- Cars, trucks and trains are a hit with 3-year-old boys.birthday cake image by nTripp from Fotolia.com
Most 3-year-old boys have favorite colors, characters and activities that can translate into winning birthday party themes. Let his favorite superhero, storybook or television characters dictate games, food and favors. Provide preschool-appropriate games and activities to avoid boredom and meltdown. - Choose your 3-year-old's favorite character or television show as a theme, or go with a tried-and-true favorite of the male toddler set. Mainstays include circus and farm animals, pirates, cowboys, construction, knights and dragons; and most anything with an engine such as cars, trucks, trains, and planes.
- Set up face painting, craft and coloring stations based on the party's theme. Hang a pinata in the shape of the highlighted superhero or character and have children bust it open to dispense candy. Provide bags or cups that children
can fill with candy to take home as favors. Simple relay races such as
filling a container with water from one bucket and running to empty it in another will keep children engaged, as will bean bag and water toss games, musical chairs and freeze dancing.
If the budget allows, hire a petting zoo with bunnies, goats and ponies, or haul in a commercial-grade jumpy that can accommodate a group of children. - Fill goody bags with party favors that relate to the theme. Include action figures for a superhero-themed party or stuffed animals for a party with a farm or circus theme. Toy trucks work as favors at a construction-themed party.
- Simple finger foods work well for fast-moving toddlers. Chicken fingers, sliced fruit and vegetables, pretzels and bite-sized sandwiches are easy to prepare and please most toddlers. Avoid choking hazards such as whole grapes. Some items, including chicken fingers and sandwiches, can be shaped with a cookie cutter to fit the party theme. Cupcakes are more toddler friendly than cake since they don't require a fork.
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