Last summer, I bought my niece, who is almost 3, the Candy Land board game. She LOVES it! I was especially surprised that she loved for me to read to her the Candy Land story inside the box about all of the characters on the board. This is probably her first real game, like it was for most of us, and she loved having a player and moving it along the board. The concept of moving forwards and backwards was interesting for her, and she adores the game.
Often, a great idea for a thematic kids’ party is to look around and see what your kid’s favorite games, toys, and stuffed animals, are, and build a party theme around them. Candy Land would make a truly fun and darling party theme for kids under age of 5.
Here are some ideas to bring your Candy Land party to life:
-For your invitation, buy large lollipops and attach a bright colored card with a satin ribbon. On the card, provide all of the party details and hand-deliver them. If you don’t want to deliver sweets, draw a large lollipop and attach a pipe cleaner for a stem. On the lollipop, provide the party details.
-For party decorations, use your child’s favorite primary colors for the balloons, streamers, and tableware. Mix and match colors. For the table centerpiece, have a large colorful bucket filled Cheerios, and stick in large lollipops. If it is a beautiful day, make your own Candy Land path to your front door with different colors on each place. (If it is bad weather, put the Candy Land path around your party area.)
-One of the best ways to organize this party is to have the guests visit each area of Candy Land, where they will do a game or activity. As you reach each station, read out the infamous description on the box before you do your activity.
-As you start off, place a rainbow of balloons together for the kids to walk underneath as they begin their journey. Given it is the start of the game, have a rainbow taste test. Blindfold the kids and have them taste a variety of things, such as white sugar, lemon juice or lemon drops, orange carrots, etc. The taste test can be anything you want to put out, but make sure it utilizes those bright, primary colors. With the kids blindfolded, it will be a real surprise!
-For Gum Drop Pass, have a big jar full of gum drops, and let the kids take turns guessing how many gum drops are inside!
-For Mr. Mint, have the kids enjoy a relay race using a spoon and a peppermint. Divide the kids into two teams and have them race back and forth to see which team can finish first without dropping the peppermint!
-For the Licorice Castle, have the kids make licorice bracelets. Use thin black and red licorice for the bracelet and let the kids string on colorful Cheerios for edible bracelets. Yum!
-For Grandma Nut, make sure the kids have no peanut butter allergies, and if they can, give each child a spoonful of peanut butter and see who can finish it first.
-For Gloppy, have the kids finger paint their own masterpiece with chocolate. They will love this, but be prepared for a mess!
-For Queen Frostine, have a crowning ceremony for the birthday girl, if you are celebrating for a little girl, and provide her with a cape and a crown! If the party is for a little boy, crown him King of Candy Land! Give out fun Ring Pops during the crowning event!
Other fun ideas:
-Let the kids make their own Candy Land house using graham crackers and frosting as glue. Provide all sorts of candies for the kids to decorate their homes with.
Play the Candy Land game! (Gather enough games from neighbors and friends so everyone can play at the same time.)
Make a large circle of Candy Land pieces, and let the kids walk around on the game “board” set to music. When you stop the music, call out a color and the child on the color is out. Play until only one child remains.
-Play King Candy Says like you would play Simon Says
-Play Licorice, Licorice, Lollipop like Duck, Duck, Goose
-Play Queen Frostine May I? like Mother May I? (Let the birthday child be queen or the king.)
-Have the kids decorate giant gingerbread boys with frosting and candies.
For your menu, make sandwiches, cookies, and Jell-O Jigglers cut out into candy cane and gingerbread man shapes. Also, rainbow-colored goldfish, carrot sticks, pudding cups and chocolate milk. Serve peppermint ice cream at this party! A batch of cupcakes topped in a rainbow of colored candies colors would be so fun too.
For favors, the possibilities are endless: the kids can take home candy, of course, or a bright box of crayons and a Candy Land coloring book or printable pages.
