Super Weekday Kids Entertainment Discount

I have decided to kick start my first month of full time clowning off with a huge discount for week day parties between 18th August-18th September. Zimbo will be giving whopping discounts off any party booked Monday through Friday during this period.

Hold on, there is more. Zimbo has come up with a special school show for every kids age group between 4yrs-11yrs. Schools can choose what sort of entertainment they want. It can be an educational show or a show of just plain comedy and fun.

Schools will also be able to choose to have Zimbo perform in front of the whole school or class by class.

Discount Details

1hr Magic Show:
Fantastic Comedy Clown Magic Show
Target: Primary School (6-11yrs)
Audience: Whole School (hall activity)
ONLY R700

40min Show + 20min Balloons Sculpting
Comedy Magic Show and Balloons
target: All ages 4-11yrs
Audience: Class Room Shows
ONLY R500

1hr/2hr Private Kids Parties
1hr: Magic Show and Balloons
2hrs: Magic, Balloons and Face Painting
Audience: All Ages
1hr ONLY R500 / 2hrs ONLY R800

Please Note: Above prices are only valid from 18th August - 18th September 2009 and only for shows performed Monday-Friday (No weekend discounts)

It is the schools responsibility to provide sound equipment for performances with more than 50 kids.

Take Care
Zimbo

Party Event & Entertainment Expo - Coca Cola Dome

Expo date: 19-20 September 2009
Visitor Cost: R65 per person

I have decided to attend the Party Event & Entertainment Expo in September this year and encourage everyone in the party industry to participate or attend. Stands are going on sale now and I am sure there will be limited space as the months go by. Parents please book as soon as you can as this will be a gathering of professionals who really know how to put on a party.

The Party Event & Entertainment Expo is a showcase to all party planners and exhibitors to display their products and services at the most prestigious and ultimate party event of the year.

The following kids party & entertainment goodies & services will fall under the spotlight:

• Party & event organisers and planners,
• Entertainers (clowns, magicians , speakers, comedians and face painters and dancers)
• Party accessories (jumping castles, inflatable's, balloons, party costumes, fancy dresses, party food suppliers, , theme décor, sweets, conference & entertainment equipment, promotional items, party stores, favours, carnival masks & masquerade, and countless others.

Expo will be divided into 3 main zones: Let’s Party Zone, Children’s Party Zone & Adult’s Party Zone.

If you would like to be an exhibitor or need more information, please contact Margaret Bartmanski at partyexpo@gmail.com or call her on 011 787 2591.

I am very excited, lets show Johannesburg what a party is all about :)

Take Care
Zimbo

Zimbo Adds Giant Bubbles to His Clown Routine

Clowning Around is delighted to announce an addition to Zimbo the Clowns' already fantastic performance. As of February 2009, I will be introducing giant bubbles into my clown routine as an additional option. When I say giant I mean HUGE. I have finally concocted the right bubble solution to create bubbles large enough to contain your child, that’s right! Your children can be completely surrounded by a bubble in his/her own bubble world. The coolest part… if your children blow while in the bubble, they can create their own stream of bubbles from within the bubble they are standing in.


How does Zimbo do this?
I have created an amazing formula which will only be fully complete by the end of January 2009. With a few very hard to find secret ingredients I will perform a bubble routine for your party that will dazzle all.


How much will it cost?
I have tried to make it as cheap as possible but due to the ingredients not being found locally, I need to cover costs. The show will be included into Zimbo’s one hour routine at an additional R300 per party.


What is included in the show?

• Every child will get a chance to stand inside a giant bubble.
• Zimbo will create some awesome bubbles up to 2 meters in diameter.
• The children can have fun making their own bubbles using many different types of bubble making gadgets.

Does anyone else do this?
As far as I know, Zimbo will be the only bubble performing clown in Johannesburg. :)

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Kids love pony rides and cowboy parties

Why are kids so fascinated by these magnificent beasts? I know adults wouldn’t even consider riding an animal more than five times our size. My guess is that kids don’t even see the sheer size of these creatures; they see right into their hearts and connect to the souls of these animals on a level that adults could never achieve. Children want to love these animals so why not give them the chance to make a new friend?

