Birthday Party Stuff

Planning your Dora the Explorer party is easy when you follow our tips on choosing decorations, food, games, and activities.

Who is Dora?
Dora is a 7 year old girl who goes on an adventure everyday with her friend, Boots the Monkey. She invites her viewers at home to join in the fun and explore with her. Dora receives help on her adventures not only from Boots, but also from Map and her backpack. Along their journey Dora and Boots interact with other friends, Benny, Isa, and Tico. There is always a problem that needs to be solved and sometimes those problems are caused by Swiper and the Troll. Dora and Boots must say, “Swiper, no swiping!” 3 times to keep Swiper from swiping their stuff. They have to answer the Troll’s riddle so they can cross the bridge. At the end of the show, Dora and Boots discuss what their favorite parts of the show were and then they let the viewers have a moment to say what they enjoyed.

Decorations

• Start decorating with a Dora the Explorer Party Decoration Package. Hang the dangling cutouts from the ceiling, place the centerpiece on the table, and twist the crepe streamer from the ceiling, from doorways, and around tables and chairs.
• Make balloon bouquets with Dora the Explorer foil balloons, solid color latex balloons, and tie them together with curling ribbon.
• Set your party table with Dora the Explorer plates, cups, and napkins. Get a Dora the Explorer Express Party Package to begin decorating your table. Add party favors at each place setting so the children will have something to do while waiting for the cake to be cut.

Food
CAKE: Cake or cupcakes have to be at a birthday party. You do not have to be a baker to make the cake or cupcakes look amazing.

1. Order a Dora the Explorer Edible Cake Decoration from Birthday Direct.
2. Buy an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet cake from your local bakery, or make one yourself.
3. Follow the instructions for applying the edible cake decoration to the cake, or take the decoration to the bakery and let them do it for you.
4. The easiest way to cut a cake is with dental floss because knives can get very messy and tear your cake decoration.
5. Add a decorative Dora and Boots Candle on one side of the cake and you’re done!

Star Sandwiches: Put a spin on the traditional style sandwich and make them look like the stars that Dora and Boots catch.

1. Toast 4 slices of whole-wheat bread and then cut each one with a star-shaped cookie cutter.
2. Spread peanut butter on each star, but only on one side.
3. Decorate the stars with raisins, dried cranberries, cherries, slivers of carrots, and any other dried fruit that you would prefer.

Adventure Mix: Pack a healthy snack for each explorer.

1. Order Dora the Explorer Treat Bags from Birthday Direct.
2. Fill the treat bags with trail mix and add some more dried fruit.
3. This will energize the explorers on their journey home.
4. You can also fill twist tight cups with a fruity drink or water.

Games

Jumping Bean:

1. Play Mariachi music.
2. When the music starts the children should start jumping like jumping beans.
3. Stop the music at random and at this time the children should be perfectly still.
4. The children that are still moving are out.
5. This continues until there is only one child left.
6. Award each child who is out with a sticker. Give the winner the grand prize, a Dora the Explorer Prefilled Goody Bag.

Pinata Fun: Pinatas are great fun and a good way to add a little more decoration to your party.

1. Hang your Dora the Explorer Expandable Pull String Pinata by strong fishing line in a designated area.
2. Let each child take a turn pulling a ribbon on the pinata. Continue this in turns until the trap door opens and the treats fall out.
3. Play up beat music.

Guess What is in the Backpack.

1. Place objects inside a purple backpack. Use items with different shapes and texture. These items can also be the prizes: bracelets, bubbles, whistles, plastic shapes, and silly straws.
2. Sit the children in a circle.
3. Pass the backpack around the circle on child at a time.
4. The children feel the item and try to guess what it is. If the child guesses what the item is correctly then they get to keep it. If not, then pass the backpack on to the next child.

 

BIRTHDAY PARTY PLANNING TIP
Taking lots of pictures and videotaping parts of the party is very important. Don’t feel like you have to tape every second.. Just the highlights. You will miss out on the fun if YOU are the photographer and videographer. Singing the Birthday Song, eating the first few bites of cake, and a shot of all the guests will be a fine memory. As the years go on, you may want to make a DVD with bits of each party streamed together. What fun it will be to see your child as they grow!

If you feel comfortable, let the kids take some pictures at the party with a digital camera. You may be surprised to see some good shots from a child’s viewpoint. And… it’s easy to delete bad shots.

 

WHERE SHOULD WE PARTY?
Why not rent the local ZOO for the day? Well, if your budget is somewhat limited..How about a local recreation center? They are inexpensive and you don’t have to worry about cleaning up. Do you have a big basement or living room? Just move your furniture out for the day. Put up anything that may be accidently broken. Remember, birthday parties ARE fun!

 

BIRTHDAY PARTY PLANNING IDEAS
You could hire a birthday party planner to put together all your kid’s parties… But it really is not that hard to do yourself. There are so many ways of having a fun birthday party full of great memories without spending alot of money. FUN is the key word. You know your child, and what he/she likes. Let them be the major planner. It is THEIR party. Of course setting ground rules is important. But let them choose the pattern. Birthdaydirect has so many kids favorite characters and theme party ideas. Shop with your child and let them show you their favorite ones. Let your child pick their favorite friends to come to the party. Let them help with what kind of food should be served. They will remember the planning, as much as the party, if YOU allow them to help. One more tip… If you can get someone(maybe gramma, auntie, or dad) to commit to helping you set up, help kids during the party, clean up spills, take extra photos, and help you clean up afterwards, it would be great. YOU need to have fun at the party too with your child.

Let’s start shopping for your party at BirthdayDirect.com!