Have the kids buzz on over to your hive and bee entertained! Join Barry B.
Benson and his pals for a "Bee Movie" party! You're sure to get an A+ for this
honey of a bash that will have all the guests buzzing for weeks!
Bee-vites
You can buy "Bee Movie" party supplies and invites online or at your local party
store, but it's more fun to make your own invitations with your child. Cut out a
large and a small circle from yellow construction paper or craft foam for each
guest. Glue the smaller circle to the top of the larger circle to form the head
and body of a bee. Add black stripes around the body and at the top of the
head with black marker. Glue wiggly eyes onto the head. Cut a black pipe
cleaner into quarters and glue them onto the top of the head for antennae and
at the bottom of the body for legs. Write party details in the yellow spaces on
the body and mail to guests. You can also do this with yellow balloons. Inflate
the balloons (remember not to tie them), write the party details in permanent
black marker, deflate, and mail to your guests.
Hive House
Host the party at your happening hive! Line the walls with alternating strands
of yellow and black streamers. Turn the party room into a hive with floating
bees. Using a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit, blow up a bunch of yellow
balloons, encircle them with strips of black crepe paper, and draw on eyes with
black marker. Make wings from white tissue paper and glue pairs onto the top
of each bee. Float the bees on the ceiling, tie them to the backs of chairs, and
have them greet the guests in a display at the front door. Cover the table with
a bright yellow tablecloth and use black placemats, yellow plates, and black
paper cups. Set out jars of honey with toy bees stuck on top. Sprinkle extra
bees around the table, including some action figures from the film. Hang up
posters of bees or scenes from "Bee Movie." Fill in with party decorations
featuring the film and set the mood by playing the "Bee Movie" soundtrack in
the background.
Be a Bee
When the guests arrive, give them yellow and black striped shirts to wear. Top
them with funny antenna headbands (which you can make at the party). Pin on
wings made from stiff fabric or felt squares and pin on a big black pompom
"stinger."
Games and Activities
Catch a Busy Bee:
Inflate a yellow balloon but don't tie it off. Hand it to the first player. On the
word "Go!" tell the player to release the balloon, chase it and try to catch it
before it hits the ground! Let each player have a turn trying to catch a "bee"
and award prizes to everyone for effort.
Buzz-Buzz, Bye-Bye!:
Divide the players into two teams and line them up. Have them "fly" to the
other side of the yard and back while saying "Buzz, buzz, buzz," then "sting"
the next player in line, who does the same. The first team to finish the race
wins.
Bust a Bee:
Make or buy a bee piñata, fill it with candy or toy bees, and let the kids have a
whack at it.
Buzz Around on a Bee Hunt:
Hide small "Bee Movie" figures around the party room. Divide the group into
teams and have the first players in line put on big gloves. On the word "Go!"
they must hunt for a hidden bee and retrieve it. The tricky part is grabbing the
tiny bees with those big hands!
Refreshments
Honey-Do Dips:
Prepare a variety of fruits, such as apples and bananas, and set out some
cookies. Let the kids dip them into small bowls of flavored honeys (make sure
none of the kids has a honey allergy).
Honey Fun Sandwiches:
Let the kids make their own honey sandwiches with a variety of fillings to go
with honey, such as peanut butter and honey, banana slices and honey, or
cream cheese and honey.
Honey Cakes:
Give each guest a small cake, such as a cupcake or individual angel food cake,
and let them add their own toppings, such as vanilla ice cream, raisins, nuts,
sprinkles, and top with a swirl of honey.
Honey of a Breakfast:
Instead of lunch foods, serve breakfast at the party and include pancakes,
waffles, and toast covered with honey. Let the kids add other toppings, such as
apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, cinnamon, sprinkles, nuts, whipped
cream and cherries.
Bee Birthday Cake:
Prepare cake mix batter and pour into an ovenproof bowl. Bake until a
toothpick comes out clean. Turn out and cool. Cover with yellow-tinted
frosting. Make stripes with black licorice. Use round candies for eyes, and stick
two short licorice pieces into the head for antennae, and one at the back for a
stinger. Add two wings using oval cookies.
Favors
Send the busy bees home with their antennae, the magnetic bees, a sticker
book featuring "Bee Movie," a jar of honey, a bee balloon and some
honeycomb candy or cereal.
Penny Warner has more than 25 years of experience as an author
and party planner. She has published more than 50 books, including 16
specific to parties. Additionally, Warner writes a weekly newspaper
column on family life, penned a column for Sesame Street Parents
magazine and has appeared on several regional and national TV morning
programs. Her latest book, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY, debuted in
February 2010 from NAL/Penguin.
Balloon Time is the leading brand of consumer helium balloon kits
in North America. Balloon Time kits feature a helium-filled tank, latex
or foil balloons and ribbon, and are available at national retail
chains, party goods and grocery stores nationwide.