Whale Party Ideas, Shark Party Ideas!

Lassen and Under the Sea Party Ideas!

Plan an Under water adventure for your child's next party. Whether they like Whales, Sharks, Fish or anything aquatic, they are sure to love the party ideas and party supplies found below!

Many of these great ideas have come from Birthday Express and shindigZ.com.

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Slogans & Invitations

After selecting this theme for your party, choose a slogan to use in your invitations, and to use in tying in decorations and personalized favors for your enchanted Under the Sea theme.  Find the perfect slogan for your party by trying one of the following, or by thinking of one that suits your precious child.     

"Under the Sea Adventure!” “Birthday Enchantment Under the Sea…Mermaids, Dolphins, and Brittany!”

“Have a Whale of a Time at Jon’s Birthday!”
“Take the Plunge!”

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Invitations:

Choose one of the following invitations to let your guests know what a seaworthy time they will have at the party:

The Under the Sea Ensemble contains an invite that is perfect for this theme. Invite the kids to come dressed for some wet fun, weather permitting. 

Send a message in a bottle from under the sea!  The unique Design Invitation can be imprinted with your personalized slogan and details of the party…you name it, and they’ll print it for you!  Roll the invitation up, and tie it with a small piece of green (seaweed) curling ribbon or raffia.  Add the invite to an empty water bottle (label removed).  Add about 4 tablespoons of sand to each bottle, and a few small seashells.  One Shell Necklace can be cut apart and will fill 10-12 invites.

Print out a picture of a whale (we have a dot-to-dot one your invitees can color) and include the part specifics on the bottom. Or, create your own and use whale stickers on the envelopes. Another whale picture the birthday child can print out and color and use for invitations, or party decorations can be found here.

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Decorating Tips

Spread your table cover on your party table. If your child has any theme-related toys, you can add them to the table for a more festive display.

Cut several one-to-two-foot-long pieces of curling ribbon and lay them on your table.

Use balloons to mark the party spot; hang them on the mailbox, near the front door, or tie them to the birthday child's chair to mark the seat of honor.

Place balloons anywhere that strikes your fancy. The more the better!

Gather six or eight streamers and attach them to the ceiling in the center of the party room (or over the table). Use a light fixture over the table, if you have one, as the center point for the streamers.

To create colorful two-tone streamers, put two differently colored streamers back-to-back, twist as you walk them to the wall, and attach at shoulder height.

Under the waves, where fish swim and play, sea creatures are gathering…for a wondrous birthday!  We’ve gathered everything you need to decorate and celebrate in an enchanted world, under the sea.

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Outdoor decorations:

Hang Die Cut Green Vines (seaweed), Clear Balloon bubble strands, and some Fish overhead in the area where the children will enter the party.   

The Giant Octopus Standee will be waiting to wrap his arms around the little party guests! 

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Indoor Decorations:

Start your decorating with the Under the Sea Ensemble.

Tissue Bubble Fish and Fishnet will certainly make the guests smile!

The Giant Treasure Chest can be used as a gift drop box and as a prop for a buried treasure party game. 

Cover a wall with Dark Blue Water Gossamer, and add some undersea life for an under the ocean setting.  

An Orca Whale, a Gray Whale, Silver Porpoises, or Seaweed from the Deep Blue Destiny Group, and sparkling Seahorses will transport children to a fantasy world that they won’t want to leave. 

Tie huge bows with dark blue water Gossamer across the top of each chair back.  The bows can be cut to any length, and even look great with tails trailing on the floor.  Make bows to hang anywhere and everywhere…chairs, doorways, tree trunks, stair rails, deck posts, gift packages, or table-ends. 

The gossamer also looks terrific as a table cover, puddle around the base of other decorations, or hanging from a doorframe.

Fill a room with an enchanting underwater scene using the Under the Sea Painted Mural. 

Balloons can economically transform any room, backyard or park into a festive space in a matter of minutes by using some of the following ideas: Use a Helium Tank to fill balloons.  Tie Curling Ribbon to balloons, and group them together.

Hang fishnet on the walls around the house. Place seashells around the house and on the fishnet. Use blue crepe paper and clear (bubble-like) balloons and hang from the ceiling.

Use small nametags with blank whales drawn on them, having the guests write their names and color them in as they arrive.

