Planting seeds {Birthday party activity}

Spring is in the air!
If you need an activity to keep you birthday guests busy, why not try planting seeds with them?
An activity like this doesn't need to be overwhelming if you plan ahead.  What do you need to make it go smoothly?

1. A small clay pot for each guest

2. A package of seeds.  Try to choose a seed that is larger (like sunflower) so little fingers can plant it easily.

3. A soil pellet for each guest.  These expand when you add water.

4. Poster paint or water colours and paint brushes. Water colours will be less messy but wont cover as well.  If you would like to avoid paint all together, you could decorate your pots with stickers!

5. Table cloth

6. Press and Seal cling wrap

Then it's as easy as 1-2-3 (oh, and 4!)

1. Spread out the table cloth.  Set up paints, brushes, pots, cling wrap and soil pellets.  Tip: Set up your craft so each child has a paintbrush and a couple different colours of paint in front of their chair.  They can trade colours as needed but this way they are never waiting for a colour for very long.
2. Paint the pots.
3. Add the soil pellet, seeds and a little water.
4. Cover the pot with some Press and Seal Cling Wrap and set aside to dry

Your pots are done!

A couple of notes:

• I would suggest this activity be used for guests that are older then 3 or have a parent with them who can help.  If the guests are older then all your preparation will make this activity go smoothly. 
• Because this is an open ended activity, it should occupy their time for more than 10 minutes so you are free to snap some photos or get the next activity ready.
• Aim to start this activity at the beginning of your party.  This will give the pots enough time to dry before they need to be sent home.  You can always put it in a plastic bag if it isn't dry before home time.
• This activity would work well with quite a few birthday themes:
• Strawberry Shortcake (plant some strawberry seeds)
• Ladybug (provide red and black paint)
• Harry Potter (suggest the the children that the seeds will produce a Mandrake plant!)

Happy Planting!

"Shake, shake, shake your sillies out and wiggly your worries away!"