Mary Poppins Party: 7 Practically Perfect Activities & Crafts
Celebrate the Mary Poppins book series by P.L. Travers or the popular Disney films with a memorable tea party for all ages! The activities here are practically perfect in every way and have been used with groups of 24, but can easily be adapted for larger groups. Start your event with a quick introduction to set the stage, then set them free to enjoy activity stations, tasty treats, and a bit of dancing.
Mary Poppins Party Introduction
Here is a sample script to warmly welcome your attendees and kick things off:
“Welcome to the Library! My name is Miss Marta, and thank you for joining us to celebrate one of our favorite books AND movies, Mary Poppins.
- Raise your hand if you’ve seen the original movie, Mary Poppins.
- Raise your hand if you’ve read the book. Did you know there are actually four books in the Mary Poppins series?
- Raise your hand if you know the author’s name. (P.L. Travers)
Today we are going to make fancy party hats, learn some Mary Poppins dance moves, enjoy tea and treats, make sidewalk drawings, and more. You are welcome to begin at any activity station you’d like. In 20 minutes, we’ll be teaching some fun dance moves. I’ll make an announcement at that time, and you can either join us for dancing or continue enjoying the stations!“
Mary Poppins Party Crafts
Paper Bowl Party Hats Craft
Provide a white paper bowl and supplies to decorate it, such as markers, glitter foam stickers, feathers, and tissue paper. Use pipe cleaners or yarn to secure the hats in place or hot glue them to plastic headbands. Plastic headbands are available at most dollar stores and Walmart. Visit the Aunt Peaches blog for more ideas and tips on making quick and easy paper bowl hats. Alternatively, you can assemble even fancier hats, such as the ones from Dani Tutorials, found above.
Paper Ties Craft
Print the outline of a tie on cardstock. Let attendees cut out their ties, decorate them with markers, punch a hole on each side of the tie knot, string yarn through the holes, and tie around the wearer’s neck. Visit the GoodToKnow blog for more paper tie tips.
Sidewalk Chalk Drawings
Mary’s friend Bert is an excellent chalk artist. Challenge attendees to draw whatever they like or challenge them to draw scenes for fantasy places they’d love to jump into and visit. For example, Mary’s fairyland is a countryside setting with woods, a table for tea, and a merry-go-round to ride on, featuring beautiful horses. Jane and Michael’s fairyland includes Cinderella & Robinson Crusoe. What would your fairyland have in it? Interesting people, fun things to do, on the beach, in a park, on a snowy mountain, etc.? Provide attendees with black construction paper and chalk.
Mary Poppins Party Games & Activities
P.L. Travers Mary Poppins Quiz
How well do attendees know the book Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers? Quiz them with a few questions at the beginning of the event or print copies of it for attendees to quiz each other! Award stickers or other fun prizes to attendees who bring you a completed sheet. Download and print the P.L. Travers Mary Poppins Quiz and other fun activities from the Harper Reach Mary Poppins Activity Pack.
Pool Noodle Carousel Horse Races
Create 3-4 Carousel Horses out of pool noodles prior to the party. Set them out for “riding” around in a circle or use painter’s tape to mark a Start and Finish line for attendees to “ride” and race each other. Supplies needed include pool noodles (found at most dollar stores), hot glue, string, googly eyes, and felt. Visit PBS Kids for detailed instructions.
Step In Time Dancing
After giving attendees 15 or 20 minutes to enjoy the activity stations, invite them to continue what they’re doing or join you for a quick dance session. Teach dance moves for the following steps, then play the song “Step in Time” from the Mary Poppins soundtrack for attendees to dance along.
Step in place
Kick your knees up
Round the chimney
Flap like a birdie
Up on the railings
Over the rooftops
Link your elbows
Mary Poppins Party Tea & Treats
Get to the tasty treats already! Minimize caffeine intake for the kids by offering herbal tea instead of traditional black tea. We served herbal raspberry tea and were surprised to find the kids enthusiastic about it. Many lined up for multiple servings! Also, ice water and/or lemonade should be offered as an alternative. I love using these Floral Paper Tea Cups available from Amazon. You could also provide plain paper Hot Drink Cups or these Color Your Own Tea Party Cups for attendees to decorate with markers.
Delicious finger foods to serve include:
- Kite, umbrella, or penguin-shaped cookies would be divine, but plain old sugar cookies are perfect!
- Melon balls or clementines
- Cheese cubes
- Crackers
- Bite-sized pastries: Check the freezer section at your local grocery store or Gordon Food Service for mini cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, and other pre-made treats.
If you are low on funds, ask local bakeries or staff for tasty donations!
Visit The Youth Desk’s Programs page for more ideas and outlines!
