Posted on: Sunday, March 20, 2005

Kids' party favors that take the cake

Advertiser Staff

Here are tips for choosing party favors, from Martha Stewart Kids magazine:

• Trinkets and candy are popular, but consider giving a single, more substantial favor such as a board book for toddlers or a flashlight for older kids.

• Match the goodies to the theme — a teacup for a tea party, an action figure for a character party, or a flowerpot and seeds for a garden party.

• Let kids make their own favors — a potato-print T-shirt, for example — as one of the activities.

• Decorate with items guests can take with them when the party is done, such as posters or pennants for a baseball party. Top cupcakes with plastic toys, such as little dinosaurs for a dinosaur party.

• If you hire an entertainer, arrange for him to use supplies (individual face-painting kits or magic tricks, for instance) that kids can take home.

Keep the trivia game going

How much is four bits? Is white a color? What's inside a cloud? Kids often ask questions you don't know the answer to, and you can't always look it up on the spot.

Consider keeping a Question List, suggests Family Fun magazine. Keep a small notebook and pen with you, and if your child asks a question while you're out and about, jot it down. Once a week or so, sit down together, look up the answers and talk about them. It's a fun way to expand your knowledge.

Mothers' rings go bling-bling

Mother's Day is still a few months away, but you may need the time to save up for this gift idea.

Jewelry designer Jodi Jaffe recently introduced Baby Bands, a variation on traditional mothers' rings.

Each band is crafted in brushed platinum or white gold and set with pink diamonds for a girl and blue diamonds for a boy. The collection also offers pink and blue sapphires or birthstones.

The price: $450 to $3,450. See them at www.babybands.net.

— Advertiser news services