water. Serve in plastic bubbly glasses and decorate with fruit pieces and swizzle sticks
Make up fancy names for the drinks such as "Funky Fizz", "Groovy Grape Goddess" or "Shakin Shakes".
Get the kids to make their own ice cream sundaes. Have all 'the bits' lined up on the drinks bar and let them use their imaginations.
Make a rectangular cake and ice it to look like a juke box or make a round cake to look like a CD. Make the cake using a packet cake mix or my all-in-one cake recipe
More kid dance party food ideas
* Kid Dance Party activities *
Depending on how the group gel, you may find that the kids won't want to be dancing all the time. Also the older they are, the less likely they will want you to be around and might prefer to organise their own activities. Play it by ear but do have some games and activities at the ready.
Sun catchers Using blank or unwanted CDs, stick two together (label side in). Decorate with a few rhinestones or clear glass paint and thread a colored cord through the centre hole.
Talent show Hire a karaoke machine and have a singing competition. Get your camcorder out it you have one as the kids love to see themselves performing. If the kids are shy, get them to sing in pairs or groups.
Tattoos Buy some tattoos and get the kids stamping their mark
Hot Hair Get lots of different colored hairspray, gel and hair glitter and see who can create the coolest hair-do. Even the boys will like the colored hairspray. Just don't call it hairspray!
Crazy T-shirts Buy a cheap white T-shirt for each child and lots of luminous fabric paints. Get the kids to design snazzy patterns and slogans. These will look great under the party lights and make good party favours.
* Kid Dance Party Games *
Games are a great way for getting the shier kids to get up and dance.
Limbo Always a popular game with boys and girls. Make your own by screwing net curtain hooks into 2 poles of soft wood. Make sure that the hooks are evenly spread and parallel on both pieces of wood. Secure the wood poles into buckets filled with sand or rocks. Insert a long thin bamboo garden pole between two hooks and voila a perfect limbo pole. You can also buy a ready-made limbo kit
Limbo kit and dance CD (buy UK)
Limbo kit and dance CD (buy US)
Hoola-Hoopla Put on some music with a good beat and see who can keep their hoopla going the longest. You could use large hoops to put round the waist or smaller ones for the wrists, or even both together!
Hot Lights Turn down the lights and sit the kids in a circle. Put on some music and get the kids to pass round a flashing light ball/key ring or toy. When the music stops whoever is left holding the light ball is out of the game. Keep going till there is one child left.
Balloon Catcher String a balloon net to the ceiling. Blow up lots of balloons and write the name of each child on a balloon – one balloon per child. Release the net and see who can be the first to find their balloon.
Name that Tune Divide the kids into pairs or teams. Play the first few lines or bars from a song and get the kids to guess the title and artist. Give points for correct answers and see who can be named "DJ of the year".
DJ Giveaway Get the kids up and dancing. Every so often stop the music and ask a trivia question. Give a small prize such as a neon bracelet to the first person with the correct answer.
Piñata Having a piñata is always a great success at kids parties. For some inspiring piñatas, take a look at
Party Box (UK shop)
Pinatas (US shop)
More kid party games
*Kid Dance Party Favours and Prizes *
Anything shaped like a musical instrument – key rings, earrings, notebooks.
CD or cassette
Posters of pop stars
Glow in the dark items
"Cool" sunglasses or hats
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