Kids' Party Planning: Creative Table Settings with Colorful Melamine
Most of us loved going to parties when we were children. Getting together with our friends and classmates outside of school was an event all its own, but all the party games and foods made it even more exciting. Of course, the big, beautiful cake that was just begging to be dug into was part of the fun as well. Perhaps the best part of the party, though, was the theme and decor. Stepping into a birthday party or a holiday event was a bit like being transported into an entirely different world.
Once we grew up and had little ones of our own, the tables turned, didn’t they? As adults, it’s our responsibility to take our children’s visions of the perfect party and do our best to make them a reality. It’s our job to tap into all the excitement and wonder of childhood and bring it to life. Although it can certainly entail a lot of work and stress, seeing the delight on our kids’ faces and those of their guests makes it all worthwhile. Impressing guests’ parents with our remarkable decorating skills is definitely nice too.
Bringing a Child’s Party to Life
Several elements come into play when transforming an ordinary space into a party wonderland. You’ll need an overall theme to work with, but our little ones are usually eager enough to provide those, aren’t they? From there, you’ll need to choose decor that falls in line with the theme and plan at least a few activities to keep guests entertained. Snacks help to round out the fun, and a cake often serves as part of the food, the excitement, and the decor.
Bringing It All Together With Place Settings
From there, the table settings help to tie everything together. They need to be both fun and functional. For most of us, disposable paper or plastic dishes are the go-to solution here. They’re cheap, easy for kids to handle, and not overly fragile. They’re also available in endless colors and prints, so it’s easy to find some that mesh with the theme of virtually any event. They make for simple cleanup as well because once the party is over, all we have to do is toss them in the trash.
While those are all strong arguments in favor of disposable dishes, it’s important to look at the other side of the story. Disposables aren’t the most environmentally friendly options on the market. At the same time, though they’re inexpensive upfront, the cost of buying new disposable dishes for every party can quickly add up. They’re also flimsy, so they can’t always handle heavy foods very effectively. Some party foods, like ice cream, can be disastrous for paper plates.
Creating the Perfect Children’s Table Settings With Melamine
If you’re interested in a better alternative that doesn’t force you to sacrifice fun and flexibility, melamine dinnerware may be just what you’re looking for. It offers numerous benefits over other options. It’s a perfect choice for children’s parties for several reasons.
Vast Selection
For one, there’s a vast selection of melamine dishes. That makes it easy to find sets that meld with your party themes. Keep in mind that the dishes don’t necessarily have to reflect the exact theme of a party. As long as they fit in with it in some way, they’ll work beautifully.
For example, if you’re creating a princess party, pink dishes are perfect. For a fancy tea party, a set that resembles antique china would work well. Confetti prints can potentially harmonize with any theme. Blue dishes are fantastic for boys’ parties. They can dovetail with any number of themes from beach outings and pirate adventures to space voyages and sports motifs.
Lightweight and Durable
Melamine dinnerware is also lightweight, so it’s a perfect fit for little hands. It’s easier for them to handle and carry around than heavy dishes are. They won’t have to worry about breaking it, either, which can give them, and you, plenty of confidence when they’re using it.
That brings us to melamine’s durability. It’s virtually unbreakable. It can withstand being dropped even on hard surfaces. If the kids get a little rowdy and the dishes get knocked around, you won’t have to pick up the pieces afterwards. Its durability makes it a great choice for both indoor and outdoor parties as well. Beyond that, it can handle all types of food, including those that are heavy, wet, hot, and cold.
Reusable and Environmentally Friendly
Furthermore, melamine dishes are reusable. They’ll be there for you through countless events to come. You’re bound to save a great deal of money by keeping melamine party dishes on hand instead of buying new disposables for every children’s event you host.
You’ll be doing your part to save the environment as well. By some estimates, about two pounds of disposable dishes per person end up in landfills each year. A collective total of up to 12 million metric tons of plastic waste make their way into the oceans annually. Reusable dishes help to reduce that waste and its toll on the planet.
Easy Cleanup and Storage
Melamine dishes also make for easy cleanup after a party. Their nonporous surfaces don’t hold onto stains, and they can easily handle the heat and pressure of the dishwasher. They require little more effort than disposables.
They’re easy to store too. They’re stackable and nestable. You can simply place them in your cabinets or stow them away in plastic totes with your other party supplies. Either way, they’ll be there waiting whenever you need to use them.
Are Melamine Dishes Safe for Children?
If you’re concerned about whether melamine dinnerware is safe for children, the answer is yes! It’s completely safe for little ones. High-quality melamine dishes don’t give off harmful chemicals the way some cheap plastics do. As mentioned, they’re nonporous, so they don’t promote bacteria or mold growth.
Unlike glass, porcelain, and ceramic dishes, they’re not breakable, so there’s no risk of your little ones getting cut when you use melamine dinnerware. Since these dishes are lightweight, they won’t hurt little fingers and toes if they’re dropped on them. With all that being the case, melamine dinnerware is one of the safest options for children.
Bringing Children’s Parties to Life With Melamine Dishes
Creating the perfect children’s parties is all about transforming their dreams and ideas into real-life fantasy worlds. Several elements come together to make that happen. Melamine dinnerware can be an important part of the process. It’s a safe, affordable, reusable, and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable dishes. It’s also extremely versatile. Certain designs can be worked into virtually any party theme, and you can mix and match different colors and patterns for even more fun and flexibility.
