Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Adventure

An adventurous Dora the Explorer Birthday Party that will have your guests helping Dora find the gifts Swiper has stolen. My granddaughter loves Dora the Explorer, I like Swiper the Fox. This party brings both characters together for some fun.

This picture shows a few of the Dora items we were getting ready to use for her Dora the Explorer Birthday Party.

Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Invitations:

If you are making the invitations for this birthday party, chose easy to draw items and shapes. You could trace pictures of Dora or Boots from a coloring book.

Star Invitation:
I think using a Star would be perfect. You could even name your star the "Birthday Star". Just cut some star shapes out of poster board, Draw a face on the front and edge it with glitter. On the back you can write "Birthday Star" and the party information.

BackPack Invitation:
Trace the picture of the backpack from a coloring book onto two pieces of purple construction paper. Glue them together on the sides and the bottom, leaving the top open. Cut a piece of cream colored paper that will fit inside the backpack. On this paper you can write the word "map" on one side and put the party information on the other side. When writing the party information you can use three small squares, the first square shows the date, the second shows the time and the third shows a picture of your house with the address written down.

Binoculars:
Take a small pair of plastic binoculars and attach the party information to them. Include a note saying "We're going on an adventure, please join us".

Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Decorations:

If your child has one particular Dora show that they want to watch over and over again, you can base your Dora the Explorer Birthday Party and decorations on that show.

Stars:
Make Glitter Stars: Cut out stars from various colors of posterboard. Make them in sizes from eight inches or larger. Put a line of glue along the edge and sprinkle them with glitter. When the glitter/glue has dried you can punch a hole in the top and hang them above the party area.

Hang streamers from the ceiling along with some balloons. Balloons are the least expensive way to decorate for any party!

Buy two Dora tablecovers. Use one for the table and use the other one for decorating the walls. You can cut out the individual pictures of Boots and Dora and tape to your walls. You can also use the cut outs for decorating party gifts and favors.

Dora™ Star Party Kit comes with plates, napkins, balloons, streamers and invitations. All in one kit delivered right to your door.

Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Activities:

You will need to read this section all the way through to see how the parts all fit together to create the adventure!

Have an older sibling or family friend dress up like Swiper the Fox. As the guests come into the house, have them put the party gifts onto a special table right inside the entrance. Escort all the guests into another room for the quick craft project.

While the guests are making their necklaces, have Swiper steal all the gifts and hide them in a pre-arranged place. Try not to let any of the guests see this happening! A good place to hide them is in the same room as the cake table. Have an extra table in there where Swiper can put the gifts and cover them with a thick blanket. In place of the gifts have Swiper leave small backpack that has a map in it for showing the kids how to get the gifts back.

Have all the guests go with you to place their necklaces near the door and see if they notice that all the gifts are gone. If they don't, then you will have to point out the backpack that is laying on the empty gift table. Ask the guests "Who do we call when we need to know how to find something?" They should all be yelling "The Map", if not you should mention it and once they holler for "The Map" you can reach in and pull it out of the backpack. This is the where the Dora the Explorer Birthday Party gets fun, as they guests have to help with finding the gifts!

Making "The Map":
The Map you are going to make will have three activities that the guests need to succeed at to find the presents.

You will draw or paste three pictures onto the map that pertain to the activities. The pictures or drawing are put into squares that sit side by side on the map in the order they are to be completed.

The first picture and activity is:
Finding the hidden apples.

Draw six apples and put the numeral 6 in the first square. (hint: use the same number as your childs age, so if she is 4 you would draw and hide four apples) Hide the apples well in advance of the party and only in one room. Put one in a fairly easy to find spot and hide the others in harder to find spots. The guests will need to find all the apples to move on to the next step.

The second activity is:
Build a City

Draw a picture showing boxes turned into a city.

Have a pile of boxes set into the middle of the yard or room. Supply the kids with markers and crayons. Have them take the boxes from the pile and build a city by putting the boxes side by side and then decorating them with doors and windows. If you have large enough boxes you can even cut doors into them before the party. Let the children play in their new city for awhile and then remind them they have one more adventure to head to.

The final activity is:
Birthday Cake and Gift Opening.

Draw a picture with a cake and gifts in the last square.
Sing Happy Birthday and eat cake. Once they eat their cake, you can ask them if they see the gifts in the room. You might point out the blanket if they haven't already noticed it.

This is a fun way to have a Dora the Explorer Birthday Party and your child and her friends will be talking about it for weeks.

Quick Craft Project: Dora Necklaces
Supplies needed: Dora Stickers, Yarn, Construction paper and a Paper punch.
Before the party: cut the construction paper into 3 x 4 inch rectangles, one for each guest. Round off the top of the rectangle, use a hole punch to put a hole near the top of the curve, thread the yarn through the hole and knot it to form the necklaces.

Give each guest a necklace and a couple of stickers and have them decorate the necklace. You might want to write their names on the necklaces.

After everyone is done (this is a quick craft just to keep them busy while Swiper is stealing the gifts!)tell them you want to put the necklaces near the front door so they won't forget them at the end of the party!.

Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Favors:

Buy inexpensive backpacks for each guest and fill with some explorer tools and toys: binoculars, coloring books, a compass, a magnifying glass, bubbles, stickers and crayons.

Dora party supplies

Dora the Explorer Birthday Party Food:

Any type of Fiesta food would work at your Dora the Explorer Birthday Party. Here are a few suggestions:

Tico Treats:
Tacos. Set up a small taco bar and let the kids make their own tico treats.

Isa Juice:
Green Kool-aid, milk with green food coloring added or water with green coloring added.

Star Cookies:
Make sugar cookies and cut with a star cookie cutter. Frost the top and use sprinkles to put faces on them.

Star Cake:
Bake a cake using a star shaped cake pan. Frost with any color and while the frosting is still wet sprinkle it with colored sugar.

Boots Favorite Food:
Bananas. You can serve plain bananas or you can make banana splits!