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Food – Fun Activities – Party Favors for a Wild Kratts Birthday Party
My son has always had a love for animals, especially wild animals. That is why the Wild Kratts appealed to him so strongly when he was in kindergarten. He discovered Chris and Martin’s wild animal rescue adventures, and he was hooked. There was no going back. We all lived and breathed the Kratt brother’s adventures for more than a year. From the play to clothing, to watching, to costuming, the Wild Kratts came into our home and hearts. It was such a consuming interest. So naturally, when it was time to start making his birthday plans, we decided it had to be a Wild Kratts birthday party. Nothing else would do.
It has since been a few years now since that time. Yet, we still look back with such fondness and love for the Wild Kratts. We all learned so much about animals, wild adventures, and conservation habits. And of course, the memories we made as living and breathing Wild Kratts will forever be engraved into our hearts.
Throw a Wild Kratts Birthday Party
If your child is in the early years of grade school and loves the Wild Kratts like my son did, consider a fun-packed Wild Kratts birthday party theme. It will make a perfect birthday for your child and all your child’s friends. This Wild Kratts-themed birthday party is filled with animal adventures and activities. Their birthday celebration will be unforgettable!
The Wild Kratts are all about excitement, exploration, and hands-on fun. To match their spirit, this Wild Kratts birthday party is filled with themed activities. It also includes creative Kratt-style party favors and delicious food. Whether your birthday explorer loves cheetahs, dolphins, or gorillas, this birthday celebration will bring the Wild Kratts experience to life!
A Little Side note on Planning Children’s Birthday Parties
Before we dive into how to make an exciting party, let me give a full disclosure. When I plan parties, I do it for the kids. This includes my son and the friends he has chosen to invite. Because of this, my primary focus is on three big things that I believe make every party amazing. Honestly, these three things apply to adult parties too. They are: Food, Fun, and Favors.
I do love the small details and the many elaborate ways Pinterest can help me decorate a party. But, I know that at the end of the day, people remember the food. They recall the fun they had. And of course, the kids cherish what they take home as a token of love and appreciation.
This is especially true with parties for children. I have found that children don’t pay any attention at all to decorations. I would be shocked if any of my son’s friends remember the party decorations a week later. This is true for both girls and boys. But I am sure they can tell their parents what they did, ate, and brought home.
That being said, my parties do include some simple decorations. Though, the three things I will share about in this blog post are: Food, Fun, and Favors.
Okay, so let’s now dive into the party details. I hope you can use some of these details. Let them inspire your own ideas. Adapt them to fit your own Wild Kratts birthday party.
Food – Fueling Up Like a Wild Kratt
As with most of the parties I plan, I keep the primary meal simple. The main course is as straightforward as possible.
If the party is a morning party, the choice is typically one of two options. Either a takeout order of bagel sandwich halves from Noah’s Bagels. This comes along with a variety of plain bagels and cream cheeses. Choice two is a simple overnight breakfast-style casserole. I made a farmer’s egg casserole for a handful of morning birthday parties when my son was a toddler.
If the party is a lunchtime party, we seem to always fall back on Costco’s croissant sandwich platter. Everyone, including the kids, love these sandwiches, and the dressings are oh-so delicious! There was one year, though, when I made a not-so-fancy, but delicious charcuterie spread. It included a variety of meats, cheeses, sauces, vegetables, and slices of sourdough bread. This allowed people to create their sandwiches and cherry-pick the fillings they wanted.
Keeping the main course simple in this way allows more time to prepare the delicious extras that the kids love. For this Wild Kratts birthday party, those extras included: Monkey Munch Trailmix, Beary Berry Sticks, Creature Power Wedges, and Squirrel Stash Crunch.
Monkey Munch
This Wild Kratts birthday party trail mix is delicious, especially for those kids who enjoy snacking on dried banana chips. Just combine all the following ingredients into a bowl to make 4-5 cups. If you prefer not to serve directly from the bowl, divide the mix into separate single-serve cups as desired. Prepare this a day or two in advance to ease your workload on the day of the party.
- A cup of dried banana chips
- 1 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
- A cup of sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp salt
Beary Berry Sticks
This is so easy to put together and so kid-friendly. I am confident you won’t have any leftovers when your Wild Kratts birthday party is over.
Choose your favorite berries and stack them on skewers. Then, put them on a tray for kids to add to their plate. We used strawberries and blueberries and have added some halved apple slices too, but shh, don’t tell anyone.
If you use apple slices, mix in lemon juice before putting them on the skewers. This will slow the oxidation and keep them fresh longer. Just slice your apples and cut the slices in half. Then throw them in a Ziploc bag with 1-2 tsp of lemon juice. Seal the bag and mix them all up. They are then ready to be added to your skewers.
Creature Power Wedges
This is the simplest to prepare for your Wild Kratts birthday party. Use just a large watermelon. Cut it into wedges. To serve, stack the wedges on a platter or arrange them in a large enough bowl.
