Ocean Party with Dolphin Birthday Cake

Kelp Bed Decorations for Ocean Party

• Tape multi-colored blue, green and yellow crepe paper streamers to the ceiling of the room the kids will be sleeping in (for slumber parties) or in a play room.
• Open the window or turn on a ceiling fan so the kelp can sway and move in the "currents". Let the kids know they will be sleeping in the kelp bed!

Dolphin Cake

• Using bread dough such as Bridgeford, let dough rise according to directions. Punch down. Shape bread dough into fish shaped blanks and pre-cook for 10 minutes.
• Have each child decorate their fish with pizza sauce, pesto, cheese, pepperoni and any other favorite ingredients. Bake an additional 10 minutes and serve.

Treasure Hunt Game

• Created treasure hunt clip art "clues" from Microsoft Clip Art Gallery and various photos of sea animals.
• Place clip art pictures around the house and yard that hold clues on the back. Clues indicate location of next clue. We had about 30 clues for this age group. Be sure to put out decoy pictures as well to mix things up or add text clues such as Octopus when you have more than one octopus picture up on the walls. Wear out the kids by alternating clues inside and outside, upstairs and downstairs.

Moving Targets

• Hide prizes for all the kids in the final location - we used a bread drawer this time, but a washing machine is also a good hiding place for prizes. We stashed the party favor bags plus some dolphin squirt guns they could play with as the party wound down.
• I even taped one roaming clue taped to my back! My husband caught a photo of Kayden just at the moment she found of it.

Mermaid Decorations

• Strung blue and green colored streamers from the ceiling.
• After covering the table with turquoise tablecloth, we added ocean themed party supplies such as cups, napkins and plates, plus flatware in blues and greens.
• We covered the chairs with blue and green felt. Inexpensive felt yardage is available at fabric stores. We even had dolphin switch plates on the walls.
• Decorated the kitchen walls with an ocean scene imprinted plastic table cover and a turquoise plastic table cover above it. Drew paper fish and used clip art for the finishing touches.
• Hung up a real fish net and "caught" the mermaid in it.

Ocean Party Games

• Water Balloon Races: Mark a course with chalk or orange cones before the fun begins. Have kids race by running a course with water balloons alternately tucked under their chins, under their arms and between their legs. Kids can't touch the balloons with their hands. If the balloon falls and breaks, you're out. If it survives, pick it up and keep going. Big Hit!
• Sand Castle Pit: Fill a 4' round hard plastic kids swimming pool with sand. Add water and supply buckets, spoons and cups as sand castle building tools. Keeps children who are not participating in other events entertained.

Pin The Tail on the Dolphin

• Used Dolphin clip art but mixed things up by using tails from all sorts of animals - mermaid, tiger, horse, whale, peacock, dragon, etc., for the kids to try to place in the correct spot. Very funny results!!

Wildlife Themed Gifts