If not using helium, tie balloons to varying lengths of curling ribbon, and hang from the ceiling or from a light fixture over the party table.

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Table Decorations:

Cover the food table with a white or blue Fishnet. 

For a great centerpiece, use a bunch of helium filled balloons tied with curling ribbon. 

Display your birthday cake in the center of the table…the kids will love the close up view!

Order light blue Napkins and have them imprinted with your party slogan.  Select a metallic or foil imprint.  The napkins will serve several purposes…great decorating in disguise and a treasured memento for the birthday child’s scrapbook.

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Game Ideas:

These work great for children ages 3-6

Feed The Whale: Draw a large picture of a whale's face onto cardboard and cut out its mouth. Have the children throw bean bags into the whale's mouth. 

Pin the Tail on the Whale: Draw a large picture of a whale, without its tail. Make enough tails for each guest (and perhaps a few extras). Using two-sided tape, put a small piece of tape (and a number to keep track!) on the back of each tail and have the guests try to pin the tail on the whale. Younger kids may not like to be blindfolded, only use this part if the kids are old enough to not be scared.

Baby Whale Pickup: Divide the kids into two teams. Place a bowl of goldfish crackers (the same amount in both, about 20 pieces) about 15 to 20 feet in front of the teams. Give each team a spoon and an empty container in front of them. Instruct them to go one at a time (one member from each team) down to the goldfish, scoop them up and bring them back and put them in their empty container. The first team to get all of the goldfish transferred is the winner. *Remember, very small children do not enjoy competition games and it is best if ALL children are treated as winners!

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Games and Activity Ideas!

Fish for a Name Tag - Before the party, make a fish-shaped name tag for each guest using heavy, colorful paper. Decorate with markers and attach a paper clip to the mouth of each fish. Place all the fish in an empty kiddie pool or decorated box. As each guest arrives, hand him or her a fishing pole (sturdy stick with a yarn “line” and a magnet “hook”). When a fish is “caught,” write the child’s name on it to wear during the party.

Deep Sea Fishing - For this activity, you will need a helper. Drape a sheet over two tall chairs, or string fishing line tightly between two objects across the room. Decorate the sheet with paper fish or stickers to symbolize that it is the sea. Use an old fishing pole or make your own by tying string to a pole. Attach a clothespin to the end of the string. Give each guest a chance to "cast" his or her line over the sheet. Make sure your helper stays out of sight while attaching small gifts, favors, or treats to the clothespin. To indicate that a fish has "bitten", the helper yanks gently on the line. Watch your guests giggle in delight as they reel in their lines and see what they’ve caught.

Squirting Gallery - Set up a number of empty plastic pop bottles at a distance 8-10 ft from the place where players will stand. Lay a jump rope down for the line shooters must stand behind. Give each guest a squirt bottle or squirt gun, and see which player can knock down the most bottles! For younger children, decrease the distance between the bottles and the shooting line.

Water Brigade - Divide your guests into two teams and line them up next to each other. Give the first person in each line a large cup full of water. Place an empty bucket for each team about 30 ft away from the starting line. When you say "GO!" the first person in each line runs to the team’s empty bucket, pours their water in it, and runs back to the team. The second player takes the empty cup, runs to the bucket, fills the cup with water again, and carefully hurries back to the next player, etc. The game continues until each team member has participated. The fastest team may not necessarily have the most water in the end. Award teams for both speed and accuracy (spilling the least water)!

Sea Shell Treasure Hunt - Everyone loves to find treasures! Use your child’s sandbox or fill a plastic swimming pool with sand. Add a bunch of different sea shells and cover them with sand. Let the kids search for the shells and take them home as party favors. If you wish, add unusual rocks or other treasures that can be found under the sea. Assorted shells and stones are available at your local craft store.

Making Waves - You will need the following for this activity: cooking oil, glitter, confetti, a small plastic bottle for each guest, blue or green food coloring, rubber cement glue, & water. Using a funnel, fill each bottle half full of water. Add blue or green food coloring, and gently shake to mix. Next, use the funnel to fill the bottle almost to the top with oil. Point out how the oil floats above the water! Add confetti and glitter to decorate the liquid inside the bottle. When finished decorating, seal the lid on the bottle tightly with rubber cement. Allow the glue to dry. When the glue is dry, let the kids turn the bottles on their sides and gently tip them back and forth. Your guests will love playing with the waves they’ve created!

