Train Centerpieces
Trains are a popular birthday party theme for young children. Centerpieces for a train party come in a wide variety, from cakes to other treats to a particular gift, to party favors and more. Whether using the birthday child's favorite cartoon train, or just a train theme, a train centerpiece is sure to be a hit. Does this Spark an idea?
Engineer Bear
Dress a bear like a train engineer.
Teddy bears are a favorite for children of all ages. Dress a bear as a train engineer by tying a bandanna around the bear's neck and placing an engineer hat, either paper or cloth, on the bear's head.
This birthday centerpiece can also include a toy train or a train book on the bear's lap.
Healthy Snack Centerpiece
Cake and ice cream are a staple for birthday parties. Yet, a healthy snack will provide for additional munchies and cut down on the amount of sweets consumed at a birthday party.
Make a "stuffed celery train" birthday party centerpiece. Set up a small, clean train track on the table and fill the track with a variety of stuffed celery train cars.
To prepare the train "cars," cut celery into two- or three-inch lengths. Spread a healthy snack filler inside the celery pieces, such as peanut butter, peanut butter alternative such as soy "peanut" butter, light cream cheese (plain or flavored), cheese spread or yogurt (plain or flavored). Place some toppings on the filled celery pieces to make them look like train engines or train cars with coal, logs, corn, animals or cars; use raisins, cheese bits, small crackers, pretzel sticks or gummy candies.
Train Books Centerpiece
Train books, coloring books and activity books can be purchased for all age groups of children. Rather than giving out bags of candy and small toys, make a centerpiece display of train books, and then let each child choose a book to take home.
To make an easy centerpiece, place the books upright in center of a table. Lean the books against an empty box wrapped in train printed paper. You might also wrap a smaller box, leaving the top open, to set near the train books, and fill the box with packages of crayons or markers for children to choose from.
Some familiar train-themed books for children are "The Little Engine that Could," "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "The Polar Express."
Train Cake Centerpiece
Make an easy train cake to use for a birthday party centerpiece. Bake cupcakes in small foil loaf pans. Make enough loaves to serve about half a loaf to each child at the birthday party.
Top the cupcake loaves with bright colors of frosting to make colorful trains. Add a variety of decorations to the "children's trains," such as gumdrops, gummy candies, or sprinkles and edible cake decorations. The train engine can be a purchased toy or paper decoration, or a loaf cupcake decorated to look like a train engine. Arrange the cake train cars in a circle or straight line in the center of the table.
Tags: birthday party, train cars, like train, peanut butter, birthday party centerpiece, celery pieces, celery train