Squirrel Stash Crunch
You can’t go wrong with this salted chocolate popcorn. You can prepare it the night before the party. This will make your Wild Kratts birthday party day a whole lot smoother. This popcorn delight is packed with everything those little squirrels love – chocolate, pretzels, and even raisins. Download the recipe here.
Drinks – Hydrating Like a Creature Adventurer
Drinks are another part of a child’s birthday party that I don’t get too fancy on. I usually have some form of coffee. It can be hot coffee from a local coffee shop. Alternatively, it can be cold cans of espresso or cold brew from the supermarket. I always make sure to have plenty of water and most often it is bottles of water. I also get drink boxes with juice and/or cans of Sprite for the kids (and adults who want to indulge). All the drinks are served from an iced cooler, which is placed near the food table.
We occasionally have a drink dispenser with lemonade or punch. But I love having drinks that can be packed into a cooler. This removes the necessity for solo cups at the party. It also makes it easier for guests to keep track of their drinks.
Polar Bear Punch
To make this simple Polar Bear Punch for your Wild Kratts birthday party, mix a liter bottle of Sprite. Then, add one or two bottles of Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Pomegranate Juice. It is so delicious! Make sure to have other options stashed in a cooler. This juice will not last long. Both adults and children will be gulping it down.
Fun – Wild Adventures and Activities
No party that is designed for children should be without fun! But what exactly does that entail? Well, My son has been to a variety of birthday parties that are all so beautifully and uniquely different.
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Where to Host Your Child’s Wild Kratts Birthday Party
Birthday parties can be hosted by companies with gyms and obstacle courses, climbing companies, arcades, arts and sensory activities, museums, swimming pools, and more. In these cases, the host provides all the fun, and the theme can be limited.
We’ve also attended some wonderful parties at playgrounds. This is a simpler, and more economical way to host a party. At these parties, the fun typically revolves around the play structure. For grade school children, that is usually all they need to have hours of good times with their friends.
For us, we have unintentionally formed somewhat of a tradition (as my son calls it). We host his birthday party every year at the same location – a small little park in our neighborhood. We hosted his first three parties there. He was young enough then and didn’t have a strong preference to go anywhere else. Suddenly, before we knew it, our little neighborhood park became his designated birthday location. Every year, I ask him if he would like to have his birthday somewhere out in the community. I suggest places like the trampoline park, the arcade, or anywhere else he prefers. And every year he says “No. We are going to do it at the park.”
I don’t mind though. Our little park makes things so easy. We can cart everything there in the wagon and one car load, and clean up is so simple too. The only downfall is that there is no play structure. That means it is up to my husband (and mostly me) to plan the fun.
What the Fun Looks Like at a Wild Kratts Birthday Party
So what do we do?
We bring soccer balls, frisbees, and sidewalk chalk.
I also like to plan anywhere from two to three activities for the children to do. They can join together or in their own time while at the party. These activities generally correspond to the theme of the party. So, of course, for a Wild Kratts birthday party, I planned Wild Kratt activities.
Many of these planned activities also double as party favors. They are memorable for the fun and allow participants to take home their winnings.
Check out these Wild Kratts birthday party activities that I planned for this party below. The third one was a huge favorite among the kids.
Build a Block Animal
I found these animal-themed building blocks for kids on Amazon. They came in individual packaging which was great for allowing each child to get the animal they wanted. I arranged them in a bowl on one activity table. I created a sheet with instructions for the kids, framed it, and set it on the table. You can download the instructions here.
This is an activity the children can do at a time of their choosing. If they choose not to finish the activity while at the party, they can pick an animal. They can then slip it into their favor box to take home and build later.
Rock Animal Art
This Wild Kratts birthday party activity was very enjoyable for all of the kids. Each child got to take home their animal art as a favor. These Rock Animal Art Kits are at Target. There are four animals in each box and all the supplies and instructions are in the kit. I purchased enough kits to make sure each child has one animal they can create.
Then, I unpacked them all and placed all the rocks in a large bowl. All the remaining supplies (paints, brushes, stencils/stickers, etc.) were placed near the rocks. I also set out a few Dixie cups of water and a roll of paper towels for cleanup.
Finally, I created this downloadable instruction sheet, framed it, and placed it on the table.
Similar to the “Build a Block Animal” activity, this is something the kids can do at their choosing. If they prefer doing it at home, they can select their rock and choose an individual animal package. Then, they put it in their favor box. Note that the child needs to have their own supply of paint and brushes. This is essential for them to successfully do this at home. Check with their parents to be sure they have the supplies to take this activity home to complete.
On the Creature Tail Rescue Mission
This is a type of structured scavenger hunt that all the children at the party will do together. They will work individually to solve clues and search for specific animals hidden around a designated area of the park.
