Purple and Green

For a party that’s filled with love, throw a Barney birthday bash. Young children love everything about Barney. They love his bright purple and green colors, his music, his high pitched voice and his stories and ideas. Though some adults aren’t as keen on the big, purple dinosaur as their kids, he is a great educator of young children. The Barney phase won’t last forever, so you may as well make good use of it now.

Barney birthday hats, loot bags, paper plates, drinking cups, napkins and balloons are available at party stores. If you want to go all out, buy purple and green cutlery. While you’re there, pick up purple and green streamers for a great Barney effect.

Loot Bags

Loot bags can include miniature Barney figurines, stickers, purple and green crayons or markers, pencils, finger puppets and refrigerator magnets. You can also include Barney coloring books and puzzles. Search for all of these Barney items and more when you visit the party shop.

Games

Games for a Barney Bash are simple, but will delight young children. Barney Bone Drop is a terrific game for all ages. Have the children line up, and then give each ten clothes pegs. Have the child stand over an empty jar that has the lid removed and try to drop his clothes pegs into it while standing perfectly straight. The child who gets the most clothes pegs into the jar is the winner.

Just for Fun

For fun, have a Barney sing-a-long. There are hundreds of Barney videos and CDs on the market. The kids will love singing along with their favorite dinosaur and it is a good way to keep them occupied while you plan the next activity.

Outdoor Fun

If you’re having an outdoor party, let kids take part in Barney’s favorite activity – finger painting. Have the kids sit on the patio and give each of them a large piece of newsprint. Supply purple and green paint. Let the kids use their imagination and have lots of fun. Be sure the paints are water soluble in case they get them on their clothing. When the kids have finished their creations, let them jump into a large, inflatable pool. It’s easier to dry them off than it is to help each child clean up separately. Use the garden hose on the patio for easy clean-up.

Another game to play outside is Barney Egg Toss. Divide the kids equally into two lines, facing one another. If there are an odd number of guests, have a grown up fill in so all children get to play. Hand each child in one line an egg, straight from the refrigerator. The child facing him is his partner. When you give the signal, the partner with the egg tosses it to his partner. The goal is for the child to catch the egg and toss it back without breaking it. If a child misses an egg, or breaks it when he catches it, he is out. Repeat this routine until there is only one set of partners left in the game. Then, have these two kids toss the egg back and forth until one of them drops it. The last person remaining is the winner.

Prizes

Prizes for the games can include a Barney coloring book, Barney reading books, Barney posters or small miniature dinosaurs in green or purple, purchased at a dollar or discount store.

Food

Now that the kids have had lots of fun, it’s time to feed them. What’s on the menu? Brontosaurus Burgers (hamburgers,) T-Rex chicken fingers, Dino Egg Pizza and Dinosaur Bones (pretzels.) Serve Lava Punch (red fruit juice) as a beverage.

Birthday Cake

Every birthday bash needs a cake. Make a cake in a bundt pan. Make a pudding and color it with red food coloring. When the cake is cool, cut out a small area in the center and pour in the pudding, letting it flow down the sides of the cake to represent lava. Place chocolate shavings around the bottom of the cake for dirt. Presto! You have a Volcano cake. When you serve it, be ready for screams of delight from every child present.

If you’d rather serve something rather than cake, the alternative is Tar Pit Pie. You will need:

1 package of chocolate cookie, similar to Oreos

1 pint of chocolate ice cream

3 tablespoons of melted margarine

Purple and green candy dinosaurs

Place the cookies in a plastic freezer bag, squeeze out all the air and close securely. Then, crush them with a rolling pin.

In a mixing bowl, combine ¾ of the cookie crumbs and the margarine. Pour the mixture into a metal pie plate and press firmly to the bottom and sides of the pan. Place in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Soften the ice cream in a mixing bowl. Stir with a large wooden spoon. Mix in the candy dinosaurs. Scoop the softened ice cream into the pie crust and level it. Sprinkle the remaining cookie crumbs over the top. Set in freezer for approximately 2 hours. Take out when the kids are finished their main course and serve.

Dinosaur Piñata

When the meal is over and face and hands have been cleaned, it’s time for the grand finale. The kids will jump for joy when they see the dinosaur piñata. Have them form a line, birthday child first, and take turns whacking the piñata with a long stick or removable mop handle after being blindfolded. Be sure to keep all the guests away from the child with the stick.

When the Party is over

When the party is over and parents start arriving to pick up their kids, stand at the door with the birthday child. As the kids file out, have him give them each a loot bag and their finger paint art. Make sure he thanks them for coming and for the gift he received.

The Barney birthday party will be a great success and it is a reasonably priced party to host. Have fun and as soon as the party is over, start thinking about what next year’s party theme will be.

External Links:

• Kids Party Fun - This site offers a party planning guide, party themes, fun and food, games and activities and helpful hints.
• Birthday Direct - Ideas, tips and more ideas for a toddler's Barney birthday party