So you're thinking of throwing a pirate-themed birthday for your party but need a few ideas. Pop culture has morphed the former terrorizing images of pirates into one far removed from that reality. Therefore, parents looking for ideas should put down the history book and look to movies, books and television shows for what kids believe a pirate really is. With a little imagination, you can keep the theme going from a black flag decorating the wall to pirate punch served with the cake. Does this Spark an idea?
Invitations
Invitations to a pirate party should always be written in pirate talk. This includes dropping your g's (comin' not coming) and v's (o'er not over), speaking in present tense ("I be" not "I am), and using words like "arrgh" and "avast." Once composed, the invitation could be placed in a bottle or treasure chest, printed on the back of a treasure map or rolled up in a scroll.
Decorations
Decorating for a pirate party must include one Jolly Roger (the skull and cross flag). It can include pirate treasure in the form gold-painted coins and plastic jewels. Final touches can include almost any ship-, sea- or beach-related items including parrots, inflatable sharks or crocodiles, ropes and rigging.
Food
Decorate the cake with a treasure chest, ship, or sea scene. For other food, if you don't think your guests will go for fish and chips, you might consider serving turkey legs, chicken wings or anything that you can add the word "pirate" in front of such as "pirate peanut butter sandwiches."
Games
Any pirate party should have at least one treasure hunt. Consider "burying" the party favors and making the guests hunt for them using a treasure map or serious of clues. You can also transform Pin the Tail on the Donkey to X Marks the Spot by changing the donkey to a treasure map and the tails to pirate flags. Another game that can be played is "Treasure Toss" in which kids attempt to toss bean bags or balls into a treasure chest.
Entertainment
If your knowledge of pirate movies is limited to the PG-13 rated "Pirates of the Caribbean," then it is time to check out the video store. Other pirate movies include "The Goonies" (rated PG), "Peter Pan," "Hook" (rated PG), "Muppets Treasure Island" and dozens more. Check out the Additional Resources section below for a website that features every pirate movie ever made. You might also consider helping the kids make pirate hats and decorate their faces with fake beards and eye patches to become pirates. Finally, a pirate-themed pinata can also be a fun activity.
Favors
Favors can be any treasure such as chocolate gold coins, plastic rings or jewelry. Other things that you might consider are toy parrots, black bandanas or a simple good bag filled with candy made to look like a "booty bag."
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