A Lost Socks Party...Ideas for any Kids Party Theme

Invitation:
Hand write or compute generate a foot-shaped party invitation, roll and tie with ribbon and insert into a funky fun pattern sock.  Hand deliver or flatten the sock to mail in an envelope (remembering over-sized envelopes require extra postage).  Use baby socks for mailing invitations to reduce the size.  Great idea for baby showers, too! 

Mis-Match Fashion:
Ask guests to bring 2 mis-matched socks.  Provide a basket at the door for guests to drop their socks in as they enter the party.  When everyone is at the party, give each kid 2 single but different socks to wear during the party and they get to take them home as a gift.  Suggest in the invitation to bring fun designs and colored socks.

Game Ideas:

Pile of Socks
20 pairs of socks mixed up in a pile.  Kids have ____ minutes to find matching pairs; kid with most matching pairs wins.

Backward Bean Bag Toss
Use baby or kid-sized socks and fill each sock half-full with uncooked beans or rice, tying a knot at end of each sock to ensure beans will not fall out.  Prior to the party, decorate a box or bucket with cut-out colored construction paper in the shape of socks.  Place the box or bucket in the room and designate the area away from it for the kids to toss the filled socks.  The catch is that the kids are backwards and cannot see the bucket, tossing the sock over their shoulder.  If there is more than one child whose sock goes into the bucket, move the toss line a little further away and these kids each take a turn until there is only one winner.  This is a fun game that kids may want to repeat several times.

Find the Lost Sock: 
Hide just one sock from a pair of socks.  Give each kid one sock and on the count of "go", ask them to search high and low for the matching mate.  The guest who finds ther matching sock first wins.  Continue the game until all guests have found their matching sock..

How Many Socks: 
Provide a pile of socks.  The object of the game is to see just how many socks each kid can put on one foot.  Continue until there are no more socks or time runs out.  Player with most socks on their one foot wins.  (Goodwill and other thrift shops are a good place to find socks inexpensively - remember to wash and dry them the day before the party).

Toes Pick Up
Scatter tooth picks or Scrabble Tiles on the floor.  Each guest gets 3 turns.  After removing shoes and socks, the player uses her toes to pick up as many toothpicks or tiles and hobbles over to drop them into a bowl or plate.   After the third turn, the objects are totaled up and the player who collected the most is the winner.

Party Favors Ideas:

Stuffed Socks
Insert a party themed plastic or cellophane loot bag into an adult sock, add candy and small party favors to the plastic bag and tie off with ribbon.  Use stripped, polka dot and funky socks.  Kids take home and use with socks they already have -- socks do not have to match!  A useful party favor idea that will won't get thrown away.

These are inexpensive plastic cookie cutters
that make great take-home party favors, too.
Create your own!

Party Activity Ideas:

      Socks Fashion Parade: 

Provide a table and work areas (floor is okay) so kids can decorate one or two white socks.  Ideas for sock decorations are ribbons, colored rhinestones, fake flowers and petals, movable eyes, pieces of fabric along with Jewel It Glue (washable after it dries).  When the socks are decorated, ask each kid to put them on their feet and model in parade fashion dancing to hip-hop music.  After a little while, provide chairs and play Musical Chairs... uhmmm, we mean Musical Socks! 

Foot Puppet Show:
Ask kids to create characters using their socks, such as a penguin, lion, teacher, little kid, etc. and create either a foot puppet show or a talent show.

Foot or Sock Cookie Decorating

Cookie Decoratint Area:
Provide guests with an array of cookie decorations,
such as....

Spray a fne mist of water over the cookie and
sprinkle on colorful sparkly Sanding Sugars,
14 colors available to match your baby shower colors.
http://thepartyworks.com/index.php/cPath/782_8_1430

Frostings-in-a-Tube,  all prepared and in a tube, ready to go,
NO fuss, NO mess!
11 colors available, simply uncap, attach decorating tip,
aim and squeeze frosting onto cookie.
http://thepartyworks.com/index.php/cPath/782_99

SPRAY on color, oh so fun, simply
shake the can, uncap, aim and spray!
10 colors available
http://thepartyworks.com/index.php/cPath/782_221

SUGAR SHAPE Baby Shower Decorations
Add to any dessert, even ice cream
http://thepartyworks.com/index.php/cPath/782_7

Baby Feet SUGAR SHAPES
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/49

These are inexpensive plastic cookie cutters
that make great take-home party favors, too.
Create your own!

Foot cookies can be decorated as socks or sandals, too...
or let kids decorate using their own original ideas.  A great as take home party favors to be used for arts & craft projects... or making cookies.

Party Decorations Ideas:
Hang colored and fun designed socks around the room, on lamp shades, hanging in doorways, etc.  Socks can be made from construction paper, felt or any fun designed fabric.

Name Tags:
Cut sock shapes from colored construction paper and write name of guest on each one.  Use as a way to create teams for games by asking kids to toss their name tags into a pile and draw names for each team.  Variation:  Prior to the party, using fabric paint, add names to socks, hang as decorations during the party and give to the kids to take home.

Food Ideas:

Foot-Long Hot Dogs
Provide hot dogs and all the trimmings, chips, potato salad and other side dishes.

A Few Feet of Desserts
Provide a desserts only table with lots of fun, tempting baby shower desserts.

Ooodles of Noodles Foot Bar
This is a great theme for a potluck, all dishes are to be made with noodles and
pasta, even the desserts! 

More to know about Lost Socks May 9th recognizes that we all have favorite socks that are near and dear to our heart and when one goes missing we hang on the last one until the very end of time, in hopes that the other one will some how show up again. But does this day ever come? Where do all those missing socks disappear to?  Does the washing machine eat them?  This is one mystery that no one has ever found the answer to. 
Read more at http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/lost_sock_memorial_day.html

Have fun!