Throw a Children's Tea Party

Holding a children's tea party is a fun way to have a party for girls and/or boys and can even present an opportunity to introduce children to the custom of tea drinking. Use these steps or just some of the ideas to plan your own Tea-riffic party that is fun, memorable and easy!

Steps

  1. Research a Theme Parties that everyone will like. There are many possibilities, including a Plan a Sophisticated Princess Party, a fairy tea party, a Victorian tea party, etc...
  2. Choose a date and time. Weekend parties held during the day are often easiest for parents and children alike. Choose whether a morning tea party or an afternoon tea party best fits the ages and schedules of the children attending.
    • Hold a morning tea party any time between 10:00 am and 12 noon.
    • Hold afternoon an afternoon tea party any time between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. You could hold your afternoon tea party later if it's a summer event.
    • Try to avoid holidays, including a few days before and after, to ensure guests are able to attend.
  3. Prepare your guest list. Decide how many people you want to invite to your party, and be sure that you have a way to deliver invitations to them.
  4. Make and send invitations. For children, the cuter and more colorful, the better. You may wish to make your invitations match your tea party's theme. You could also use a theme of well-known tea drinkers like the Mad Hatter, or use a teabag or teapot and teacup design for the invitation. Plan to send your invitations out at least two weeks ahead to allow for the best possible turnout. Three to four weeks notice is best.
  5. Shop for your party supplies. Look for decorations and tea party favors, You may also wish to pick up some tea party dress-up items to provide for your guests.
    • Some businesses offer fairy tea party kits, as well as trained party facilitators, to help guide your event. Kits typically include some combination of instructional booklets, Collect Teacups, costumes, games, and fairy trinkets.
  6. Make treat-bags. All children love to take party favors home with them, so consider some of the options below:
    • Small toys
    • Some teabags
    • Cookies or biscuits in the shape of teapots or teacups - these will work as a take-away all on their own if you choose - just decorate them, wrap them in small bundles with cellophane, and tie each bundle with a pretty ribbon.
    • Candy
  7. Decorate for the tea party. Decide whether your party will be indoors or outdoors. An indoor party gives you more flexibility if the weather turns nasty, but an outdoor party gives plenty of space for spills and the release of energy. An in-between space like a patio or pergola might be ideal.
    • Decorate your table with a tablecloth, flowers, pretty tableware and teapots. Use cute plates and cake stands to match the theme of your party.
    • Have place cards if you need the children to sit at precise spots; otherwise, give them the freedom to choose their own seats.
    • Do your decorating the area the morning before the tea party. White or colored lights add a magical feel.
  8. Choose music for your tea party. Search for music with a tea or tea party theme online, like "Tea for Two" or "Tea and Sympathy." You could also choose songs that match your party's theme. Make a Playlist of Your Favorite Songs and have it play in the background for the party. This can also be used for games like musical chairs.
  9. Include tea party related games. Keep your guests entertained with a "Make Your Own Tea Party Hat" station using tea party hat kits found online. You can also use games like "pass the teacup", dress-up clothes relay races, and stacking sugar cubes into a tower. Other games that might bring giggles to your party include:
  10. Prepare the food. The food for the party can include sandwiches, pastries, cupcakes, cakes, biscuits (cookies), candy, fruit, raisin toast, scones, etc. You might also include some of the foods below.
    • Make Fairy Banana Sandwiches
    • Make Chocolate Scones
    • Make Cookie Cupcakes
    • Make Raisin Biscuits
    • Pinwheel sandwiches
  11. Prepare the tea. The type of tea you use will depend on the ages of the children. If they're very young, stick with Caffeine-Free teas and tisanes. For older children, make weak pots of tea. Try some of the teas from the following list.
  12. Help your guests with their tea. If the children are too young to handle hot items, do not give them anything hot to hold or drink.
    • Have toy tea-sets on hand for very young children. They can simply mimic the action rather than participate in any of the tea pouring and drinking.
    • Help with teapot pouring for older children, or provide smaller teapots to make it easier for them to pour for themselves.
    • Have other drinks available for children who don't want the tea, such as juice, water, soft drinks, milk, etc. Serve Make Pink Lemonade or sparkling punch in the teapot for the very young. You can even call it "magic tea" and have each guest say what she thinks your magic tea tastes like (bubblegum, strawberry lollipops, candy canes, etc.).
    • Search "demitasse teacups" to find l Collect Teacups sized specially for children's hands. Children at age five or above have no problem keeping these steady, allowing the host serve the tea.



Tips

  • If the children don't like tea, have them drink milk, juice,etc. and tell them it is "pretend" tea.
  • Make sure you ask each parent what their child is allergic to in the invitations.
  • Take lots of photos, and include one in the thank you notes sent within one week of your tea party.
  • Consider cupcakes, Petits fours, pretty little cookies, bite-sized fruit, peanut butter and jelly cutouts, small cookies, veggies and dip, etc. as opposed to cutting a big cake - it creates less mess, and tea parties usually serve finger foods.
  • Do as much ahead of time as possible - prepare food the day before and steep tea just before guests arrive.
  • If you're part of a church group, Girl Scouts, etc, search "wholesale tea party" on the internet to find items that save money.

Warnings

  • Ask parents about any allergies and for preferences as to drinking Caffeine-Free tea. Let them know as part of the invitation that tea will be offered.
  • Spills will happen; don't make a big fuss about it and embarrass the child. Keep a spray bottle with seltzer water on hand to quickly blot up messes.

Things You'll Need

  • Teapots, teacups
  • Cake stands
  • Food plates
  • Serving plates
  • Serviettes
  • Tablecloth
  • Food
  • Tea
  • Games
  • Party bags and party "loot"
  • Picnic rugs (for children who prefer the ground)
  • Music, music player
  • Thank you notes

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