Mitten Fish - Make mittens or old socks into tropical fish with felt scraps, glitter, sequins, googly eyes (2 per guest), ribbons, buttons, and permanent markers. Even have them create a puppet show afterwards!

Underwater Swim - Seat your guests in a circle, facing inward. Choose the names of three underwater creatures and walk around the circle naming the children in sequence - whale, shark, dolphin, whale, shark, dolphin, etc., so you have several of each underwater animal sitting at intervals. Explain that when their name is called, they must get up and go for a “swim.” This entails walking around the outside of the circle and listening to your instructions. If you say the sea is rough, they must jog around the circle. When you say it’s getting rougher they run faster and if you say the tide turns, they turn and run in the other direction. When you say “STORM,” they must run back to their original places on the floor. The last to arrive is out and sits in the circle facing outward. Continue the game until there is only one player left swimming.

Fish, Fish, Shark!! - This game is based on the traditional "Duck, Duck, Goose" game. Instead of a goose chasing a duck, a shark chases a fish. Or for your Whale themed party, you can play Fish, Fish, Whale etc.  Gather all your little fishies and seat them in a circle. To start, designate a "Fish" to walk around the circle, tapping each guest on the head and calling each a fish. After several guests have been tapped, the "Fish" chooses one guest and yells out "Shark" when tapping him or her on the head. The Shark chases the Fish and tries to tag her as she races around the circle and back to the Shark’s spot. Repeat the game until each guest has had a chance to be the Shark.

Octopus Tag - For this game, the birthday child begins as the Octopus in the middle of a large playing area. All other players are Fish, who must try to run past the Octopus to the other side of the playing area. If a Fish is tagged, he or she holds hands with the Octopus and become a tentacle to help tag more fish. The last Fish alive becomes the next Octopus.

A Bubble Machine will entertain kids for hours as they race around popping underwater bubbles! 

Take the time to have each child pose alone, and with the birthday child for pictures inside the standee.  The priceless photos can then be mailed to each guest with a thank you note at a later date.   

The Octopus or Shark can also be used for two other party activities: 

-Gather a couple of beanbags, or fill some uninflated balloons with rice. Use the Standee for a beanbag toss game.

-Prior to the party, fill 4-5 water bubble balloons for each child. Have mom, dad, or another good sport peek out of the opening, and then let the water fly! Listen to squeals of delight when the kids are running old-fashioned three-tentacle (or legged) races, and crab races.  For the crab races, have the kids raise themselves up from a sitting position on their hands and knees, so that their backs are facing the ground. 

The kids can also play Crab Soccer using an inflated balloon as a soccer ball. 

Buried Treasure – Blindfold the guests one at a time, then let them dig deep into a Giant Treasure Chest filled with goodies. 

Clam dig – Use a sand box, large tub or you can even fill the Giant Treasure Chest with sand, and bury small toy treasures for the kids to dig up.  Fill and bury some Sea Shell Nut Cups with wrapped candy.  Add some Mini Sea Creatures for an authentic Under the Sea surprise!

Create a deep sea fishing pond, using lots of toy treats for the catch of the day. Get caught up in a wave of fun as the kids make a craft that they can display with pride. 

Run a Deep Sea Relay, using two sets of over-sized flippers, goggles and filled-to-the-brim (with water) Beach Pails.  Divide the kids into two teams, and have the first in line put on the flippers and goggles.  Each person must run to a designated line…with the water filled bucket.  Each team member then runs the same course after being tagged.  Offer two prizes for this game.  One for the winning team, and one for the team with the most water left in the bucket! 

Wrap a box of individually packaged Goldfish^tm snacks (one for each child) with newspaper or butcher paper.  Continue wrapping layer upon layer around the package, so that the kids can unwrap it one sheet at a time.  After you have added approximately 12-15 layers, wrap the final layer with real birthday paper and a fancy bow.  Gather the guests around in a circle, play some music, and tell the kids that when the music stops, whoever is holding the package gets to unwrap the package (be specific that they may only open one layer.)  Continue playing the game until the final layer is removed.  The winner gets to give each person a package of Goldfish^tm…so everyone wins!

