Fish pond - for child party success

When you want to do something really extra for your child´s party - Create a fish pond! All children (all ages) in Sweden just love this. Everybody gets a little gift but you have to work for it. You must fish behind the curtain and nobody knows what you can get (except the person behind). The Fisherman gets to use a rod with a line and in the end a laundry pin. All the guests line up and wait their turn. An adult should be there on the outside to first of all - help the children with the rod but also so whisper to the person behind the blanket - if there are different items for boys and girls and for younger and older guests......The kids love it when the line is "stuck". You have to pull and pull to finally get your catch.

In Swedish the word for Fishpond is Fiskdamm. You will se it on some of the photos I have posted here. A Fishpond is a must at a successful party. The gifts can be so simple and not expensive. One warning thou.... rememeber that some kids cannot eat candy for different reasons. So dont use that as a "fish"!

The children are more interested in the fishing than in what is stuck in the end of the line when they pull up the catch! I used to let them fish more than once just because of that. Small things and often is better than a big thing once!

If you are indoors, you can put ut the curtain between two rooms like on this picture. Or you can have it in a corner where there is the option to hook up a blanket or a paper. I strongly recommend not to use paper. The eager fishers will tare it down eventually. Use a blanket or a sheet with text on.

I have had fishponds many times. Some of them in my own house and some at partys. One item that never is wrong to hang on the hook is a baloon. All of us love baloons.

Another little item that is popular is the Party whistle. The blow thing. If you find that too noicy perhaps you should take a walk instead of being at the party.

Of course you can hang more expensive items on the line - but remember that the children often not care about that. They are so happy with the situation and with the fishing thing.

If you want to make the fishing business more real, make a drawing of a fish and make it double. Then you can staple the edges and fill the fish with the gift. You cannot use big items and be prepared that the thrilled fisher will tare it apart to see what is inside! =D

Some parents have just used a paper bag instead with or without the drawing on.

Of course you can have the Fish pond in the garden or back yard. All you need is two trees and a blanket. Put up the blanket and have the party secrets behind it. All children know so well that there is a person behind it. They WANT to pretend there is nobody there. Children are wonderful when it comes to make belive things. And if a little one wants to make sure there is a human behind the blanket - wo what?

Let your child help you to make invitation cards. Home made and full of love. There are many easy motifs you can use. Let your young one himself write them too!

Take paper, fold it and make one side with a picture on and the other with the invitation. Write date, time and if there is something special to wear. If you want them to bring swim suits or rain coats hehehe. It is also a very good suggestion that you write what time the party is over so the guests can be picked up by somebody. I know from experiance that it is a smart idea to have that already from the beginning on the cards.

Some of these cards are for boys and others for girls. Some are for both. Enjoy your party!

The dangling decorations, Baloons, Diego blow outs and the treat bags can be used in the fish pond.

Invitation cards Dessert Plates and - some items you can acually use in the fish pond instead of just spreading them out on the table. Here are treat bags, funny hats.

Here is table cloth, napkins or the plates too.

Here you get the whole works for the party. From the invitations to the decor of the party table! You can use the party stickers in the Fish pond!

They speak Swedish in this ad. But the fishing is done the old fashion way =)

If you have any questions, comments of anything to ad to my lens - just tell me.