If you have a child you can't keep out of the water, consider a rafting party as a unique and fun birthday experience. Even if your child is too young to go river rafting, you can have lot of fun with inflatable rafts in a pool. Here are some ideas to get your started. 

Book a Pool

Use your own backyard swimming pool if you have enough space. Otherwise you can book time at a community pool. Some community centers and YMCA facilities also have indoor pools you can use for parties. 

Be sure to make sure the facility knows you will be bringing inflatable rafts. 

Create Invitations

If you are planning to hand deliver your invitations, make little rafts out of craft sticks. Write the party information on a paper sail. 

Make your own flat invitations by painting simple waves on a piece of card stock and then gluing a paper raft in the center. If you want to get really creative, cut out a photo of your child to put in the raft. 

Organize Games

While just goofing around on inflatable boats is fun for kids, there are also some great games you can play with rafts. 

  • Have a race to see which team can get the raft from one side of the pool to the other in the least amount of time. Make it interesting by requiring teams to pick up certain objects or complete tasks like touching a diving board. You could also have some guests pulling the raft while others ride. 
  • Tie rafts together to see if kids can balance on one and move to the next. 
  • Set up some nets for a game of raft water polo or volleyball. 
  • Have guests guess how many kids can fit on a raft, and then find out who was right. 

Bake a Rafting Cake

You can easily decorate a cake for a rafting party by using white and blue icing to look like waves in the water. Then buy a small toy raft or fashion one out of fondant to put on top. Don't forget little oars. You could also add a shark fin to the water and some fish candies just for fun. 

Give Inflatable Favors

Send guests home with an inexpensive inflatable of their own. Put it in a bag with fish candy and a water gun. 

Make an average pool party something special with inflatable rafts. It will be a birthday your child will never forget. 

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