Because the animals are hidden, it is recommended to start this game early on during the party. If you wait too long, the children will start finding the animals before the game starts. This may change the dynamics of the game.
You can download the rules of this Wild Kratts birthday party game here. Print them out so the kids can reference them during the game. But, you will also want to go over all the rules with the kids before the game begins.
Playing the game
To Prepare the Game:
- Buy your Animals. There are loads of small animal figurines on Amazon. These are the ones I purchased, and they turned out to be great quality. I love how the colors are so bright and vibrant. Make sure you have enough animals for each child to get three. You will want a few more than that. Some get lost and forgotten as they are hidden in the park.
- Download the Clues and Make any Necessary Adjustments. You can Download the Clue Sheet here. Download the Answer Sheet Here. If you buy the same set of animals that I did, you won’t have to make any adjustments. If you buy a different set, you will need to create new clues for any animals that are not listed in the Clue and Answer Sheet. You will also need to delete any rows of clues for animals that are in the Clue and Answer Sheet that you don’t have in your set.
- Gather all your Supplies for the Game: The animals, the Clue Sheet and Answer Sheet, a pen, a clipboard for your Clue Sheet and Answer Sheet, and the Game Rules.
- Hide all the Animals: Do this before the party begins and before the first child (except your children) arrives.
explaining the game and going over rules
To Play the Game:
- When it is time to start this game, gather the children to a designated spot. This will be the checkpoint. You need to stay in this spot for the duration of the game.
- Tell the children they are going to play a game called “On the Creature Trail Rescue Mission.” They will be excited to play. Explain to them that when the game starts, they need to line up in a row. When it is their turn, you will give them a clue. They are to solve the clue and go out into the search area to find that animal. Once they find their animal, they are to bring it back to show you. Then they will be given their next clue.
- Go over all the rules of the game using the Game Rules. Make sure they understand what they are supposed to do. Note that you can change and adapt the Game Rules to suit your party and your child’s guests as needed.
- Once all the kids understand the Game Rules, have them line up. Using your Clue Sheet, give each child a clue and let them go find their animal. Write down the name of each kid in the first box so you can track which child has which clue.
A few extra notes to reduce chaos during the game
- Check Point Tracking: Use tally marks to check off each child’s box as each child finds their animal and returns to show you. If they found their first animal, just put one tally in the box. If it is their second, put two tallies. For their third, put three tallies. That way you can track how many animals each child has found. When they have found all of their animals, they are done with the game. They can put their animals into their favor boxes to take home.
- Prepare Yourself: As each kid finds their animals and wants their next clue, they will swarm around you. This can be frustrating as only one child can check in with you at a time. If it gets too chaotic, kindly remind them to form a line. Don’t feel rushed. Take your time as you use your Clue and Answer Sheet to mark your tallies. Give the next clue for each kid. Although they will be eager to check in, most kids are patient enough to wait their turn
Remember to connect with each child as they check in and get their next clue. Little comments like “Congratulations” or “That was a hard one, and you found it” have a great impact. Saying “I’m so glad you got that animal” or “You’re so smart to solve that clue” is encouraging. Mentioning “you know so much about animals” can make their day. These go a long way with these little kiddos and make the game so much better for them.
Favors – Take-Home Treasures for Your Wild Kratts Birthday Party
This is the part of each birthday party that many kids this age get most excited about. It is second to the cake. Children just love peeking into a bag or box they were given. They get thrilled to see all the sweet treats and toys inside it. My son in particular loves assembling all the favors for his friends.
As mentioned already, I love creating activities for the kids that also double over as favors. That is why with each of the above activities, every child has something to take home that is related to that activity. After completing each activity, they can put their creations and findings into their box.
For this Wild Kratts birthday party, I added a few extra favors, including candy. These were already in the boxes at the start of the party.
Check out this list of party favors below.
Zoo Animal Favor Boxes (24): To stash away all party gifts, creations, and findings. Tag each box with the child’s name using gift tags, wooden tokens, or similar. Attach each tag to the box.
Arroyner 2” Wood Circles/Round Wood Discs: Used to make DIY Power Discs. Download the Power Disc Template Here. Print on cardstock. Cut and Mod-Podge them to these wooden discs. I made enough for each kid to have three power discs to take home.
Jungle Safari Slap Bracelets: These bracelets were so fun for the kids to wear while at the party.
Arrange the favor boxes on a table at the party location so that each child can easily find their box at the start of the party (or at least at the start of the Creature Trail Resue Mission game. They will need their boxes to stow away their findings and creations.
Hosting Your Wild Kratts Birthday Party
So, are you ready to grab your creature power suits and prepare for an action-packed birthday adventure? This Wild Kratts birthday party is the perfect way to encourage kids to learn, explore, and have fun while celebrating! With themed snacks, exciting activities, and memorable party favors, your little adventurers will have a blast. I guarantee that this is a party they’ll leave feeling like true Wild Kratt explorers.
