Hop on board and let's get this train birthday party on the right tracks
Some kids are always on the go so let's provide them with a way of getting there. Blow the whistle and hop on board for a train birthday party trip of a lifetime.
I have some great train party theme ideas which you and the kids are just going to love.
Party Delights One of my favorites for good value party-ware and favors. Find Thomas and Friends here. Party Box
Another site worth checking and great value party packs including Thomas a Friends and Chugginton Party themes.
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Shindigz.com Party supplies at low prices and lots of fun and unusual items. Makesparties
For party-ware and favors at rock bottom prices. Birthday in a Box
Party-ware and favors and super all in one party packs
-- Train Birthday Party --
Train Birthday Party Invitations
Your train birthday party invitations could go something like this:
All aboard, all aboard..... Train driver Sam (child's name) is having a birthday treat And he needs you to book your seat The train departs at : Meet on platform 1 at : Please ring the station master to confirm your seat PS: Don't forget to bring your ticket
Make giant train tickets our of cardboard with the party details on one side
Get postcards with trains on and write the words "Wish you were here" plus details of the train birthday party
Train Birthday Party Costumes
Ask the kids to come dressed in their passenger best or as train drivers and of course they mustn't forget to bring their ticket (invitation).
In exchange for their ticket, issue them with a special train birthday party boarding pass which they hang round their necks. During the party as they win a train birthday party game, instead of handing out prizes straight away, just punch a hole in the boarding pass – just like a real conductor!
At the end of the train birthday party the kids can choose small prizes (or give out favor bags) depending on how many holes they have. Of course you will make sure everyone is equal!
Train Birthday Party Decorations
Make a big entrance sign with the station name on it e.g. SAM's STATION
Have a ticket booth at the entrance and you can act as the ticket master. Have the children hand in their ticket (invitation) or they can 'buy' one and then they pass through the barrier to be greeted by the train driver himself (the birthday child) who can hand them each an engineer's hat.
Make the party room look like the inside of a train. Set up 2 rows of chairs facing each other with a table in between. Tack large pieces of drawing paper to the walls and paint outdoor scenes on them to make them look like windows with a view.
Make your own railroad signs such as 'Men at work', 'Rail road crossing'. Dot these around the room or party area.
On the path up to your house lay planks of wood to represent a railway track.
Make crossing lights using lamps with green and red bulbs.
If you have lots of space, divide the room(s) into areas such as the carriage (area for sit down activities), buffet car (set up the food table) and platform waiting area (area for games).
Train Birthday Party Food
Food for toddlers can be tricky as they all have such different tastes, likes and dislikes. Don't go overboard with the food and finger foods are best. Consider 'Train' food boxes as opposed to plates as they are much easier for little hands to hold and train sipper cups
Make a giant train - In advance collect a stack of fairly large cardboard boxes. Line them up and cut out some windows. You could also paint and decorate the front one as the engine. When the kids arrive get them all to help you paint the train carriages whilst waiting for the other kids to arrive.
Traffic Jam - Collect together as many toy trains and cars as you can. Draw a street and track scene on a large piece of card or with chalk directly onto the floor. Then let the kids set up their own traffic jam.
Design a carriage - Before the train birthday party, whiz down to your local shoe store and ask for a stack of empty shoe boxes. Give one to each child and have them decorate them with paints, marker pens, stickers and whatever else you fancy. Line them all up and you will have a fantastic center piece for the food table.
Collect the Coal
Divide the kids into teams. Give each team a bucket and stand the kids in a line. At some distance away have a stack of coal (aluminum foil scrunched into balls). Have each kid take it in turns to run up to the coal, put one piece in the bucket and then run back to his team and another member goes. First team to fill his bucket with all the coals is the winner.
Musical Sleepers
Dot a few planks of wood around the garden or party area. Make sure there are enough for each child, minus one. Put on some music and have the kids dance about. When you blow the whistle all the kids must dash to stand on a sleeper. The kid who doesn't get one is out of the game but they get to help you blow the whistle for the next round.
Dress for work
Split the kids into teams and give each team a box of workman's clothes – a hard hat, bandanna and a pair of overalls. On the whistle each team member must rush and put on the set of clothes, then ring a bell. He then takes of the clothes and the next team member does the same thing. First team to finish wins.
All Aboard
Set some chairs out in a line. Have one person as the train guard and give them a special hat to wear. Have the kids run around the garden or party room and when you blow the whistle they must all rush and sit on a carriage chair without being caught by the train guard. If they are caught they also become a train guard and thus on the next round there will be two guards truing to catch the passengers.
Red light, green light
The kids are all mini trains and you are the train master. Have two big pieces of round card ready – one colored green and the other red and these will be the signal lights. When you hold up the green light, the little trains move about following a pretend train track. But as soon as you shout "Red light" and hold up the red circle, the trains must stop in their tracks. Anyone caught moving is sent to the railway yard and is out of the game.
Did you know……………Thomas the Tank Engine was invented in England in 1945 by the Reverend W. Awdry. He first made up stories about Thomas and his friends in 1943 to keep his son Christopher amused when he was ill with the measles. He wrote 26 books about Thomas and his friends until his son Christopher took over and now there are more than 40 books about the love-able little train.
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