Favors and Food
Favors for a bubble party might include -- what else? -- bubbles! Instead of buying the prepackaged stuff, have fun collecting interesting containers and fill them with a homemade bubble concoction. Your toddler can help decorate the labels. You will find many recipes for extraordinary bubble solutions right here at ParentsPlace.com. Also, fancy bubble wands, bubble toys, even Bubblicious chewing gum make great departing gifts for guests.
For easy appetizers, try some of these delectable treats:
- Toasted ravioli: You can serve these with a tomato sauce. Buy frozen ravioli and dip into raw egg. Roll ravioli into bread crumbs or flour and fry. When done, pop them in a 350 degree oven until warm and bubbly.
- Make your own cupcake: Give each child a cupcake and instruct them to create "bubbles." Toddlers are very visual, so provide them with heaping amounts of colorful icing and sprinkles. Place them all on a platter, marvel at the beauty, and then let them dig in. A piece of advice: Grownups, have your own cake!
- Punchy bubbles: Look around the house for something small and round that you can use to making ice cubes. (In my house, I have large baby Legos with round undersides that are perfect for making ice bubbles.) Next, dump the ice cubes into the punch, and voila, a bowl full of floating bubbles.
Gifts
Keep in mind your toddler's stage of development, and you can't go wrong. Here are some appropriate and fun suggestions:
- Toddlers enjoy stories, particularly when they involve animals with human traits such as Curious George or The Berenstain Bears. During this next year, two- and three-year-olds will be exploring language and developing a keen sense of humor. There's no better time for Dr. Seuss books.
- Toddlers love to dance and musical tapes are always welcome. Try and find one that includes songs from different nations, as this is the perfect age to expose their small ears to the cadence and rhythm of different languages.
- In the year ahead, toddlers will begin to show a distinct preference for make-believe games. Feed this newfound creativity. If your daughter adores horses, give her a cowgirl costume to nudge her imagination along.
- A new jungle gym will be much appreciated by a toddler who will spend the next year perfecting motor skills.
