How To: Polar Express Party

Our family waited eight months for our shipment, which finally arrived last week. I decided to throw a little party for all our new friends and kids. (Exactly one week after the movers dumped 50 boxes on us) It seemed like a bright idea, and as I looked through all our boxes, it dawned on me that the last party we had was eight months ago when we celebrated our daughters ^third birthday and our farewell party all in one go. I am a bit like Martha Stewart,I love parties and turning my house into a home. So eight months was too long ago.

After watching the “Polar Express” in the summer, in a bid to cool down. I was committed to having a “Polar Express” party in our new home with our old things. My daughter could not have been more exited and wanted to change the theme to “Paw Patrol.” But I did not give in, as this is not her birthday. I also secretly already made a “Polar Express” Pinterest board.

This is a last minute party, thrown together with things that I already had in the house, a trip to Jinkelong supermarket, and Jenny Lou’s. In each store, I try to source some thing, like cool straws, paper plates and muffin cases. These things don’t go bad and can be transported across the globe like I just did.

A simple step by step guide to a painless last minute kids party

1.Invite Parents and Kids to the Party

This is very easy by creating a WeChat group and sending a pin with your location. Always invite extra people. You don’t want to end up with an empty party as families are prone to cancel due to unforeseen emergencies, last minute sickness, pollution bombs or any other kids related tragedies.

2. Make a Menu

Don’t try to make food you never cooked before. This is asking for a disaster. Just find the cookie cutters that are appropriate for the theme of the party and cut all the food in cute shapes.

This is was menu for the “Polar Express” party:

Tree Cheese Bites, Movie Popcorn, Star Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Oat Muffins, Fruit Salad (for the healthy parent, nobody will eat it and ill use it for smoothies the next day!)

Hot Chocolate Bar with toppings like, whipped cream, mini marshmallows and sprinkles

3. Plan and Activity

It does not have to be complicated. See above, decking your hot chocolate, for the kids.

4. Get your Groceries and Supplies.

Make a list and check it twice. Go out and get them. Making sure you have a mask and grocery bags.

5. Cook the Food

Make sure to cook in advance, this is the key to everything. Bake and cook everything the night before and do the finishing touches in the morning. I put food in serving bowls so we just have to remove the plastic film.

6. Go the Extra Mile

Be that mother who goes the extra mile (or not) and creates a something cute for the kids that goes together with the theme of the party. I decided to make some “golden” train tickets and some red bracelets with bells. this took me half an hour.

7. Party

Get ready to have your home trashed by kids, and enjoy the smiles on their chocolate covered faces. They are only small once, and creating memories is essential to a happy childhood.

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for Beijing Kids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.