How to Plan a Great Summer Party for Kids Now

Grandma Sandy is on vacation, returning Wednesday, August 14. In the meantime, each week, we’ll feature a curated collection of the best of “Call Me Grandma!” In today’s post, we’re highlighting ideas for summer parties for kids.

Have you ever hosted a party, just for the grandkids? When it’s not their birthday or a special celebration?

If you’d like to plan a party this summer–just for fun–try our food and game ideas from previous posts.

Summer Party 2020

Grandkids do a spoon relay race, masked during the 2020 pandemic.
Our first summer party during COVID lockdown.

The impetus for our first summer party was COVID. It brought end-of-year school parties to a screeching halt. To compensate, we had a party for the grandkids in our backyard.

It was the summer I started Camp Grandma, since there were no day camps for kids that year. This first summer party was simple, centered on games and prizes and making giant bubbles with bubble wands.

Summer Party 2021

Child sits with carnival style food for a summer party for kids.
Carnival food was a highlight of this summer party.

In 2021, our summer party was a blowout celebration for the end of Camp Grandma. I made the kids Camp Grandma T shirts, we had carnival-style food, a piñata, and a display of the children’s Camp Grandma work to show their parents.

Summer Party 2022

Confetti canon unleases confetti for a summer ice cream party for kids.
Confetti rains down on the kids from the confetti canon dad launched.

In 2022, our summer party morphed into an ice cream summer party It was a reward for the kids having completed a storytelling project. We had ice cream with all the fixings, and a confetti canon.

Summer Party 2023

Mother and child playing a newspaper relay game.
A relay race where you progress only by stepping on newspapers.

In this summer party, I introduced new games and new food. Walking Tacos was a huge success. You merely hand each guest a snack-size bag of Fritos or Doritos. They spoon in taco filling and condiments!

Actually, I was so involved with the food that I felt I hadn’t done right by the games. So, we had a redo second party!

Kids run to wear hats and jackets in this relay race, then run back to take them off.
A new game for 2023: a relay race where you have to put on, then take off, articles of outer clothing.

More Fun and Games

For more ideas to entertain the grandkids this summer, check out our section called, “Grandma Fun.”

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