The book Knick Knack Paddywhack by Paul O. Zelinsky is often a favorite among small children and so this is quite an innovative and inventive theme for a birthday party. If you are thinking about it, here are some ideas to get you moving toward creating your party plan.
Given that the tiny old men pop up from one to ten throughout the book, you can send an invitation that has a number “3″ on it if your child is turning 3. You could use the part of the song, “This old man he played three” and use that as the rhyme on the invitation. It will weave the theme of the party into the invitation. Inside the number 3, provide all of the party details.
This book uses beautiful primary colors; the reds, blues, yellows are wonderful. Decorate with balloons, streamers, and tableware that mix and match these various colors.
When the guests arrive, have the rhyme continually playing in the background. Have the kids make a number badge based on their ages as well. If they are all three, then that will be easy, but given the book uses the numbers one to ten, numbers other than just three would be fine.
Given the book has the child on a walk, if it is a nice day take an adventure walk with the kids around your yard, the park (if you are having it there) or around your neighborhood. Definitely have a list of things for them to find. If it is a rock, have the kids find one rock each, then two leaves each, then three, then four… If this is in your yard you can plant things for the kids to find and have enough items.
Since the old men roll home, you could have a somersault contest and see how many the kids can do in a row.
The fact that the dogs chase bones, you can play “Dog, Dog, Bone” much like Duck, Duck Goose.
Host a relay race with a bone at the end of the race that has to be picked up and taken back to the next kid in line until one team wins.
Have the kids act out the rhyme themselves. They could put on a little play based on it and bring it to life. Since the paper pop-ups are magical in this book, you could also make some paper crafts. Have the kids make their own numbers, bones, or you could lead some paper origami tricks as well.
A copy of the book is a great favor. Attach a little brown bag full of candy bones to the book as an additional treat as well.
Submitted by Lisa Kothari
Lisa Kothari is the Founder and President of Peppers and Pollywogs, a kids’ party planning company. Visit our experts page to read more about Lisa Kothari and our party planning experts.
