Totally Nautical Kids' Birthday Party

This kids' party is a boatload of fun.

By Laura Fenton

An obvious choice for a sea-themed soiree, goldfish-shaped crackers can be served into cupcake liners for a quick and easy way to distribute the snack.

Create a Fisherman’s Lunch

While you don’t need to serve lobster rolls or freshly shucked oysters to little tykes, you can still make the menu seaworthy and kid-friendly. If you’re serving lunch, fish sticks or tuna fish sandwiches are natural choices; for an extra touch, use fish-shaped cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into fishy shapes. Most kids like mac and cheese; make some with pasta shells for an allusion to the sea. Lastly, round out the meal with a few veggies like carrot and celery sticks and Goldfish crackers for snacking.

It's the tiniest touches that add up to overall impact. For example, short lengths of ribbon tied into knots turn red and blue drinking straws into sippers worthy of a sailor.

Go Fish!

A nautical theme is a rich source of inspiration for games and activities. One fun option is a live-action game of "Go Fish." Cut bamboo garden stakes down to size, tie on a length of string and hot-glue a powerful magnet to the other end of the line. Then, cut fish shapes from heavyweight paper and affix a paperclip to each one’s nose. Place the paper fish in a bucket or empty kiddie pool and let the kids “fish.” For younger children, inexpensive plastic toy boats floating in a wading pool would also provide entertainment. With older kids, you could show them how to fold origami boats and then float them after they have been made.

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