Little ladies and gentleman will love attending an afternoon tea party. Complete with tea sandwiches, bite-size sweets and a chance to get all dressed up, a tea-themed birthday party is fun for kids of all ages.

Decorations
The varieties of teas and snacks you serve should take center stage at your tea party, and you can complement the display with traditional tea-party accoutrements like an old-fashioned tea set.

If you don't have a traditional tea set, head to a thrift shop or flea market to pick one up. You'll want to look for teacups and saucers, teapots, creamers, sugar bowls, sugar tongs and teaspoons decorated in a Victorian style with flowers and golden accents. And don't worry if you can't find a complete set; a mismatched set is just as fun to own.

Really want to go all out with fun and functional tea accessories? Then look for a three-tiered plate stand (for your scones and tea sandwiches), teapot warmers (to keep your tea hot), tea strainers (to keep leaves out of your glass), tea infusers (to flavor a single cup of tea) and teapot bibs (to catch drips out of teapot spouts). All of these special accents will really signal to your guests that it's tea-party time.

A delicate floral tablecloth and small vases filled with bouquets of ivory and pink tea roses make for tea-party decor that's fit for a queen.

Costume Ideas
The ritual of afternoon tea is believed to have begun in the early 1830s, when Anna, the seventh duchess of Bedford, asked for tea and light refreshments one afternoon. She soon began inviting friends to join her, and the tradition spread. Because the elegance of the tea party is part of its charm, tea parties tend to be dressy affairs even today. Floral skirts and dresses make for suitable attire, or you can go all out with formal hats and white gloves.

Tea parties can be especially fun for children because it gives them a chance to dress up. Girls can don bonnets and gloves, while boys look smart and sophisticated in button-downs with little bowties.

Party Activities
Ask kids to help create their own desserts by decorating sugar cookies and cupcakes before the formal tea begins. Gather all the tools ahead of time and arrange cookie dough in shapes before guests arrive. Once they add their own icing and sprinkles, let the cookies bake while the children enjoy their afternoon tea. If your crowd prefers cupcakes over cookies, bake and frost them yourself, then let kids add their own sprinkles and candy toppings.

Food Ideas
Afternoon teas are usually served in stages, from savory to sweet. Start your tea with traditional tea sandwiches like watercress and cream cheese, cucumber on buttered bread, and egg salad. The bread should be sliced or rolled very thinly and the crusts should be cut off. Next, offer scones with Devonshire clotted cream and raspberry, strawberry and apricot jams. Finish with shortbread, mini fruit tarts and madeleines.

Drink Ideas
Black Currant Iced Tea (serves 4)

4 black currant tea bags
4 cups water
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon chilled simple syrup
2 teaspoons raspberry vinegar
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

In a saucepan, bring water just to a boil and pour over tea bags in a heatproof pitcher. Steep tea 5 minutes and remove tea bags. Cool tea and chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour. Stir in syrup and vinegar. Squeeze lime wedges into tea and add wedges. Serve tea over ice in tall glasses.

Party Music