Ideas for a Ladybug Party Theme

• The small black-spotted insects can help inspire the most entertaining parties. Design Pics/Valueline/Getty Images

  The small winged insects known as ladybugs often leave children enchanted when they see them. If your little one has become interested in these creatures, plan her next birthday with a ladybug theme. That way, your child can enjoy a birthday party with plenty of colorful decorations, food and activities perfect for any ladybug enthusiast.

Decorations and Atmosphere

• You can't have a ladybug party without plenty of red and black decorations. Before the event, hang black and red streamers from the walls, wrapping them around each other to create a twirled look. Blow up some red balloons and with a permanent marker and color in several black spots. For a table centerpiece, gather up a flower pot and place some large fake sunflowers inside, and attach little plastic ladybugs found at a craft store to the flower petals. Dress the table with a red tablecloth and glue some black spots about 3 inches in diameter to the cloth.

  When your guests arrive, give each of them her own ladybug antennae, as suggested by Amazing Moms. Create these by gathering some red or black headbands. Create spiral shapes out of two pipe cleaners and glue one end of each pipe to either side of the headband. Then, glue two red cotton balls to the end of the pipes.

Refreshments

• Create a healthy spread of fruits and vegetables for your ladybug party. Make a fruit salad using strawberries and blackberries to follow the black and red ladybug theme. Cover the center of a celery stick with peanut butter then add raisins to create a ladybug on a log look. Make a birthday cake following the lady bug theme. Bake a dome-shaped cake and cover it with red-colored frosting. Add little black candies or cookies to the frosted cake to create a ladybug look. If you like, make one little cupcake and place it beside the large cake. Decorate the cupcake to look like a ladybug's head.

Activities

• You want to keep your little bugs happy during the party by planning plenty of activities. Before the party, place several black spots on the walls. On some of the spots write "winner" on the sides facing the wall. At the end of the party, have the kids all collect as many spots as they can. The guests to find the winning spots receive prizes. For another game, gather the players in a line some feet from a large red rug. Tell them the ladybug has lost her spots and needs them to put the spots back on. The players take turns throwing beanbags onto the rug. For more games, insert the ladybug theme into traditional birthday games like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and "Musical Chairs."