Throw an Olympic Sport Costume Party

What To Do:

1. Start by creating a Winter Olympics 2010 costume party invitation. Ask your child to fold pieces of card stock in half.
2. Help him design an Olympics-themed front cover using markers. His design may include Olympic rings, pictures of sporting events, or a shiny drawing of a gold medal.
3. Ask him to type a separate information page for the middle that states the date of the party, time, place, RSVP phone number, and party theme (make sure to note that this will be a costume party). Have him print it and glue it to the inside of the invitation.
4. Help him create an Olympic event costume. This can either be done before the party, or can be turned into a fun party activity. If you would like to create outfits at the party, request that parents bring selections of clothing items for their children, and then use craft materials to embellish the outfits.
5. Encourage him to choose a sport to research. Look for photographs and descriptions of the clothing worn. Include information on why these specific clothing pieces work for certain sports, as well as the history or evolution of clothing choice. Ask questions such as, “Have figure skaters always worn short costumes?” or, “What did the downhill skiers wear thirty years ago?”.
6. Either beforehand or at the party, help him piece together his own winter clothing costume. Have him choose a basic winter staple, such as ski pants or leggings. Add in props and embellishments using art materials such as markers, tape, paints, and paper. For example, a set of play skis could easily be created out of long pieces of cardboard.