SA Trail Kids offers all of this and more. Many kids dream of being cowboys or cowgirls. I don’t blame them, you know how much Zimbo loves funky hats and there is nothing cooler than beaten down cowboy hats. SA Trails Kids do it all, when it comes to cowboy theme parties then why not allow a real cowboy to show your kids how it’s done.

Your child will learn how to handle the horses using cowboy methods, a style which has proven to be gentle on horses. Your kids will be spending their day riding ponies on the range of Northern Farms and then head back to the cantina for some tarantula juice and fried rattlesnake (cold drinks and food). Every cowboy comes across dangers in the wild. At SA Trails Kids there is a petting zoo containing snakes, lizards & dragons, geckos and tarantulas. Beware, before the day is done, your kids might be lassoing the family pet or little sister.

SA Trail Kids will cater for your party or you can bring your own food and they will prepare the fire pit to do all of your cooking.

Don’t forget that Zimbo loves to be a cowboy clown so any bookings at SA Trails Kids will get R200 discount off Zimbo’s regular rate. Just be sure to tell SA Trails that you want Zimbo the Clown at your party.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Kids Foam Parties

The trend is here, and in this heat foam parties have become a favorite amongst the kids. As a follow up to last weeks article on Kids Summer Pool Parties, Zimbo is going to give you some inside tips and advice on foam parties.

What is a foam party?
Well its quiet simple really, its like being in a very large bath tub with all your friends. The kids get lathered up with soap-like suds shooting out of a large bubble machine. The soap machine fills up a large pit (jumping castle) with tons and tons of suds.

What type of foam party should I get?
For kids, Zimbo recommends the medium or large foam pit. These pits will keep your kids clean and save your grass. Try to avoid the stand alone machines (the ones without the pits) as these machines can create quite a mess because the foam is not contained and gets to wonder all over your garden or house out of control (you will be amazed where foam can get).

What do I need for my foam party?

• Costumes (your kids won't soak but will get damp)
• Goggles (for those sensitive eyes and under foam exploring)
• Sunblock (beware, just like swimming, your kids will bake}
• The whole family (thats right, foaming is for all ages)

How do I book a foam party?
Foam parties are available all over South Africa. Zimbo recommends X-treme Foam Parties if you are in Gauteng as their service is fantastic, clean and professional.

How much do foam parties cost?
The prices vary, but you can expect to pay in the region of R1800/2hrs for the medium sized units and up to R2500/2hrs for the larger units.

Will Zimbo the clown join us?
If your foam party is the last party on Zimbo's schedule then Zimbo will be more than happy to join in the fun.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Kids Summer Pool Parties

Hello all. Summer is here and Zimbo is more than just a little bit excited. Why? Well summer can offer some of the most exciting, fun and fantastic parties yet. It's time to get wet, cool off a bit and use that summer heat to throw a fun filled party your child will never forget.

Summer parties usually include pool parties, bubble bonanza's and picnic tea parties. Zimbo has kindly done all the work for you and sorted everything out by age, so take a look, maybe you can pick up a few ideas.

Soapy & Squishy Water Balloons.
Pool parties are not just about the swimming (although this is my favourite part). Dash off to the supermarket and grab the following:

• water balloons
• sunlight dish liquid
• a bucket

Now fill up half the bucket with some water and then squirt in about a cup full of sunlight. Fill up the water balloons and then put as many as you need into the bucket. Now get the kids all lined up opposite each other and have them toss the balloons to each other. Have you ever tried to catch a slippery slimy water balloon all covered in soap? The kids will have a blast and may not even need to bath afterwards. Safety Note: rather do this on the grass as the poolside can become very slippery.

Balloon Shaving
What you need to get:

• Balloons (regular)
• Shaving Cream
• Cheap single blade razors
• Poles
• Permanent marker

This one is for the older kids (boys seem to love it a lot more as it can get destructive)
Blow up 10-20 balloons and attach them to a pole (one per pole so that the balloon sits steady on the pole - about the height of the smallest child attending). Draw a face on each balloon and then apply the shaving cream to the balloon to make a beard. Have the children make two lines and get each child to try shave the balloon without popping it. See which team shaves the most balloons without popping them. Safety Note; This game should only be played amongst older kids (age 8-12)as they will be handling razors. Parent supervision is a must.


