Our two children have birthdays within a couple weeks of each other, factor in out of town grandparents that love being a part of the celebration, and you have the recipe for one joint birthday party. And while they may have different themes in the future, they are both share a love for all things Star Wars. So we set out to have a Star Wars themed birthday party.
The Perfect Setting for the Padawans
Our toddlers have lots of energy so we wanted to have a birthday party where they could play and have fun with their friends. G3 Kidswas the perfect setting for our little padawans. G3 Kids is a gymnastics-based athletic program. It offers traditional and trendy gymnastic classes while ensuring safety and fun exploration. On the weekends, they host birthday parties and events in the space. The parties can have 10-25 guests and include team-lead activities, free-play and games.
When I spoke to the staff about our party, I asked if they could take their Ninja birthday party theme and adapt into a Star Wars Jedi Training party. They said, “Absolutely!” Their team lead, Ben encouraged me to get light sabers for the kids and if they wanted to they could dress in costume. He shared with me some ideas for games and asked for my feedback. He also let me know that I could update him throughout the party if a game needed to be adjusted or changed, which with toddler boys is always a great thing. We also talked about the need to have games for older kids 4-7 years old and activities for 1-3 years old. He came up with some activities for the younger kids too. The communication from the staff was great. They emailed and called me to check in with me regarding the details for our party, which I definitely appreciated.
G3 Kids birthday parties are one and a half hours long. It is the perfect amount of time to play games, celebrate the birthday child and enjoy snacks. We saved opening up presents for when we got home as all the kiddos wanted to play more games. They build in some time for set-up and clean-up too. Their staff was very helpful for both the set-up and clean-up. Even with grandparents and dad helping, we definitely appreciated the extra helping hands. When you have your party, their staff take care of the activities. All of the parents of our guests were impressed with how the staff got the kids involved and engaged in what they were doing. Parents are encouraged and invited to play along too. This was especially helpful for our little girl and her younger friends.
Have a Blast
I am so glad I took Ben’s advice. I made light sabers for each of the guests. I simply took pool noodles and cut them into three pieces. I used silver and black duct tape to create the base and blue washi tape for the button. The kids really got into using their light sabers. From running through the obstacle course to fighting the Storm Troopers and each other with them, it helped set the stage for the party. It was also a helpful tool to get the kids to pay attention. Ben would say, “Sabers up!” and they would have to listen for the instructions to the next game. The kids can take these home with them too as a party favor. We let the parents know that the kids were welcome to dress up in costumes too.
Jedi Training
The kids had a blast playing a variety of gymnastics-based games that Ben turned into a Jedi training experience. From swinging across the foam pit to running through obstacle courses and doing scavenger hunts, the kids went non-stop and loved it. He dressed up like Ben Kenobi and really got into the part, making references to the movies and characters as he gave the kids directions to their games. The gym was also filled with fun Star Wars theme music too. If there was something that was challenging for a child, the staff or parent would help them so that they were able to still be a part of the activity. The staff was also great about adapting or changing games if the kids lost interest, were having difficulty or needed more challenge.
Star Wars Selfie Station
We borrowed some Star Wars movie stand-ups and created a selfie station. We asked guests to take a picture for our memory book. The kids had fun striking a pose next to R2D2, C3PO and BB-8. I love doing things like this because I often feel like I miss so many moments in the busyness of the party and it can be fun to look back on in a memory book.
Take a Break at Mos Eisley Cantina
When the Jedi’s needed to cool down, we made sure to have plenty snacks and drinks. At G3, all food needs to stay in the party area so that they can keep the equipment clean. My sister suggested having snacks that were individual-sized so that if people wanted to take some home too they could do that. We served Jabba the Hut juice boxes, May the Fruit Be with You squeeze pouches, and Asteroid Bites (Pirate’s Booty). I made BB8 Bites using Brazi bites, Tie Fighter Tasters, using Oreos and Smashmallow marshmallows, and dressed up store-bought cupcakes with Meri Meri Star Wars cupcake toppers for Chewbacca cupcakes and Jaba the Hut juice boxes. The kids had a quick bite to eat, sang Happy Birthday to the birthday boy and girl and then wanted to play more!
Our birthday party was hosted by G3 Kids. All of our thoughts and opinions are our own. Also, thank you to Shana Siler Photography for capturing all of these fun moments.
