Community Magazine June 2014

76 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Shaatra Does It FRANCES HADDAD SHAATRA: Summertime Birthday Party The weather has warmed up, and that means it’s time to venture outside unburdened by scarves and sweaters. For those who have children with summertime birthdays, this is good news. If you want to throw a party, there’s no need to book a place, since the great outdoors is the perfect venue for a summertime birthday bash. So get your party hat on and start planning! Hope to See You! Speak to the birthday boy or girl to find out how many children to invite. Once you have a rough idea, decide if you want to make phone calls or send invitations. Don’t worry about scurrying around for phone numbers and addresses; all you need to do is call your child’s camp office and ask them to send home a bunk list. If you decide to make phone calls, be sure to tell parents the date and time of the party. If you would rather go the invitation route, enlist your children. Buy cheap cards in any drugstore and have your kids fill them out, or pull out the art supplies and let them create their own colorful invites. Please note: it hurts not to be invited. As the parent who is throwing the party, it is your job to make sure that no child is left out. All children in your child’s bunk (or class, come wintertime) should be asked to join. Think about it: you wouldn’t want your party to be responsible for causing someone pain. Teach your kids to include others, and remember, the more the merrier! Send in your tips for the next edition Health & Fitness mobile: Scan the QR code at right online: go.CommunityM.com/ask email: Ask@CommunityM.com facsimile: 718-504-4246 postal mail: 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223 The Perfect Backdrop If you have a big backyard, the location is a no-brainer. And if you don’t, you’ll need to find a wide open space. Before you start thinking, “How am I supposed to do that?” keep in mind that public parks are always an option. Fireman’s Field in Oakhurst, NJ and Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY offer miles of grassy terrain which is perfect for an outdoor birthday extravaganza. Party Fun You’ll need to prepare some activities to get the party rolling. If your son’s the one turning one year older, think in terms of baseball and soccer. Boys and sports go together like peanut butter and jelly, so plan some relay races or sports competitions and you’re good to go. Just remember to ask your guests to chip in and bring the necessary equipment so you don’t have to run around looking for 20 (or more!) baseball mitts. If it’s your daughter who’s the guest of honor, arts and crafts and games like pass-the-present should take up most of the day. Jumprope and hopscotch can be entertaining, and sidewalk chalk can keep them busy for a big chunk of the time. What’s On the Menu? Grass and trees are the perfect surroundings for a birthday picnic. You can always buy pizza, which is a traditional birthday party favorite. For a homemade option, serve sandwiches and orzo salad, or barbeque some hot dogs and hamburgers. Throw potato chips, pretzels or other nosh in bowls, toss a green salad and you’ll have the perfect party feast. Where to seat all the guests? Picnic or bridge tables work. If you don’t have tables or feel you may run out of chairs, don’t fret: embrace the picnic theme by laying old blankets or checkered tablecloths on the grass, let the kids take a seat and enjoy! And let’s not forget the star of the menu: birthday cake!You can go for store-bought or homemade versions. Choose between cake, ice cream (parve or dairy) and ices creations. Thanks for Coming! T hough there is no rule which mandates giving party favors, it doesn’t hurt to send home something cute with each guest. If an arts-and-crafts project was created during the party, the finished product is an excellent party favor. Dollar store key-chains, book-lights or notepads also work. Three hours fly by before you know it, so it’s nice for guests and their parents to have something concrete as a souvenir of your child’s special day. A large group of friends, coupled with beautiful weather, grassy fields and great food, work together to make any summertime birthday party unforgettable. It’s pretty much stress-free for you and loads of fun for the birthday kid. So enjoy the sunshine, which is one of the benefits that a summertime birthday has to offer. And happy birthday! R E A D E R S T I P S W ater games make for great summer party activities. Water balloon fights and sprinklers can give your child and guests a much needed reprieve from the sweltering summertime heat. AliceC. H and out ice pops or mini water bottles throughout the party to make sure the kids stay hydrated. LillianG. M ake cleanup a game. Hand out garbage bags to two guests and ask them to choose teams. Ready-set-clean! The team with the fullest bag wins! Esther T.