Posted: Monday, March 07, 2011
By Aunt Susan
Children playing "Pin The Tail On The Donkey”
I personally feel a little fun competition at a party is O.K.. but some kids can’t handle losing. A game where there are winners and losers is too stressful for these kids. So much that they will refuse to participate. I have seen kids tremble when they sense someone else is going to win. It’s as if their whole self worth has just gone down the toilet. Because of this, I have chosen to down play the competitive aspect of party games so there are no obvious winners or losers. Only because in my business I am the one who is suppose to bring the happiness. I can’t have any unhappy guests. Some parents feel I should not change things because the games are fun and there’s always going to be some kid sulking over something. It’s always something. It’s true…there’s no pleasing those kids…(and some parents). However I would rather not set up a situation where these kids have the excuse to sulk…or cry… or have a complete melt down. That’s right…no more “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” No more “Musical Chairs”. No more “Bean Bag Toss” etc etc.. Some parents suggest I give everyone a prize no matter who wins. That would diminish the victory of the child who actually earned her prize. Perhaps the age of the children need to be taken into consideration when choosing games. The disappointment of losing requires maturity. But I have seen older children and teenagers become nervous wrecks at the thought of losing. Have you ever seen parents at a hockey game when their kid’s team is losing? Wow.
Girl enjoying a card matching game at a
princess tea party
Some schools have eliminated competitive activities to protect the self esteem of children. Are we breeding mediocrity here? Like they don’t think these kids will figure it out when they grow up and find out the world awards the best? Self esteem and confidence is built from accomplishments. A little at a time, reaching your goals and being proud of your achievements. Competition awards excellence. You earned it, you deserved it. Great! Congratulations! Instead of eliminating competitive activities they should have programs in place to build children’s self esteem. And what would these programs entail? How ‘bout service. Here is a piece of advice from the wise:
"Our sense of self-worth is also key to being able to appreciate the other factors of fulfillment. Interestingly, feeling compassion for others is the most reliable way to increase our own self-worth" Dalai Lama
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Posted: Tuesday, March 01, 2011
by Aunt Susan
This girl was happy to be caught with the Poison Apple. She’ll do a performance worthy of an Oscar
My crew and I always shop talk after we do a party. Always looking to improve, we discuss the best and the worst of each party. Time and time again, the same things come up. The best part is always when the children let go of any inhibitions, believe and participate. The worst is the opposite. When children are skeptical, refuse to participate and sulk. Even have melt downs. We don’t know why some children are the way they are but we have seen them all.
We play a game call “Pass the Poison Apple”. When the music plays you pass the apple along to the next princess. When the music stops, the princess who is holding the apple must pretend to fall into a deep sleep just like Snow White. She is essentially out of the game. The game continues until there is a winner which is the one remaining Princess. I have seen girls excited and hoping to be caught with the apple. When they are, they perform such a dramatic swoon they deserve an Oscar. And then there are those who are so terrified of being caught with the apple that they refuse to play. Some get caught and refuse to go out. Guess which girls have more fun? Guess what type we prefer to entertain? However, we have to be ready to handle any situation. What happens if the sulky girl is the birthday girl? I guess she could say as the song goes “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…cry if I want to…” As entertainers, we have to make this all better.
The birthday girl has to be happy. In fact, all the guests should be happy. Our job is to bring the happiness. And that’s what we are paid to do… bring the happiness and entertain….not baby-sit or discipline children. Any difficult behaviour should be handled by the parents. A birthday party is not exactly the best time and place to deal with behaviour issues. So do we cater to the sulky child’s wishes? You betcha! There’s a saying “The customer is always right”? There is no such thing as a bad audience…just bad entertainers. In the people pleasing business, not only are we entertainers, we also need to be psychologists. If you can figure out how to make your costumers happy you will have a successful business. At the end of the party, we get to go home. As for the parents…. those wonderful darlings are all yours.
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Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
By Aunt Susan
A girl trying on Cinderella's glass slipper
This past weekend, we did a Princess Tea Party Event at a local indoor playground. Parents pre-registered their daughter(s) for the event. There were 20 girls in all, ranging from 2 years old to 6 years old. Just the right number of girls for the double size party room. On hand for the princess transformation were the Fairy Godmother, Snow White and the Grand Duke. From youngest to oldest, the girls took turns choosing their princess dress. Recognizable Disney Princess dresses were the first to go. Then anything pink with flowers attached to it. Can you guess which dress was the first to fly off the rack? Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. It’s a Disney Princess and it’s pink. The mommies did not want to miss out on all the fun. But the Fairy Godmother had to scoot them out of the room. With so many people in the room it was getting crowded and hot! The Fairy Godmother had to promise them that they could have their own tea party another day but for now they’ll just have to watch all the fun from the windows.
This little girl is wearing the "Pink Princess" dress from Rosie's Boutique
With everyone in their princess dresses, it was time for tiaras. make-up and pixie dust. Next was a princess singing lesson with Snow White. Everyone sang so lovely….just like a real princess! Then it was time to learn how to befriend little animals. As you know princesses have a way with little animals. Mice will help sew dresses and bunnies will help clean so it’s important to know how to talk to them. Next a lesson on how to walk elegantly in your princess dress before the fashion show parade. Snow White led the way out to the main area. The parents pulled out their camera phones and snapped away.
Then it was back to the party room for a short etiquette lesson before we sit down for tea. On the menu, fruit, tea sandwiches, cookies and apple juice (our version of tea). Each table took their turn to get picture taken by Cinderella’s carriage. Each girl sat on a chair in front of Cinderella’s carriage and the Grand Duke let them try on Cinderella’s glass slipper. A photo in front of the carriage and a photo inside the carriage.
Off to the ball in Cinderella's carriage
When the clock struck midnight it was time to change back to their regular selves. A magical time was had by all.
*note; all the dresses in the photos are from Rosie's Boutique
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Posted: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
By Aunt Susan
Girls all dressed up at a princess party
The transformation of 10 little girls into princesses was magical at Rosie's birthday party. It is always the highlight of the princess parties. The girls express their delight in different ways. Some smile from ear to ear. Some are in quiet awe. Some love twirling in their dresses. Some can’t stop looking at themselves in the mirror. Some go into full character of the princess whose dress they are wearing. They all feel very special. I always ask all the girls who their favourite princess is. I get a lot of Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella…but at this party, one girl said Jasmine. I rarely hear this one. I ask the girl why Jasmine was her favourite. She said “…because she skates really good” “She skates?” I asked? I don’t remember Jasmine skating in the movie Aladdin. Another girl explained… “She skates in Disney Princess on Ice” Of course! I regret I did not have a Jasmine costume on hand. Jasmine does not have a princess gown… she has pants. I will definitely have a Jasmine costume for my next party.
Snow White's dog Princess came for a visit
There were lots of giggles when we brought out some of Snow White’s forest friends. Snow White says “A real princess loves animals and the animals love her” She showed the princesses in training how to give nuzzles to Bun Buns the rabbit. Next is Gus Gus the mouse. We pat him gently on the head. Then Snow White’s own puppy “Princess” came out to give everyone kisses.
Having a great time!
We asked Rosie what was her favourite part of the party. She said “when the Grand Duke presented her with her tiara at the princess graduation ceremony” That was definitely an awesome moment
*note: all princess dresses in these photos are from Rosie's Boutique.
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