LITTLE GIRLS' DRESS-UP TEA PARTY
Start way in advance; ask for help from everyone you know. You will get offers to borrow items, but unless you can assure them nothing will happen to family heirlooms or has sentimental value, I'd stay clear of those. Check flea markets, thrift stores, The Salvation Army and Goodwill stores etc. Ask the moms of the guest to look also. Ask adult help to come in "costume." Don't let your guests arrive already dressed since then they will miss lots of the action. You can use dressup sets designed for kids, but adult size, real stuff is the most fun. If the action is lagging, tell girls stories about the era, which the clothes came from, sing songs, or play a guessing game.
The Tea Party can be staged outside in a garden or inside in the house. I would design little hand mirrors of cardboard with silver foil for the mirror part and put the name of each girl on the un-mirrored part. Adding short streamers of narrow, pastel ribbons or little craft flowers would make them prettier. These are your nametags and a favor to take home. My tea parties are real fancy food on real china and lace cloth. If that is too much reality for you, use paper products. The same sources where you found bargains on old-fashioned clothing will net you finds of old dishes, and laces. If this is a birthday party, the cake should be decorated with lots of icing roses. My personal favorites are Petits Fours, but they take time and work. Nuts and pastel mints in little glass dishes are a lovely touch. Fresh fruit, especially a watermelon basket with melon balls, fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate or bunches of grapes frosted with sugar or plain will be a pretty addition. If this is over a mealtime, make little sandwiches by cutting regular one in four or using mini cookie cutters for shapes. What you put inside the sandwiches is a matter of taste. Kids likes should dictate. They just aren't ready for cucumber sandwiches at this age. Even chicken salad in croissants would add elegance. You can also buy bread in pastel colors in some areas. "Tea" can be lemonade, juice, cocoa, iced tea, or pop.
Games will be few since the dressing up and eating are the main events. If you wish to add games add traditional games, kids of the past played
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