Baking Baby
This one I saved for the little ones. Beware, this is messy
What you need:

• Very Large Baking trays
• Whipped cream
• smarties, hundreds and thousands, candy worms, marshmallows etc.

Put the baking trays on the grass and fill the trays with a good amount of whipped cream. Place the sweets into the tray and be sure to spray whipped cream over them to hide the sweets. Now, grab the babies and let them explore the very sweet, very sticky baking tray. You will probably notice that they prefer to play around with the stuff rather than eat it as it feels great. The more babies you have the better it is. If you really want to get messy you can add some chocolate sauce. (Be sure to lock the dogs away)

Jungle adventure story
This one can be played with all ages
What you need:

• Lots of junk food like candy worms, marshmallows, sour worms etc
• Lots of things to drink like chocolate milk, creamesoda etc
• Plastic Cups
• Chairs
• Blindfolds

Have the kids all sit in a row with blindfolds on and then allow Zimbo or another adult (if for some reason Zimbo is not at the party) tell the wild jungle story. The story must be said in a mysterious and fun way. You can make up whatever story you wish but the main object is to include the food in your story... eg. You are walking along a long dusty road and you have not eaten for days, you fall to your knees and start to eat the hot desert sand (at this time you give each child powdered chocolate milk - without the milk). As the the adventure continues you can have them eating live worms (you feed them sour worms) or crunchy bugs (you feed them smarties). Whatever you decide, be sure to practice your story before hand. safety Note: Be sure to check with parents to make sure no child is allergic to anything.

Take Care
Zimbo

Simple Clown and Simple Fun

In today's world of kids birthday parties, a lot of weight is put on the parents to go out of their way to make their party the most impressive party of the year... but who is this really for? Believe it or not, the hype of a huge party is usually something the parent has worked their child up to. If the parent has decided that a huge amazing birthday party is the way to go then this is what a child will expect, but be warned, a child's expectation way be much more than what you had in mind. Their imaginations might very well out do yours. This can lead to a disappointment on the child's part when the party is not as WOW as it should be.

Having said this, maybe it is a better idea to keep the party simple. I can assure you that your child will be happy with whatever you decide so long as your heart is into the project and you are not running around like a chicken without a head. Smaller, simple parties allow you to spend more time with your child and less time worrying about the donkey in the flowers.

As Zimbo the Clown I have had much experience in the dynamics of what makes a good party, after all, the kids tell me exactly what they think of a party. I make it a point to ask every child about their day and how much fun they are having. So here are some first hand tips to an awesome, simple, cost-effective party.

First of all make sure there is enough food and make sure you put some out before the party starts. Don't put out all the food at once as it might get chowed before all the kids arrive.

Be sure to get a jumping castle to keep the kids busy as they arrive, if jumping castles are out of your budget then have some soccer balls or hoola-hoops for the kids to play with. Kids want to play the minute they walk in the door, so be prepared. If it is summer then the swimming pool works as a great pre-party activity, blow up a few floating animals and balls and the kids will do the rest.

About an hour into the party is the time for the kids party entertainer to take over. Whether it is a Clown with his wonderful balloons or a Magician with a bit of walk around magic, these are trained professionals who will no doubt keep the kids occupied. The most important tip for the parent is to stay involved with the entertainment. If you look excited then the children will pick up on this and they will have a wonderful time.

After the kids entertainer has met all the kids then allow them to put on the show. Have an area where the kids can sit on the floor and a small table for the entertainer to put his magic or tricks on. It is important that the parents help to control the kids during this time. If a child is trying to get their hands into the magic box then it is the parents duty to put the child in line not the entertainer. The entertainer may tell a joke about a shark being in the magic box, this is a hint to the parents that the child needs to be controlled.

After the Magic Show is a good time to do the birthday cake and sing. Have all the kids gather around the table or even better sit at the table. Have the knife ready... you will not believe how many times the candles are blown out and then mom has to run and get the knife. The clown or magician will be happy to help cut the cake while you click away with the camera.

