Helpful tips for how to Plan A Fun Classroom Winter Party that's an absolute blast for kids and parents! Activities & Crafts make the best class party ideas!
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The Best Tips For How To Plan a Classroom Winter Party
One of the perks about being a working mom with a flexible schedule is that I have the time to be a room parent. I've enjoyed being a room mom/class party planner for at least one of my kids for the past 8 years.
We play games, create crafts, eat festive snacks, and have an absolute blast with the kids! Now, let's Plan A Fun Classroom Winter Party for your class!
What Makes a Good Classroom Party?
If you've been lucky enough to be selected as one of the room parents for your child's class, you'll want to meet with the other room parents as well as the teacher to find out what your responsibilities will be, then get planning!
From experience, the best format for a classroom party is to choose:
A Craft
Keep things simple and manageable. Test your craft ahead of time to make sure it works! In most cases, especially for the younger grades, it's helpful to have all the supplies organized before the party.
Ideas: Create snowmen with styrofoam balls, pom-poms, and buttons or paper snowflakes.
A Game or Two
Plan a game or activity to work off some energy. Again, simple is best. Testing it beforehand is also helpful.
Ideas: Snowball throwing with cotton balls, bingo, relays, or freeze dance.
Some Fun Snacks
Tip: Plan snacks that carry out your holiday theme, and don't plan too many choices because they will likely go to waste.
Idea: Graham Houses Houses
Then divide the kids up into groups. The kids can take turns rotating through the stations for a super manageable party. Leave a few minutes in your schedule to transition between stations.
As a general rule of thumb for any class party, the following food is recommended:
- A sweet treat, something healthy like fruit.
- A drink.
- plus, include all the necessary items to go along with the food (water cups, drink boxes, plates, napkins, utensils as needed).
Graham Houses For a Classroom Party
The best idea that's ALWAYS the hit of the winter party is simple gingerbread houses made from wholesome Graham Crackers. These Graham houses are an easy way to keep the kids engaged while making something yummy, they get to eat!
SUPPLIES
- Graham Crackers
- Frosting for "glue."
- Wilton Melting Chocolate
- Colorful Candy or Cookies for Decorating (marshmallows, sour patch kids or milk chocolate candies, gumdrops)
- Paper Plates
- Plastic Utensils for Spreading Frosting
Prepping To Make Graham Houses
To get each child ready with what they need to make their house, prepare plates with the Grahams and frosting before the party starts. Place small bowls with candy embellishments to share at the station.
Hand the student a plate, and they're on their way to a fabulous creation! It speeds up the process once kids get to the graham house-making area.
Graham houses work for any age. Older children who've started geometry can calculate their creations' area, perimeter, and volume.
In comparison, younger children can make smaller, but oh, so adorable, one-dimensional houses on their paper plates.
Bonus Tip: Graham houses are also the perfect family tradition to make over the winter break! No classroom required!
Additional Tips for a Successful Classroom Party
When you're planning to bring food into the class, make sure to first check with the school and/or teacher for guidelines about store-bought vs. homemade treats. The allergy factor of individual children seems to be setting the tone for classrooms and entire school party menus. Be safe. Check first.
Once your party plan is complete, recruit volunteers to help and assign them a task. This should be the easy part. Most parents love to see their child during a special day at school.
Leave the classroom as clean, if not cleaner than when you arrived.
Have another parent take pictures of the event so the kids and parents can cherish the moments later. Post the pics on the class blog, webpage, or eNewsletter so parents who couldn't make it can see how much fun everyone had!
It's a good idea to also have printable games or puzzles on hand, just in case you need to fill some time if kids finish a station early. Usually, though, we end up with way more fun than there is the time!
Most of all, have fun!
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Yvonne says
My little boys would absolutely love to try this out, I can imagine the fun we will have! Such a great idea and one where they can really get involved. Love it x
Erin says
Kids really love this simple and fun craft idea. We're getting ready to do it in my daughter's class just before winter break. Glad you like it!
Nikki says
Erin, when the kids were little we made these little houses, the graham crackers make it so easy and fun. We loved having different types of candies for the decorating, the kids had a blast. I wish I would have gotten pictures of their frosting and sprinkle covered faces. It was a blast!
Erin says
Class parties are a treat for me. I love watching the kids party and play. These houses are always a big hit! I'm sure your kid's frosting and sprinkled covered faces were adorable.