Beach Party

     It's birthday time for your little one, and you don't have a theme yet. What to do? Well, if you live near the ocean - or even a lake - there's always the option of having a beach party theme. I'll tell you what we did last year for MY daughter's party, and maybe it'll help you with yours.

     First of all, you have to send out those invitations at least three weeks before the party; gotta give those parents time to plan around it. I know as a single parent, work and family time are always at odds with each other, so the sooner the better when making plans.

     Get there early. Pick out your favorite spot on the beach, preferably one with a lifeguard; of course you'll be keeping a watchful eye on the kids, but the more people you have watching, especially in a large group, the better.

     Bring as many coolers as you can, filled with water and snacks. If you're going to be out in the sun for a while, dehydration tends to set in quickly. If you're a user of sunscreen, don't forget that either!

     Some beaches let you set up badminton nets. They're smaller than volleyball nets, and badminton is a blast. We did that last year, and the kids had a great time. Bring frisbees and an assortment of balls to play with. Come up with some games to play ahead of time, games that both the children and adults can play: sack races, treasure hunts, etc.

     After the party, take the kids out for some ice cream. Sometimes, if a place knows you're coming, you can get a discount for bringing in a bunch of people.

     Anyway, I hope these few beach party ideas were helpful. Have a great time!