If you have a Magician then your time is probably up after the cake cutting. If you have hired a Clown then you can go the extra hour and have them do some face painting. Again, have a table and two chairs available for this. Please note that clowns and entertainers do get thirsty so during the face painting might be a good time to hydrate them. Entertainers are not there to eat all the food but a little snack/drink will sure keep him/her fresh and at that point they will very well appreciate it.

After the second hour is up the clown or entertainer will be heading out and its time to start winding down the party. By this time the kids now have full tummies and are probably running around looking like super hero's and princesses. Get the party packs ready as the kids will soon be leaving. Allow the birthday child to open a couple presents or all the presents Play some 'pass the parcel' type last minute games. Last of all let the air out the castle, take a deep breath and smile. You have just pulled off a fantastic party.

Take Care
Zimbo the Clown

Choosing The Right Birthday Party Entertainer for Children Aged 4 - 8 Years Old

Engaging a good professional entertainer for your childs birthday party is almost a sure-fire way of making the party an enjoyable and successful one. But what type of entertainer fits the bill, the most important consideration is the age of your birthday child.

If he/she is between 1- 3 years old you may want to keep things simple. Children of this age are generally unpredictable and there is no cookie-cutter formula on choosing the right entertainer for children of this age. Children of this age tend to have shorter attention spans and varied temperaments. On the other hand kids aged 9 -12 consider themselves all grown up and usually scoff at what they consider kiddy forms of entertainment. But if your kid is between the ages of 4 - 8 then he/she is at an age where they are old enough to understand jokes and enjoy fun-filled interactive games or activities with lots of movement. This makes hiring an entertainer for kids in this age group easier and more worthwhile for all.

When it comes to hiring the entertainer the many people think of hiring a clown. Clowns are bright colourful and perform weird tricks that make people laugh. No clowns are not magicians but they sure have a great time trying to be one. Clowns are also masters of face painting, after all, they have plenty of practice on themselves. Clowns also have the ability to keep children entertained for a longer period of time so keep this in mind if you are planning a fairly large party. Another highlight of any clown is balloon twisting, wonderful colourful balloons that take the shape of whatever your child's imagination will allow.

Another popular choices of entertainers to consider for your kids birthday party might be a magician. Magicians specifically those specializing in children audiences are common choices as kids party entertainers. Good kids magicians perform bright and colourful magic such as producing a huge bouquet of flowers from an empty vase or making colourful handkerchiefs appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. Magic is a popular choice of entertainment for children because it gives the children a sense of wonder where they can suspend their disbelief. When a magician makes an object appear disappear or float in front of their eyes it lets them believe that such things are possible and that they may one day be able to do such things as well. It inspires creativity and wonder that is only lacking in today's modern world. If you looking for a magician check his experience and ask how he intends to tailor his show to cater to your young audience.

Jugglers are fast becoming a popular entertainment choice at birthday parties. Their sublime juggling skills combined with entertaining routines make them a hit not just with the kids but the whole family. Jugglers who perform at kids parties are usually prepared to demonstrate different kinds of juggling skills. They may also juggle with different items such as balls clubs rings and more. Their props are usually brightly coloured to give them more visual appeal as there is nothing more eye-catching than seeing a juggler keep 3 or 4 different coloured balls in the air at the same time. Some jugglers also involve the audience in their routines making the show audience participative and fun for the whole family. It is also not uncommon to see jugglers who combine elements of magic into their show as well. As with magic shows juggling shows require the audience to appreciate the skill that the performer is exhibiting. Younger children may not fully understand or realise a jugglers skill while older kids may tend to get bored after a while seeing the same performer attempt to juggle different things. However a good performer will be able to make his her routines entertaining enough and engaging enough to suit most kids of different ages.

Puppeteers or Ventriloquists add an extra dimension of fun to any party. Kids love to see a funny looking puppet animal telling stories and cracking jokes. Puppets also make the entire show look bigger as it appears that there is a cast of performers rather than just one performer doing the show. This is one of the main reasons ventriloquist shows are a hit at parties.the classic image of a ventriloquist is usually of a performer sitting on a stool with a wooden dummy on his or her lap performing with that character throughout the show. However many ventriloquists these days perform with brightly coloured foam or latex puppets instead and they usually have more than one puppet character in the show.

