Kids party ideas for South Australians on a budget as Frozen 2 and Star Wars rise in popularity
More ‘Frozeners’ and ‘Warzians’ are being born with the release of Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But hosting a kids party doesn’t have to cost a lot to get the Insta-wow factor.
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A new generation of ‘Frozeners’ and ‘Warzians’ is being born with the release of Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Party supply stores are stocking up on new merchandise to deal with a surge in demand for everything from confetti Elsa balloons to Darth Vader piñatas.
Kirsty Chapman-Smith, owner of Adelaide’s Discount Party Supplies store, said “there has been an influx of demand for everything Frozen 2.
“There is a new range of supplies and it is certainly selling well,” Ms Chapman-Smith said.
The latest range of Frozen 2 party favours are a bestseller for birthday parties. They include hair clips, crayons and bubbles for as little as $2.99 for a pack of eight.
“Parents aren’t wanting to give out all that sugar, they’re being more thoughtful and creative about what they give out,” ” Ms Chapman-Smith said.
Chapman-Smith said Star Wars was continually a popular theme for parties – but kids still loved the evergreen subjects.
“Absolutely, demand goes by the popular movie themes but evergreen subjects including animals, superheroes or unicorn are still more popular,” she said.
South Australian parents are spending thousands of dollars on kids parties – especially for milestone birthdays.
Balloon garlands are very popular at the moment, but can be expensive to order.
“Parents always want to make a big deal about first birthdays,” Ms Chapman-Smith said.
“The other big milestone events we see are five, 10, 13 and 16 years.”
Adelaide mummy blogger Belinda Jennings from Mum Central says you don’t have to break the bank to get the Insta-wow factor.
Her advice is don’t spend and arm and a leg on cake, catering and decorations when you can easily do it yourself at a budget.
FAKE THE CAKE
Buy a couple of basic round cakes and stack them on top of each other.
Layer with butter icing and you have the perfect base to create whatever you like.
Ombre icing is on trend; divide to three layers of icing and more or less drops of colour.
Or simply decorate with your child’s favourite sweets and toy figurines.
“I’m not very crafty but the best I’ve done is when I get a plain base,” Ms Jennings said.
Cupcakes are always a winner and kids have fun making them too. Grab a mix for under $5 from your local supermarket.
Alternatively head to the frozen food section and grab an ice cream cake for under $15.
PICK A THEME
Colour and theme are central to making an impact.
Align the tablecloths, plates, cups, serviettes and party favours with the subject and shade of your child’s choice.
“For little kids colour brings excitement, so I always go for bright colours,” Ms Jennings said.
Balloons are always a winner but the cost of helium balloons stacks up.
Jennings advice is buy a helium tank kit from any good party section.
And if you don't use all the balloons at once, you can get a couple of parties out of it.
“Balloons are always a winner and the kids can take a balloon home after,” Ms Jennings said.
Fairy lights create a magical atmosphere for evening parties.
The most important advice is after the party, pop the decorations into a plastic tub and reuse them another year.
“You’ve got to get savvy about what you see and how you use it,” Ms Jennings said.
CATER FOR YOU
Build your radar in the months leading up to the birthday party.
Traditional party food is always a winner for the kids. If you keep an eye on sale items, you can stock up early and shave off a substantial amount off your bill.
“Kids don’t care, they just want easy eating,” Ms Jennings said.
And don't forget to add some fairy bread on the menu because really “who doesn’t love fairy bread”.
Cold platters are a hit with adults and give that catering feel. Stock up on cold meats, cheese and dips from the deli and add vegetable sticks and crackers.
RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE
Choose a venue to suit the time of the year.
A party in the park is fraught with danger: you need to secure a spot, the elements of nature can be harsh, you need to watch the kids closely and the food may turn foul fast.
Community halls are cheap and you can take your own food and decorations.
Inflatable play centres are fun and fuss free for mum and dad.
“At the end of the day you’ve got to do your homework to save for parties," Ms Jennings said.
“Don’t be afraid to do something that someone else has done”.
For entertainment, traditional party games are always fun including pass to parcel, pin the donkey, musical chairs or “musical pillows if you don’t have enough chairs”, and who wouldn’t want to take a bite of a doughnut on a string.