Going to be
at Fun Plex for someone's birthday? Celebrate throughout the day
with these fun ways to keep the birthday fun going!
These ideas
are sponsored by the Great Dollywood Adventure Challenge - Watch
the video below for details!
Surprise the
birthday boy/girl with special 'guests.' Do not tell them about
your plans to invite one or more of their friends to join you/him/her
at Fun Plex. Make it seem like a family trip. Arrange to meet his/her
friend(s) AT Fun Plex. It will feel like an added gift to see their
friend(s) there when he/she wasn't expecting it!
Plan
a fun scavenger hunt throughout the day at Fun Plex. There are
all different types of scavenger hunts to go on, each with a
different format. Although for some parties having different
teams compete with each other can be a lot of fun, for someone's
birthday when there is one person to honor, it's typically best
to have everyone on the same team - everyone gets to help the
birthday boy/girl be successful when one person wins, they
all win! These can be a lot of fun to create, but can take some
extra work to make creative (sometimes you'll need more than
just a list to excite some teens, for example.) Consider our
GREAT
ADVENTURE CHALLENGE AT Fun Plex - a package for them to
open once there filled with all kinds of puzzles and things
to do! CLICK
HERE to learn more!
Pick different
events that happened in the birthday boy/girl's life - events that
happened somewhat close to each other. For example, different sets
might include: (first tooth, crawled, sat up) or (learned ABC's,
ride a bike, poured his/her own milk). This will work for adult
events as well including (first girlfriend, first job, broke leg.)
Everyone else there will have to guess the ORDER that the events
happened. Award points as you go and determine a winner at the end
of the day. This is a great activity to play while there are lulls
in the fun (I.e. while standing in lines)
Make a game
out of their actual age number - see how many times you can find
that number throughout the day at Fun Plex. For example, if the birthday
boy/girl is turning 21, everyone must look for the number '21' throughout
Fun Plex. Award one point to the FIRST person who finds a new one throughout
the day and add up the points at the completion. You might find
numbers on height requirement signs, menus, ticket pricing signs,
phone numbers, etc.
Gather a bunch
of trivia to create questions about the actual year the birthday
boy/girl was born. This could be about everything from movies, music,
political leaders/current events and even the price of gas! Ask
a few questions each time there is a lull in the fun (I.e. waiting
in line, etc.) and keep track of who gets the most correct answers
throughout the day. Give a prize at the end for the winner. The
prize could be something special that they get to do WITH the birthday
boy/girl!
Head of times,
write down on small pieces of paper different topics for memories
to share about the birthday boy/girl while standing in line or throughout
the day. For example, you may choose that every 30 minutes a different
person (NOT the birthday boy/girl) will draw a piece of paper out
of a hat - perhaps the first one says "FUNNY." That person
will then share a funny story about the birthday boy to share with
everyone. This is a great way to encourage the birthday boy/girl
throughout the day!
Make up shirts
for all those going to Fun Plex with the birthday boy/girl that say
something fun like "It's Tim's Birthday today!" or "Point
and smile at Tim - he's 18 today!"
Have a stack
of cards already made out by the birthday boy/girl's friends and
family. Throughout the day at Fun Plex (preferably while they are in
line for a ride/show/attraction) hand them a different card. They
will be reminded of how much they are liked and loved throughout
the day by those that weren't able to join them inside the park!
At one point,
buy a helium balloon at Fun Plex. Each person there uses a Sharpie
marker (that you brought with you) to write down something positive
they'd like to wish for the birthday boy/girl for that coming year
(or later in life.) Once everyone has had a chance to write them
all down on the balloon, allow either each person to share what
they wrote or allow the birthday boy/girl to read them all. Finally,
let the birthday boy/girl RELEASE the helium balloon in the air
and watch their dreams sail up and up - where the birthday boy/girl
will 'catch up with them later'!
Sing Happy Birthday
in EVERY line that you wait in. You'll be surprised how often other
folks don't mind joining in the song especially in those longer
lines when there's not a lot else for folks to do.