This adds an element of variety to the show which is crucial for keeping kids engaged. Some performers also add more interactivity to the show by getting the puppets to interact directly with the kids and crack impromptu jokes with them. A ventriloquism puppet show is versatile enough to entertain almost all kids and even adults. Younger kids will be captivated by brightly coloured talking puppets while older kids will be able to appreciate the jokes and interact with the puppets. A ventriloquism puppet show is something that can be a fun for the whole family. The good news is that these days you dont just have to settle for one or the other. There are professional birthday party entertainers who provide multi-dimensional performers. So the next time your kid has a party consider looking for a magician , a ventriloquist, a clown or a expert juggler... the choice is yours!

Why hire a Party Clown for your kids party?

Master party clowns will provide wizardly magic, performing puppets, plate twirling, face painting, juggling shows and more. Clown entertainers supply children (and adults) with a charming birthday party experience that will be remembered for years to come.

A clown is commonly a fantastic option for a Birthday event, but similar anything else you do for your kids - Do some preparation! Check over references, be sure that you understand who you're considering hiring for your Kids Party.

The phrase clown historically stood for "clod" or "buffoon" and was frequently used to refer to a fumbling country "hick", "bumpkin", "Joker" "Jester", "fool," "minstrel," and "mime" Many were gypsys, with no fixed address who spent their times travelling from town to town, some were organized and travelled with Fairs and Circuses, though many were loners who plotted their own course of entertaining the public.

These travelling entertainers were looked upon as being very funny, and comedic actors and before long others copied their styles. During gothic times, these performers began to be known as "Clowns". Whichever term is applied, a clown and his skills to execute eccentric acts of skill in an daring, yet funny style became a important part of modern circus and carnival clowning.

Nowadays, several types of clowns provide us with their entertaining ways. There is the classic circus clown, who provide amusement and laughter as part of a larger show. There is also the child's party clown, who can take on the persona of a sad clown, a clumsy clown, and a party clown for smaller private groups such as birthday parties.

Kids party clowns today are very skilled and cognizant of how to make all the children at a party feel comfortable. They come armed with an array of games, singsongs, dancing and other laughter - inducing Clown fun. Still, some kids do get scared of the makeup and red noses no matter how friendly your party clown may be. You should what the clown looks like before you consider hiring him/her. I'm sure they would gladly send you a picture if you asked.

Article Author: Unknown
www.clowningaround.co.za

Themed parties for children

Is your child asking for another birthday party at the local pizza place or skating arena?? Are you looking for an inexpensive alternative? It's easy to create a fun and unique celebration with a theme party! Here are some ideas and tips to host a successful themed birthday party for your child:

First, ask your child what his/her favorite characters, interests, etc.. are, once you have decided on a character or a theme that you would like to go with, start jotting down yours and your child's ideas. Don't forget to include ideas for: partyware...decorations...invitations....games/activities...party favors...food to serve... and the birthday cake.

You can either choose to go with already made character ensembles, or use solid partyware and make your own decorations, or a little of both.. depending on how creative you are feeling... Whatever you choose you can make your party simple or over the top.

There are so many themes to choose from... or you can even create your own, based on your child's favorite things. Here are a couple of favorites for girls and boys in the following age categories:

Tea party (ages 3-7) Decorate tables with pretty fabric tablecloths and china or plastic tea service...Gather teddybears and dolls and place in the seats in between other guests... provide hats, gloves, fancy clothes and jewelry for guests to play dress up...serve mini sandwiches, cookies, and decaffeinated tea...hand out faux jewelry, ring pop suckers, and a small teddy bear to each guest.

Train Party (ages 2-7) Decorate party area with large cardboard R/R signs...Obtain large appliance boxes and cut and decorate to resemble an engine, box car, and a caboose...this will serve as wonderful decorations, fun for the kids to pretend, as well as, a great photo op. Set up your child's train table (if available), and allow the kids to play to their heart's content. Make hobo bags for lunches: make sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, bag of chips, and an apple for each. Lay out a bandana. Place these items in the middle of the bandana. Pull all 4 corners up and tie. Tie this to a wood dowel rod for each guest. Hand out an engineer cap and train whistle to each guest.

