Hosting a birthday party has many dimensions to it. The first decision would be the guests you can invite; then, send out invites, choose a festive theme, order the food and the drinks, and then be a great host!
Don't buckle under that pressure, but try to think of what would make your child happy. That thought will always lead you in the right direction. To make this process easier, let us now take you through hosting a very interesting party that the kids will never forget for long!
Fort building is one of the great means of engaging kids in creative ideas and teamwork while making spectacular interplay and festive memories.
This idea would certainly win the hearts of variously interested children and kids of different ages. It is also very flexible, allowing you to alter it to fit better with the birthday child and what they like, as well as fit the guests for your party.
If you're looking for something a little different that's sure to be interactive and want to create lasting memories, then a competition to build the best fort is a sure winner!
Step 1: Fix a theme
A great birthday party begins with a great theme. You don't need to be an event planning expert to get this right. Just include the birthday child in deciding the theme.
Ask if they want a Disney princess, superhero, or a dino-mite birthday, or perhaps they like a theme that might correspond to one of their passions or hobbies, such as Legos or rock collecting. Then, you can change up the fort building with your theme.
If you're interested in superheroes, they could build a fortress that looks just like the hideout of their favorite superhero. If you're having a nature theme, then you work with them to build cabins in forests or animal dens.
The choices are endless, and adding a theme to building forts adds another exciting dimension to the day.
Step 2: Party Favors, Food, and Fun
A few other ideas for snacks that are very popular are hot dogs, sandwiches, or fruit- anything little kids can easily get for themselves while they're doing activities. Consider decorations on cupcakes or a large birthday cake that really ties into your theme when thinking about dessert.
And of course, don't forget party goodie bags. Fill them with small toys, or even thematic items, or mini construction kits so they can continue building a fort at home. Creating special memory-laden party favors that are personalized around the theme will really go a long way in making memories for everyone who comes.
Step 3: Space and Materials
You do not necessarily need to spend a fortune and break the bank just to organize a good birthday party. Look around your house or yard for items to assist in the building of the fort. Kids can make great use of daily objects like blankets, pillows, or cardboard boxes. Stuffies and other toys can even be used to add some personality to the fort for each kid.
Here are some of the basic materials you will need:
- Blankets and sheets as building material
- Cushions and pillows to support the structure of the fort
- Clothespins or clips to hold in place the materials
- Cardboard boxes to provide structural support to the forts
- Ropes and strings to provide shapes for the forts
- Flashlight, lantern, or other light sources fitted with a battery
Create a "fort building zone" for kids. Whether it's an indoor family room or an outdoor backyard, ensure there is enough space for children to spread out their creativity and get busy. Ensure that there are no hazards in the area and that all the kids have fun safely.
Step 4: Building the Fort
After all of the kids have received their materials, it's now the time to tell them the rules. You can be as structured or as relaxed as you wish about organizing a fort building competition. Distinguish how many are in the group and whether it would be more feasible to subgroup the children or have them working individually.
To make the activity a little interesting, you can implement the following types of competitions:
- Timed Builds: Which team is going to build the fastest, most stable fort?
- Creative Builds: Who made the most creative fort?
- Themed Builds: Which of the forts is a reflection of the chosen theme?
Introduce such fun twists as a mini obstacle course or a scavenger hunt with teams needing to fetch additional supplies to enhance their fort. With this, it keeps the energy running high and fun games on. You could also go on to create an even cozier and more magical atmosphere by hanging twinkling lights, lanterns, or glow-in-the-dark decorations in these forts to turn them into an enchanting space. Let the children hang colorful balloons or other items to make it personal.
Step 5: Karaoke Fort Fun
It's something more to spice up your fort building contest, which you can do by integrating a karaoke session into it. Since kids love literally picking up any spoon or brush and are always belting out their favorite tunes, this is an excellent add-on!
Now, use all the materials used in the building of your fort in making a karaoke stage; meanwhile, the sheets and poles are utilized in building the backdrops of the stage. Add a disco ball and two flashlights used as a spotlight for a family karaoke concert.
Don't worry if you can't afford a professional karaoke machine. Several affordable apps or simple radios paired with microphones will do the trick. Get the kids to decorate the stage and perform for their peers. This one combines the fun of building forts with the energy of a birthday party talent show.
Now let’s see how we can turn the fort building experience into a competition.
Option 1. Talent Show or Drama Performance
If your child enjoys being in the spotlight, make it a talent show. Create a fort stage where every participant can show his talents, be it singing or dancing, magic, or telling jokes. Reward prizes for special categories such as "most creative" and "best performance".
If your child is a drama queen, then let them and their friends act out skits or mini plays in their forts. A box of costumes and props can inspire the imagination. A themed fort theater is a surefire hit!
Option 2: Fort Building Science Challenge
If you would like to make this a learning experience for the parents, then you can make the fort-building contest be a version of a science event. Separate them into teams and challenge them to the most structurally sound or the most creatively engineered fort. Assign specific building materials or throw target practice challenges where kids attempt to throw soft objects at the forts to see which ones hold up the best.
Whether timed or judged on creativity, the educational element of the party will be added to the learning side but still keep the fun element at the forefront.
Option 3: Scavenger Hunt and Other Games
Most children love a scavenger hunt, and including this with your birthday party makes it even more enjoyable. You can even use the forts as return points once teams have completed finding all items on the list. It can also consist of a treasure map, and the final treasure hidden inside the fort.
Other games that can be included are relay races, target practice, or an obstacle course. All of these will make sure that party guests are having a blast all day long. Such activities work out as excellent team-building exercises and provide the kids with the opportunity to run around and have their fun.
Option 4: Storytelling sessions
After the construction of the forts, you can also turn the party into a storytelling session so that every child can share an adventure or a story related to his or her fort. This is not only pure fun but also imagination and creativity will make them become heroes in their own stories. These final special touches will leave the kids excited and full of pride over their creations, making this experience one to never forget.
At the end of the day, a big birthday bash is all about creating a day for your child to remember. Hosting a fort-building contest is very memorable for kids as this is a creative activity that brings fun, creativity, and teamwork together with the event assured to be personalized according to the child's interest. Make sure to click candid photos of the event so that you can cherish this memory for times to come!