Back to Three Wishes and a Wardrobe Homepage
Back to the list of party planning advice and tea party recipes!
PRETEND & PLAY TEASPlenty of mothers crave the nostalgia of the tea party... that time in your child's life when stuffed playmates can enjoy a piece of cake from a hostess dressed up to the nines. Starting your own family tradition that can bring you and your child into the land of Make-Believe together is a snap.
Many of these ideas can be used to make your own tea birthday party.
Planning the Tea Table
Prepare for your party with the selection of a tea table first! Preferably a child sized table with nice sturdy chairs is what you are looking for. The best choice is dependent upon the age and height of your children. You want something that is comfortable but also allows enough room for your growing kids to enjoy it for several years.
Generally smaller tables, such as playtables or a child's craft table are the most comfortable. Round is best because it accommodates the most children and doesn't have sharp corners. It is also the easiest table to find cheap tablecloths for.
Quality hardwood tables with chairs can be an investment (from $150 to $600!), however, these tables really do make the moment as they provide a place unique for your child. The more decorated the table (handpainted designs for example), the more expensive. I wonder though how well these types will last considering that many kids will paint, draw and do crafts on these tables.
Other alternatives?
Round table made to be an end table. Round table made to be an end table. These tables can be bought at your local discount retail store (Wal-mart, Target, Kmart etc...) and are made of pressboard. They are designed to be covered completely with a round table cloth but you could paint it.
Decorations and Invitations
The Tea Tray Yummies!
For food suggestions see our other companion article to this piece.
Your Tea Service
A Tea Service for your child with linens and napkins is just a must for that added touch of sparkle. for your child with linens and napkins is just a must for that added touch of sparkle. The type of "service" you choose should be determined by the age of your child, their preferences, how they play, and your home.
Ask yourself these questions before buying a tea service....
SAFETY TIP! Whichever you choose make sure that FOOD CAN BE SERVED on it and liquids can be poured out of it! Especially foreign imports may have labels or coloring that will come off during play.
Look in your own kitchen and you might find a sugar bowl, tea cups and saucers or other lonely china pieces that you wouldn’t mind your children using in their play. Another option is to go garage sale or flea market hunting to pick up lone pairs of non-vintage china.
At some Oneida outlet stores you can find a child-sized silver teapot set.
We have one party mom who has made her own "personalized" china. She buys demitasse cups and saucers of clear glass from Tuesday Morning (a heavy discount glass, linens and gift shop) and than decorates them with a pen made for glass. She puts "Happy Birthday Elaine" and the birthday number for each party she has done and many guests now have a whole treasured set of these!
Tea Service Recommendations
Make sure they are not so small they have pieces that can be swallowed. Sets can be "washed" and used outside more easily without worry.
A note here about buying plastic versus china. Plastic is safer and will put up with far more punishment so use it for the really young child. However, plastic toys are sometimes seen as throwaway items, not something extra special with Grown-Up Importance!
Small doll china sets are available and give such an air of being grown up! Some of the china sets are still the same patterns from since I was a very young girl and usually are in a floral design. More expensive tea sets are based on favorite copyrighted characters such as Madeline, Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit, and others.
A typical set of play china will run between $10 to $25 depending on how fancy you want to get. You can find sets of plastic or china ware at Toys R Us, Target, Kmart, Kiddlestix (in Tulsa), The Learning Tree (in Oklahoma City), and Toy Liquidators at your outlet malls.
For this age pretend teas will be short. Do without food or a simple peanut butter sandwich, punch and cookies will suffice. Mom, Dad, siblings, or nursery guests such as teddy bears and dolls are the guests.
Use this time to teach table manners with napkins, saying please and thank you, and being the "model guest."
Children are ready to handle something breakable. Depending on you and your daughter's interest, you could even start collecting vintage china or decorating your own china which is available at many ceramic stores that offer pre-cast items that can be painted and fired.
Playing house and being like the grown-ups, while playing dress-up is all the rage for this age group. For more on dressup at home, see our companion article.
Kids generally will not drink tea so foods and drink can still be kept simple.
Shop your local flea markets and garage sales for mix-match pieces of non-vintage china. Having a mix-and-match set of china is very "in" and doesn't seem at all inappropriate. Remember to look for mix-and-match silverware too!
Children start to gain a level of sophistication in their play. Gather nicer items to decorate the table, such as crocheted doilies, table runners, and a few fresh flowers. More elaborate invitations can be designed by your budding artist using stamps, colored paper, collages and cuttings from fashion magazines.
Dress-up may still be fun for your child but she may be looking for something else to do with it. Try a craft project, such as paper dolls, making jewelry, or designing a photo frame.
Think she is now too old!? Think twice. What a lovely time to start a tradition of collecting VINTAGE pieces of china she can use in her own room for her special soon-to-be-a-woman girl guests. Children also begin to appreciate the history of the family. If you have vintage items, perhaps you can include them (maybe only when adults are present if need be!).
Tea can become quite grown up with lessons in cooking, preparation, decorating the table, calling cards, and even vintage clothes, such as laces, hats, dresses, and gloves. She also may now be interested in learning more about real tea!
At this age, your daughter may be interested in drinking "real" tea and sampling the many varieties available.
This is the perfect time to implement a craft of some sort or activity. Have you ever thought of doing watercolors or drawing together? Drawing, painting, needlepoint, and music were considered necessary skills of a gently born young lady during the 19th century. Try some genteel, lady-like pursuit, , such as a sewing craft, cooking, painting or reading a favorite chapter of a book (such as Little Women, Winnie-the-Pooh, or something else appropriate to the age group).
Other Resources
Unusual and thoughtful toys but most of all great "craft" projects that would be ideal at a party! Such as tissue paper flower kit (remember those from your childhood?), jewelry and nail art kits, make scented lip balm, hanna body art kits, and make your own "bath blossoms" for a scented bath. These kits would be perfect for a slumber party or older tea party.