First birthdays: Polka Dot Party....Sesame Street...Elmo...Bob the Builder...Party Pups...Rubber Duckie...Barnyard...Baby Einstein...Daisies....Classic Pooh....Strawberry Shortcake

General Birthdays: Beach party...WWF...Outer Space Party or Star Wars...Clown Party...Train Party or Thomas the Tank Engine...Horton Hears a Who...Magic Show...Wild West Party...Tea Party...Princess Party...Robots Party Zoo Party or Madagascar Party...Circus Party...Hot Wheels...The Incredibles...Mickey Mouse Party...Pirate Party...batman...Spongebob Party...Scooby Doo...Spiderman...Sharktales...Sports Party...Totally 80's...Unicorn Party...Construction Party or Surfs Up..

Clowning Around is a great place to find everything in one place. You can order a complete 'party in a box', or order ala carte.

Things to Consider When Hiring A Clown

When hiring a clown for a party, you want to think about a few things in advance.

Should you have a strolling clown? Is your event a child’s birthday party? If it is an adult’s event, what kind of clown would be best?

A strolling clown wanders from group to group or table to table, creating balloon sculptures or performing simple clown magic. Sometimes they will face paint the children. At no time will they attempt to engage everyone’s attention at once, rather, they can spend a bit more one on one time with the children. The strolling clowns are ideal for events that need entertainment for a longer period of time, where there are large crowds, and where people are not seated and are not all able to pay attention at once, such as a picnic or a large holiday party.

We offer special shows with special rates for children’s birthday parties. The magic is geared to the age group and is usually coupled with balloon animals for each child. The clowns encourage the children to take part in the show, but they’re gentle—they recognize that not all children are ready to be the center of attention.

Our clowns who perform shows for adults require space: a stage is ideal. Their performances are funny, but geared to adults. They often use props, and most of these performances are by clowns with a more elaborate background: vaudeville, clown school, etc’. Time length differs from clown to clown and according to the type of show, but generally the shows last from twenty to thirty minutes. All eyes are focused on them and shows are best for banquets, holiday parties, corporate events…any event when everyone is able to watch at the same time.

Skills vary from clown to clown, and here is a list of some of the things you might expect to see, in decreasing degrees of likelihood: Slapstick Comedy, Clown Magic, Balloon Sculpting, Face Painting, Juggling, Slapstick Acrobatics, Storytelling, Plate Spinning, Stilt Walking, Unicycling, Chin Balancing, Miniature Bicycle Riding, Human Statues, Fire Manipulation, Ventriloquism, Whip Cracking and Targeting, Rope Spinning, Devil Stick Manipulation, Cigar Box Manipulation, Diablo Spinning, Rolling Globe Walking, Rola Bola Balancing, Mini-Trampoline Acrobatics, Tap Dancing, Aikido, and Slack Rope Walking. A few of our clowns have rabbits, as well. No clown has all of these skills, but they can all do a few things, and they are all very entertaining.

Small children: children two and younger present certain challenges to clowns. Balloons inevitably pop and the clown cannot be everywhere at once to keep small children from swallowing latex, which can block passages. Also, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology states that 'estimates of the prevalence of allergy to latex allergens in the general population vary widely, from less than 1 percent to 6 percent’. Either way, the number is high enough to keep an eye on young children who may not have ever touched balloons before. Keep an eye on your children, and the more parents present, the better. In addition, young children sometimes take a little while to get used to clowns when they meet them for the first time. Our clowns are aware of this, and treat them gently. If you’d like your clown to entertain without wearing clown makeup we’ll be happy to accommodate you.

When you are planning your event, if you would like to have the clown face paint, plan ahead. They can face paint approximately 15 faces per hour, (and once one child gets done they will all want to get done!), so if you only have your clown scheduled for an hour and you have 15 children, face painting is all he will get to do for you. If the number of children makes it tight timewise, reserve an additional hour, or hire a face painter in addition to the clown, or dispense with the face painting and concentrate on other fun activities like clown magic, balloons and entertainment.

