Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Party Costumes
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
If you’re looking for kids backwards party ideas, you have to begin with wearing their clothes backwards!
Here’s my son Andrew wearing his suit backwards – isn’t he handsome?
Wear your shirt backwards, put your necklace or neck tie hanging down your back, put sunglasses on the back of your head – or take it up a notch and put hats on your feet or clip flip flops in your hair.
Pump Up the Fun with a Backwards Fashion Show!
Now that everyone is dressed up, add a box of props – like the pipe Andrew is holding – and have a fashion show with all the kids walking backwards down the runway.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Party Icebreaker Ideas
When left to their own devices, kids run around and get totally out of control before the party even starts – especially if they’re all dressed backwards and excited before they get there. It is important for you as hostess to greet the arrivals and speak with their parents so the icebreaker activity should be self-directed, or have someone volunteer to keep the kids organized for you.
Here are a few ideas – choose the one that fits with the age group and interests of your guests.
An Exciting Kick-off: Let the kids TP the party area!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
What could be more backwards than TPing (toilet papering) the party instead of pretty crepe paper garland? When each kid arrives give them a roll of bathroom tissue and let them go at it. It makes for an unforgettable experience – and could even be the hit of the party.
We removed all the chairs and ran a string across the room along each side of the table to give the kids something extra to catch the paper on and create a little cave under the table with all the falling strips. (Since it’s backwards day the kids eat under the table.)
{Fun} Falling Bubbles
A bubble machine can entertain kids for as long as you want! Place the machine up high so the bubbles fall down, which is backwards. Want to add to the fun? Set up a video camera and TV so the kids can watch themselves dressed backwards trying to catch bubbles. Challenge them to use their TV image to try and catch bubbles behind their backs, which will look forwards if they have their shirt on backwards.
{Yummy} Make Backwards Cookies
Kids love decorating cookies – even the less artistic. Set up several bowls of different colored icing, a plate of cookies and some sprinkles. Give each kid a paper plate, a plastic knife and a napkin when they arrive. Tell them to make Backward Cookies, which are cookies with icing on the outside instead of in the middle. They can frost both sides of the cookie and add sprinkles to their liking.
{Double Duty} Photo Booth
Since they’re all dressed backwards, a photo booth is a great idea for an icebreaker. Hang a sheet with colorful stripes or a cheerful solid color as a backdrop and have them pose for a photo. Get a voluteer who knows how to use a camera to take their picture for you while you greet guests. You can send the photo to them later in a thank you card, or get the kids to decorate picture frames and print the photo off now to send home as a party favor.
{Easy Breezy} Have the Party Backwards & Start with the Favor Bags
Give them their goodie bags when they arrive. Nibbles are a great way to keep kids busy, and giving them party favor bags when they arrive is in keeping with the party theme.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
{Cool Runnings} Kids Backward Party Games
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Have a Backwards Treasure Hunt:
- write all the clues backwards (keep it simple by using the backwards writer at Bored.com)
- give the kids access to a mirror so they can read easily read the clue
- surprise them by leading back to the starting point to find the hidden treasure
- make sure they walk backwards when going from clue to clue!
Play Simon Says but do the opposite of what the leader is saying, such as lift your left leg when they want you to lift your right leg. It’s difficult!
Play Opposite Hide and Seek (also known as sardines) where one person hides and as each person finds the leader they hide with them. The last person to find the group is the next leader who hides.
Play Replace the Flag which is the opposite to Capture the Flag. Divide group into two teams and divide your playing area into halves, one for each team. The best play area has places to hide with a large area to run – such as outdoors. Tie a colored ribbon on their arm to represent their team with a different color for each team. Their goal is to put the team’s flag (same color as their armband) on the flag pole hidden by the opposing team in their own territory within a time limit. Tagged people must go to jail in the opposing team’s area but can be rescued when teammates tag them.
Hold Backwards Races. Do all the usual party races, only perform them running backwards: egg and spoon race, crab race, sack race – a relay race is absolutely hilarious backwards.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
{Cool Down} Time for Kids to Get Creative
Get the kids to write a story about a day in a backwards town:
- which is the name of their town or city spelled backwards
- the main character is their name spelled backwards
- details everything they did yesterday but in backwards order or is about someone as silly as Backwards Bill
Backwards Bill is a fun poem by Shel Silverstein made even “funner” when read by him. (See the whole poem at Amazon.)
If your kids are older, discuss Palindromes. Explain that a palindrome is a word, phrase or verse that is the same when read forwards or backwards. Here are a few examples, but you can see a whole list here.
- kayak
- level
- mom
- noon
- racecar
- now I won
- nurses run
- my gym
- a santa at NASA
Then if you really want to blow their minds, here is a song by none other than Weird Al Yankovic using all Palindromes!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Day Decorations
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Of course you eat under the table on Backwards Day!
If you TP’d the party area as the icebreaker or a decoration, make the bathroom tissue hang down to the floor. If you didn’t, put a big table cloth, blanket or similar item on the table so it hangs down to create a little cave under the table.
We hung icicle lights and swags of red twinkle lights around the perimeter of the table to add to the party atmosphere. (We used painters tape to attach them on the underside of the table. Easy removal!)
We put pillows underneath for the kids to sit on, but you could also set placemats for each place setting, depending on the age of the kids at the party.
Backwards Balloons can litter the floor instead of hugging the ceiling – kids love this because they can crawl through them to get under the table and kick them around. Or, you can have upside down balloons by attaching the ribbons to the ceiling and letting air-filled balloons (as opposed to helium filled) hang down.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
In our shoppe we have customized Backwards Day balloons. These 18″ mylar balloons are a great for decorating the buffet table, the birthday boy or girl’s chair or at the entrance so everyone knows which house is hosting the party.
