Kids Party Activities: Face Paint, Crafts, and Slushies

The best kids party activities are hands-on and easy to run: a face painting station with safe cosmetic paint, a craft table, balloon animals, and a slushie bowl just for them. Set up two or three stations, put an adult at each, and let kids rotate.

Face painting

Face painting is the activity kids remember most. Safety comes first.

Pick safe paint

The FDA's novelty makeup tips give clear rules for face paint:

Use products made for skin. Don't decorate faces with anything not intended for skin, like craft paint or markers.
Check the colors. The law says color additives in face paint must be approved by FDA for use in cosmetics.
Follow the label. Some paints say they are not for use near the eyes. Believe the label, even if the package photo shows paint near the eyes.
Sniff test. A very bad smell can be a sign the paint is contaminated. Throw it away.
Skip neon near eyes. FDA says none of the fluorescent colors approved for cosmetics are allowed near the eyes.
Test first. FDA suggests trying a dab on the arm for a couple of days before you use a new product on the face. Test your paint at home before the party, and ask parents of kids with allergies to do the same.

For more tips, read our guide to face painting tips for a kids party.

Easy designs

Aim for two to three minutes per child so the line keeps moving.

A heart, star, or rainbow on one cheek
A butterfly around the eyes (paint that is safe near eyes only)
Tiger stripes and whiskers
A lightning bolt for little superheroes
A slushie cup with a striped straw in your bowl colors

Post a picture menu so kids point instead of debate.

Station setup

Put the station in the shade, near the slushie table but not right next to it, so sticky cups stay away from brushes.
Bring two chairs, a small table, clean water cups, sponges, baby wipes, paper towels, a hand mirror, and a trash bag.
Change rinse water often and use a fresh sponge for each child when you can.
Don't paint over cuts or rashes.

Removal

FDA says to remove face paint the way the label says: soap and water, cold cream, or makeup remover. Be gentle around the eyes, and don't let kids sleep in it. Send each child home with a wipe.

Temporary tattoos

Decal tattoos are a quick option for kids who don't want paint. FDA has received reports of reactions to some decal temporary tattoos and suggests trying one on a less noticeable part of the body before using it on the face. Skip "black henna." FDA says the ingredient often used to darken it (PPD) can cause dangerous skin reactions and isn't permitted in cosmetics applied to skin.

Balloon twisting

Hire a balloon artist or learn a few shapes yourself: a dog, a sword, a flower, and a hat cover most requests.

Ask parents about latex allergies on the RSVP.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that children under 8 not play with uninflated balloons without supervision. Collect broken balloon pieces right away and keep them away from young children.
Keep the balloon station away from the face painting table so pops don't startle painters.

Craft table

A craft table keeps quieter kids happy.

Decorate a cup sleeve: paper sleeves and stickers for their slushie cup.
Paper flowers: tissue paper and pipe cleaners.
Friendship bracelets: big beads and stretch cord for older kids.
Coloring sheets: print pages in your party theme.
Sidewalk chalk: a driveway mural everyone signs.

Cover the table with butcher paper and tape it down. Keep glue sticks, not liquid glue.

Slushie station tips

A two-bowl machine pours two flavors at once, and every mix is alcohol-free until you add alcohol, so any flavor works as a kids slushie.

Label the kids bowl. When one bowl is a margarita and one is a slushie, use big, clear signs.
Keep an adult at the margarita side, and set the slushie side where kids line up.
Go all-kids if you like. Run both bowls as slushies, like Blue Raspberry and Cherry Bomb.
Use small cups for little kids and keep napkins close.
Plan your mixes. Most fruit slushie mixes make about 50 drinks, and one mix serves about 20 guests.

Find kid favorites in our kids party slushie flavors guide, and see how a kids party slushie machine rental works. We deliver, set up, show you how it works, then pick up and clean.

Ready to plan? Check dates and book online in minutes, or get a quick estimate first.

Questions

What kind of face paint is safe for kids?

Use face paint made for skin and follow the label directions. FDA says color additives in face paint must be approved for use in cosmetics, so never use craft paint, markers, or anything not meant for skin.

How do I remove face paint after the party?

Remove it the way the label says, whether that is soap and water or cold cream. FDA advises against sleeping in face paint and says to be gentle around the eyes.

Are temporary tattoos safe for a kids party?

Decal tattoos are popular with kids, but FDA has received reports of reactions to some of them. Try one on a less noticeable spot first, and skip black henna, which can contain an ingredient that causes dangerous skin reactions.

How do I keep kids away from the margarita bowl?

Label each bowl in big letters, put the slushie side where kids line up, and keep an adult at the margarita side. Every mix is alcohol-free until you add alcohol, so you can also run both bowls as slushies.