Book in advance and if you think you may run over or want an additional hour, let us know as early as you can. Our clowns are very much in demand and often book more than one event in a day. If we know you’d like an option to extend, we’ll make sure to allow your clown enough time between jobs to accommodate you should the occasion arise.

Plan A Great Kids Treasure Hunt Party

Kids parties have become the latest craze, and coming up with unique and fun themes and activities for children's birthday parties and other events can be daunting. More and more parents are faced with the need to find new and creative ways to entertain throngs of classmates, neighborhood friends, and siblings of various ages.

One simple, low-cost, and very popular way to entertain children at any kind of celebration or gathering, indoors or out, is with a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. A treasure hunt is the one party game that truly promotes interaction, naturally evokes squeals of excitement, and leaves your party guests with lasting memories of their adventurous day at your child’s party.

What if your child doesn't want a pirate-themed party? No problem! Treasure hunts aren’t just for pirates. Tradition has dictated that pirates are the great treasure hunters, but the fact of the matter is treasure hunts are loved by boys, girls, and grown-ups alike, and make a great addition to any party theme. Treasure hunts can be simply adapted with a storyline and a variety of decorations to fit into any party theme. This is the one area of planning where your child might already have a very clear idea of what they would like, and it would be wise to involve them in this decision, as it makes the party their own.

To adapt a treasure hunt for a princess-themed party, for example, you might announce that someone has stolen the princess's jewels, and whoever finds them by following the clues will be rewarded with a share of the loot. You place a jewelry box overflowing with plastic beads, candy necklaces and rings, and other gem-like treats in the center of the party table, and have someone sneak the treasure away during the party before making the announcement. Other themes and decorations might revolve around the latest TV cartoon characters, superheroes, pop idols, a holiday, or your child might want to create their own theme.

That being said, be careful not to fall into the parent trap of spending a small fortune buying themed party goods. Consider purchasing just a few themed bright and colorful decorations and/or centerpieces, and then either complement them with less expensive coordinating party supplies and decorations, or make your own -- there are plenty of great fun ways to put you and your child's artistic talent to work to customize your party.

Some crafty ideas kids may love making or having at their party include authentic-looking weathered pirate treasure maps, princess crowns and jewelry, spyglasses made from paper towel rolls, pinatas (handmade or bought), cardboard hooks inserted into the bottom of styrofoam cups to wear on their hands like Captain Hook, paper or felt decorated pirate hats, and bejeweled and personalized loot bags, to name only a few.

Although it requires some time, creativity, and resources, you can make and stage your own treasure hunt game to play as a group or competitively in teams. Design and hide 10 clevel clues that lead players step-by-step from one clue to the next, hidden amongst common objects, to ultimately discover the hidden treasure, which might be sacks of “loot” consisting of candy such as chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, or party favors, toys, and other items valuable to children.

Alternatively, if you're short on time, money, and party ideas like many busy parents and party planners, online sites such as Treasure-Adventure.com offer affordable complete treasure hunts with pre-made custom clues full of rhymes and riddles that kids love to solve, the design of which can be the most time-consuming and difficult part of preparing a treasure hunt.

Use creativity to build your party further around the hunt for a truly fantastic and memorable party that your child and his or her guests will talk about long after the party is over. Although the treasure hunt will likely be the main attraction since it is the most action-packed and engaging, don't necessarily limit other activities that might complement the hunt such as a cannonball toss using bean bags or water balloons, "Walk the Plank" using a shallow pool full of plastic alligators and snakes, pan for gold using gold spray-painted rock nuggets, dress in costumes, hold a peg-leg relay, make a castle or pirate ship out of an appliance box, play "Blackbeard says," etc. -- the sky is the limit!

Treasure hunts are also not just limited to children or birthday parties, but are perfect for family fun night, slumber parties, classroom parties, picnics, and other group events. Treasure hunts bring parties alive with hours of challenging and fun entertainment, with the thrill of the hunt along with the solving of puzzles often being the most enjoyable and memorable part of the day. And don't think you can't top your last party. By using a variety of themes, new treasure hunt clues and decorations, and a little creativity, you can throw many more successful and unique parties for years to come that never go out of style.

“If you're up to the challenge, spyglass and compass in hand, yer prize is in sight, so let the adventure begin!”