Have a Children's Tea Party!

Creating a children's tea party is easy and fun. And a great way to teach children etiquette as well as creating lasting memories.

Use the ideas below as a springboard for your imagination. They are intended as suggestions only.

Most supplies can be made at home or purchased nearby inexpensively.

I've also added links below to reputable online suppliers if you'd rather your keyboard 'do the walking'.

If you don't have the time or inclination to do it all yourself, there are wonderful resources online which will provide you with complete party packages.

So feel free to use as few or as many as you want and modify them as you wish.

Invitations
Cut out the shape of a tea pot in white or light colored construction paper. Write the invitation details.

Or take a small rectangle of card stock or construction paper, write your invitation details on it, and glue to an actual tea bag.

Perhaps your little ladies may want to invite Teddy Bear, Dolly, and Grandma as well.

Children's Tea Party Decor
Set a table with a tablecloth and napkins.

If you are having a large party, put everything on two or three tables near where you will make the tea. Then set up smaller tables and chairs around the room.

Paper doilies on the serving plates, bouquets of fresh flowers for your centerpieces add to the tone.

And, of course, you'll want a tea pot; preferably ceramic. If you don't have one, they can be had inexpensively from garage sales and thrift shops.

Activities and Games
For young guests, asking everone to join in singing I'm a Little Tea Pot is a must.

And reading a favorite whimsical story will go over well. Some recommendations are books by Beatrix Potter, Alice In Wonderland, Winnie-the-Pooh.

Arts and crafts activities work well also.

By their nature, children's tea parties lend themselves to playing dress-up. To get suitable clothes (formal, the bigger the better) clean out your closet and ask friends to contribute. Afterwards the clothes can be returned or donated to charity.

Include lots of scarves and jewelry. Long Mardi Gras beads work well for this.

Get lots of inexpensive make-up.

Food and Drink
This is the heart of a tea party. Why, the beverage would be tea, of course. Although if the children are very young, you can substitute punch or other beverage.

Serve food in small bite sized portions. Examples are bite-sized sandwiches filled with egg salad, peanut butter and jelly, or whatever the kids would like. You can use cookie cutters to make them into unusual shapes.

You'll also want to serve small cookies and cakes.