A Tea Party for Kids (+ Kids at Heart)

For any adult who grew up playing “tea party” it’s a delightful and nostalgic thing to host a tea party for kids.

In a world that’s increasingly digitized and fast-paced, a tea party is a great way to get kids to step away from the screens. Try these tips for planning a children’s tea and spending some quality time with your favorite little ones. Fun guaranTEAd!

Tea

Choose tea that’s kid-friendly. A light, fruity, floral, or herbal teasan often goes over better than a black or green tea. Numi’s line of herbal teasans is a good place to start: try “Hibiscus (Embrace)” with hibiscus, lavender, chamomile and rose, or Moringa (Balance)’s lemon and chamomile blend.

If serving a stronger-tasting tea that kids might find bitter, be sure to have sugar and milk on hand. Sugar cubes for sweetening tea are a bit of a novelty for most kids, and always a hit!

Snacks

Tea sandwiches are a tea party staple. To keep them kid-friendly, steer away from the traditional cucumber sandwiches and try just cutting butter and jam or even peanut butter and jelly into fancy shapes.

Tiny desserts make a great addition to any tea party spread. Go for miniaturized versions of kid’s favorites- cupcakes baked in a mini cupcake pan, cake made into petit fours, or little individual fruit pies baked in small jars for a rustic touch.

Get kids involved with making a special tea party snack! Make scones together, or bake sugar cookies and let them decorate their own.

Activities

It’s fun to plan an entire party around a tea party “theme”, complete with activities that kids will enjoy.

For a picnic theme, pack butterfly nets and a magnifying glass and enjoy some nature exploration after enjoying a picnic basket full of tea party goodies.

If you’re hosting a garden tea party, set up a craft after tea like paper flower making. Painting clay pots is also fun and can be a suitable activity for all ages.

A tea party wouldn’t be complete without dress up play! Allow kids to bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal (bonus points for having tiny teacups and plates set out for these imaginary friends), and have a box of old clothes, costume jewelry, hats, and scarves at the ready.

Did you play tea party as a child? We’d love to hear about your memories of imagination and play!