If your party is at a time when the weather is beautiful, request in the invitation that guests wear a bathing suit and let them get wet!  Have a water balloon fight, play water-hose limbo, or just let the kids play in the sprinkler. 

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Treats

Worms in a Blanket
Purchase your favorite brand of hot dogs, cheese, and refrigerator croissants. Slice hot dogs lengthwise and cut cheese into strips. Unroll croissants and stuff them with hot dogs and cheese. Roll croissants back up and bake as directed, or until golden brown.

Deep Ocean Blue Ice Cream: Let a gallon of vanilla ice cream to soften. Then add 2 tablespoons of blue food coloring or 2 teaspoons of cake icing coloring to the ice cream, stir and then return to freezer

Be sure to have goldfish crackers in small bowls! 

Starfish Cake
Purchase your child's favorite flavor boxed cake mix. Follow package instructions for preparation and bake in two round cake pans. When cool, leave one layer whole and cut the second layer into five equal sections. These five pieces will become the legs of the starfish. Place the first layer in the center of a large, flat serving tray or platter. Trim the curved edges of the starfish legs, so that they fit snugly against the round edge of the body piece. Arrange the legs neatly around the body of the starfish and attach with icing. Frost with bright yellow, orange, purple, or red icing. Decorate with colored sprinkles while the icing is still damp to give the starfish a spiny texture. For extra fun, spread blue frosting on the serving tray to make it look like the starfish is in water.

Whale Spout Cupcakes: Little ones sometimes do better with cupcakes than a large cake. And this one they can decorate themselves! Baked and Ice cupcakes (make gray icing if you want to), and then have the kids use 4" lengths of licorice and poke them into the centers of the cupcakes to look like a whale spout.

Sail Boats: Make finger sandwiches (tuna, chicken salad, peanut butter and jelly) or you could use slices of pizza, and then take a cracker, tortilla chip or something else rectangular and place it to look like a sail on top of the sandwich or pizza.

Shark Bait Apples
Every good fisherman knows that you need plenty of bait in order to catch some fish. Your little fishes will surely "bite" when they see these apples! For this recipe, you will need: peanut butter, jelly or jam, a package of gummy worms, and one apple for each guest. Remove the core from each apple, while leaving the bottom of each apple intact. If you accidentally puncture an apple all the way through and do not have extras, carefully plug the hole with a small piece of core. Combine 1 cup of peanut butter and 1 cup of jam in a bowl. Fill the center of each apple with the mixture. Place apples in a cupcake or muffin tin, and set the tin in a pan half full of water. Bake the apples at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until apples are tender. When cool, insert a gummy worm halfway into the hole, leaving half to dangle over the edge. Serve on individual plates.

Fish Bowl
For this fun snack, you will need a large, clear bowl, one package of blue or green Jell-O®, gummy fish, and a cup of low-fat whipped topping. Make Jell-O® according to package instructions. Pour into the bowl and set in the refrigerator. As Jell-O® thickens, (check after about an hour) insert the gummy fish into the "sea." When it is time to serve, spread whipped topping over the top to create the illusion of surf. Serve in cups or small bowls.

Beach Lemonade
This homemade favorite makes a refreshing treat anytime! Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup lemon juice, and 5 cups water. Stir until sugar dissolves and add ice to chill. Makes six (8-ounce) servings.

School of Fish! 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
One sheet of rice crispy treats (you’ll want to have one fish per guest at the party, so depending on the number of people you are serving, you may need more than one sheet.)
A large fish cookie cutter
One “board” for displaying the cake
One 16 oz. container of ready-made frosting
Several colors of bright gel or paste food coloring
Piping bag
Edible iridescent glitter
Cut fish out of the rice crispy treats with a cookie cutter. Place them on a large cake board covered with Water Print Gossamer, and frost each one differently with bright colors of frosting. There is no right or wrong way to decorate the fish…and you can even involve your child in the fun!  If you prefer a more traditional cake, simply cut a 9 X 13” cake into a fish shape, and decorate it with bright colors.

Whale Party, Shark Party and Under The Sea Party Favor Ideas

5" Sticky Sea Animals
4" Large Squirt Fish
Fish Magnetic Kit
Neon Fish Assortment
3" Star Fish
1.5" Soft Asstd Goldfish
2" Fish Bubbles
Fish Medallion Beads
Jelly Fish Yoyo

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