How to Host a Children’s Tea Party

Hosting a children’s tea party is a great way to celebrate the holidays, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Easter, springtime, or simply just because. Attending a “fancy” event is a little out of the norm for most children, which makes a tea party that much more special.

I’ve been an etiquette instructor since 2016 and I’ve hosted, attended, and been a guest speaker at several lovely tea parties. I’ve compiled my best tips for hosting a children’s tea party in this article and in this free Children’s Tea Party Planning Guide.

Tea Party Games and Activities for Kids

Taking tea is an activity in and of itself! The serving from teapots, steeping the tea bags, stirring in the sugar cubes, enjoying petits fours from a tiered tray- it’s all so lovely! But it can also help fill out the party by having a few extra activities planned for before or after tea time.

As soon as guests arrive you can have them get in the spirit of the party by

• creating their own fascinator
• donning boas or gloves
• coloring a paper tea cup

Once guests are settled and before tea time is when you best have the children’s attention. If you are going to provide any type of educational message, now is the time! A tea party is the perfect opportunity to cover

• party etiquette
• table manners
• grace and poise
• tea etiquette

If you like the idea of adding etiquette into your tea party but not sure where to start, my upgraded Children’s Tea Party Planning Guide includes instructor guides and video tutorials on how to deliver these etiquette lessons!

My favorite activities for after tea time are

• tea party bingo (this one on Etsy has lovely artwork and you can print it at home!)
• photo booth
• a read aloud of the book Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York
• any of these tea party games from The Spruce – my personal favorite is the sugar cube stacking contest!

How to Serve Tea at a Children’s Tea Party

If you plan to have any type of etiquette lesson or organized activity, I’ve found it is best to do so before the tea is introduced. If there are tea items already out on the table, the children are more likely to be distracted. I always wait to serve the tea and bring out the refreshments until after I’ve said all the important things I want to share.

When serving tea to children, I’m of the opinion to use “the good stuff.” Maybe we aren’t pulling out precious family heirlooms, but children need to learn how to handle nice things. However, if you’re still worried about your china or if you don’t have enough to go around, glass cups and saucers are a good option, as well as these plastic ones.

As for the actual tea, a fruity tea is the most popular choice for children. And most fruit teas are caffeine-free which will be popular with the parents! It’s also a good idea to have some apple juice on hand for kids who don’t care for the tea options.

I know typical tea directions call for boiling water poured over the tea bags for the best flavor, but warm water will be safer for children (and quicker to cool for those impatient little lips!).

What Types of Food and Refreshments to Serve at a Children’s Tea Party

Tea party food is the best! Sandwiches and sweets just seem to taste better when they are bite-sized! The most popular refreshments at children’s tea parties are sweets like

• brownies
• cookies
• cake squares or petit fours
• mini cupcakes
• donut holes
• macarons

And for savory options, kids like

• ham and cheese finger sandwiches
• PB&J finger sandwiches
• pinwheels
• pigs in a blanket
• pepperonis
• cheese and crackers

Basic Supplies Needed for a Tea Party

• Tea cup and saucer
• Spoon
• Napkin
• Sugar cubes
• Tiered trays or platters
• Plate for the food – dessert or luncheon size
• Tea (I prefer an assortment of fruit tea in bags rather than loose tea)
• Tea pot
• Electric kettle to warm water (or a high-capacity hot water dispenser if you’re having a large event)

Children’s Tea Party Planning Guide

I’ve compiled all these tips and more into my Children’s Tea Party Planning Guide. It’s free to download and my hope is it makes your tea party planning easier and more enjoyable!

I love that you are considering hosting a children’s tea party and hope this article helps in the planning process!