LEGO remains an eternally popular kid’s toy – especially with the younger variety. For an unusual and extremely popular birthday party idea a LEGO theme is a big hit with fans of a range of ages. Mums and dads everywhere will be glad to know that creating the theme is not at all difficult and much of the preparation and decoration can be of the home made variety. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Invitations and Place Settings

I’m never sure that place settings are a good idea for our little friends, as they rarely seem capable of staying in one place, especially one that you can see them for more than a minute or two. However, both invitations and place settings create a ‘grown-up’ feel that kids seem to love. For the homemade variety, the ancient art of Kirigami is ideal. You can create a LEGO mini-figure template easily and then by folding coloured paper or card cut out the shape to create individual place settings and invitation cards. Longer strings (as in the ancient art of the paper chain) can be created to decorate around the room.

Games designing

No kid’s party is a party without a range of games. There’s an element of intelligent design in this one: get a good mix of individual and group games to ensure that all the kids get chance to participate. The old ‘how many LEGO pieces in the jar?’ trick is great as both an aid to tidying up before the party and an opening game as guests arrive. Small LEGO kits can form the basis of individual tasks in which everyone is a winner (they get to keep the toy) or larger kits can be used as group games – the bits can be hidden with clues to create a treasure hunt and building game; the first team to find the pieces and complete the model is the winner. This last game is a good one at keeping them occupied for quite some time – always a bonus.

Party piñatas

Piñatas have travelled the globe – presumably in an attempt to get away from kids with sticks – and a modern party is not complete with something large, suspended and full of sweets for the kids to destroy. A LEGO piñata is considerably easier to create than the traditional mule variety, needing only one large cardboard box, some paint/tissue paper for covering, and old margarine tubs to create the connectors. The piñata can be any size you choose, but a size that suits that of the kids, or the number of them, is best.

Cake and more Cake

LEGO cake pops are surprisingly easy to make. You’ll simply need a large amount of sponge cut into lollipop sized cubes. Use icing or frosting, of the commercial variety, colored with appropriate bright primary colors and use Smarties, or other suitably shaped sweets to create the connectors. You’ll need to ‘glue’ the Smarties to the cubes of cake with a little frosting and let this set in the fridge before smothering in the remaining frosting. Once these have set, you can then skewer them onto lollipop sticks and present around the table in glasses for the masses. The cake is the final and essential touch to the party. Again, using simple sponge you can decorate with icing and round muffin or fairy cake sized ‘connectors’. Use brightly colored icing for the finishing touch and the appropriate amount of candles. If you’re the adventurous type, you can re-create the fitted together block look using several layers of cake and different colored icing, topping off with ‘connectors’ on the final layer.

Thanks to Carlo: freelance blogger on things to do with children, LEGO and travel covering everything from birthday parties at LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Dallas/Fort Worthto the best theme parks in US. Aside from writing, Carlo is into gardening, cycling and cooking Italian food.