See all of our customizable Backwards Day Party supplies.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Day Food Ideas
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Main Course Cupcakes
Here is a fun meal for Backwards Day – meatloaf cupcakes!
Just cook your usual meatloaf mixture in your muffin pan for 20 minutes. When it’s cooled top with Mashed Potatoes to look like icing and a dab of catsup or cherry tomato for a cherry on top.
This is the perfect beginning to a backwards meal because it makes it look like you’re having dessert first. Don’t say a word – just wait for their reaction when the figure it out for themselves!
(Here’s another little secret: my kids love, love, love meatloaf cupcakes all year round and I love them as a fast and easy meal.)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
{Fun} Backwards Birthday Cake
If you light the candles on this baby they’ll truly expect it to be cake!
This is oh-so-easy to make: just grill 2 hamburger patties, prepare either real or ready-to-use mashed potatoes, and cook some frozen mixed vegetables. Place first burger on a plate, top with veggies then place remaining burger over them. Now frost your layer “cake” with mashed potatoes.
{Easy Breezy} Inside Out Food
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Inside Out Sandwiches have the bread in the center! We used Tre Stelle cheddar cheese slices (real cheese as opposed to processed slices) on the outside to be firm enough to hold it all together – one on the top, one on the bottom.
Then we cut a slice of bologna in half and put each piece on a slice of cheese.
We cut the crust off a slice of bread to make it a rectangular shape and put it in the center of the two bologna/cheese pairings. We then sliced the sandwich diagonally to make munchable triangles.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
To make the hot dog look inside out:
- Cut a frankfurter in half lengthwise.
- Then cut top sliced hot dog buns in half lengthwise.
- Spread both sides of a bun piece with Cheez Whiz.
- Place a half frankfurter on each side of the bun using the Cheez Whiz as the “glue” that holds it all together.
{Amazing} TV Dinner Cupcakes for Dessert
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
These cupcakes are so much fun for dessert and make the day extra memorable.
They are very easy to make but look like you’ve worked oh-so-hard. See our article with step by step instructions and ingredients list.
{Easy Breezy} Upside Down Cupcake
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Looking for something easy for dessert? The upside down cupcake is oh-so-easy and the kids LOVE them!
Take something ordinary, give it a twist and the kids love it.
Just take a regular cupcake, put it icing down on a plate, stick your cupcake topper and/or candles in the top and call it a backwards day cupcake.
(Those really tall, thin, twisty red candles look great but sadly I couldn’t find any.)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Party Invitations
Which of these invitations suit your financial, energy & time resources?
|
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. 
|
The Backwards Party printable package includes the classic fill-in invitation. |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. 
|
If you’re looking for a customized Backwards Party invitation, we have one available in our shoppe. Personalize the front of the card with your name, and customize the date and party information inside. They are printed and mailed to with envelopes. Single card Package of 10 cards Package of 20 cards See all of our customizable Backwards Party supplies. |
{Exciting} Backwards Party Invitation
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
For that special occasion – or if you’re a party maven who loves over-the-moon parties – I like to suggest an invitation that’s a little more exciting than just a card. For a backwards party a surprise ball is perfect!
A surprise ball is a ball of crepe paper containing little prizes that the recipient receives as they unwind the ball. Since it’s backwards day, receiving the “party favors” at the beginning instead of the end makes so much sense!
As the invitee unwinds the crepe paper little gifts fall out of the ball until at the end they see the invitation to a party . . . the time and date . . . and then the host’s name.
See our Surprise Ball Tutorial for step by step instructions on how to make this invitation.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Party Printables
These backwards party printables add to the festivity of your wild & wacky backwards day!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Party Printables Package
- Banner with letters to read: Happy Backwards Day or Happy Backwards Birthday or Happy Birthday
- Cupcake Toppers: 2 designs – I Love Backwards Day, Wild & Wacky Backwards Day Party
- Cupcake wrapper: red with white polka dots
- Welcome Sign
- It’s Backwards Day Walkway Signs: 3 designs – Goodbye, Are you walking backwards?, What’s your name spelled backwards?
- Popcorn Box: red with white polka dots
- Bottle Labels: 2 designs – I Love Backwards Day, Wild & Wacky Backwards Day Party
- Party Favor Bag Topper: Wild & Wacky Backwards Day Party Prize
- Fill-in Invitation
- Party Hat: red with white polka dots
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
(We use Paypal for secure payments. Don’t have an account? Click “Checkout with Paypal” then on the Paypal page select “Don’t Have a Paypal Account” to pay as guest by debit or credit card without needing to register or paying any extra fees.)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Backwards Party Supplies
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We have personalized Backwards Party supplies in our shoppe: t-shirts for baby, toddler, kids, men & women, drinking glasses, serving trays, mylar balloon, tote bag, canvas party favor bag, customizable invitations, and much more.
I hope a few of these ideas will help you have a fantastic backwards party!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
What Now?
- Tell us about your backwards party. We’d love to hear from you in the comments or on Facebook.
- Get more Backward Party ideas from our Pinterest inspiration board.
- Plan your Backwards Party with help from our party planning articles or the Party Planning Checklist.
- Do you know someone who would be interested in celebrating Backwards Day or having a backwards party? Send them this article to stir their imagination.
The post Kids Backwards Party Ideas that Delight & Amaze appeared first on Playtime and Party.