Game-Theme Birthday Parties: Twister, Soccer, and More!

By Amanda Kingloff and Taryn Mohrman
Satisfy a sports and games fan with a fun theme party. We've got ideas for a Twister-theme bash, a bingo party, an "I Spy" adventure, and a soccer-theme affair. Each theme has decoration ideas, food, favors, and more. Game on!
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Twister Party: Set The Theme

Heather Weston

Some games never go out of style. Polka-dot your house and watch the kids twist and shout!

Greet your guests with dots, dots, and more dots! Create 8-inch dots in the four Twister colors by using a handy circle cutter. Adhere them to the floor and wall with painter's tape. Craft multiple garlands using circle punches, glue dots, and fishing line.

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Twister Party: Activity Idea

Heather Weston

Get all tangled up in a game of Twister. Then, play freeze dance to songs that contain the word twist.

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Twister Party: Dessert

Heather Weston

The dots on this cake are just rolled-out fruit chews.

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Twister Party: Favor

Heather Weston

Dip twisted pretzels in melted white chocolate, then sprinkle with blue, red, yellow, and green sugar.

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Soccer Party: Set The Theme

Peter Ardito

Raising a budding goalie or centerfielder? They'll get a real kick out of this soccer-theme birthday party.

Turn party hats into wearable orange practice cones.

What you'll need: Orange cone-shaped party hat, orange cardstock (to match hat), scissors, tape, hot-glue gun

Make it: Cut an 8-inch square from cardstock. Make a 5 inch slit in the center of the square and a 1/2 inch diagonal slit at each corner. Fold the edges of the square under and tape securely at corners. Feed the string of the party hat through the slit in the center of the square and secure underneath with hot glue.

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Olympic Birthday Cake

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Activity Idea

Peter Ardito

Play games like sharks and minnows and monkey in the middle with an outdoor soccer ball and a little running room.

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Soccer Party: Dessert

Peter Ardito

Top a cupcake with Oreo's 100-calorie cookies, then pipe lines to make an edible soccer ball.

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Soccer Party: Favor

Peter Ardito

Kids can play coach at home with a metal whistle and a mini soccer ball from a party store.

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I Spy Party: Set The Theme

Peter Ardito

A life of espionage awaits your little spy -- give them a memory that will last forever with fun theme birthday party.

Get kids into mystery-solving mode with a detective-theme invite.

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I Spy Party: Activity Idea

Peter Ardito

Have kids inspect a tray of items, then see who can remember the most when it's out of sight.

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I Spy Party: Dessert

Peter Ardito

Bake and serve peanut-butter thumbprint cookies.

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I Spy Party: Favor

Peter Ardito

Magnifying glasses make an exploration favor. (We found ours at learningresources.com).

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Bingo Party: Set the Theme

Peter Ardito

It's game time with one of the world's most popular games -- Bingo!

Make napkin rings and cup stickers with the guest of honor's initial and age. Serve it beside a pate with a bingo sheet ready to go.

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Bingo Party: Activity Idea

Peter Ardito

Label kids with a bingo belt. When his number is called, he moves forward one step. First to reach the end wins.

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Bingo Party: Dessert

Peter Ardito

Dip doughnut holes in white chocolate and pipe on letters and numbers.

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Bingo Party: Favor

Peter Ardito

Give kids a bingo game to play in the car. (We found ours at amazon.com.)

Originally published in the May 2010 issue of Parents magazine.

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