Banana Split Fun

Banana splits are so yummy, especially for kids during summertime. One of the BEST parts of this ice cream classic is that you can either make your own concoctions or stick to the tried and true. If your child loves to make and eat banana splits, a great summer-themed party could revolve all around making, judging, and eating them!

Make invitations using bright yellow construction paper cut into the shape of bananas. Write all of the party details on one side, and draw brown spots on the other. Alternatively, hand-deliver real bananas with tags tied to them that include all of the party details. On the invitation, ask guests to bring their own favorite banana split ingredient to the party with them, or have them bring a banana that they dress up in some way, such as with a hat.

Decorate the party area with yellow and brown balloons, streamers, and party ware. Place a large piece of butcher paper on a table. The kids can draw a huge banana split together and hang it in the party area.

Make the banana splits on the party table. Lay out dishes with all of the toppings, as well as spoons, bowls, etc. You may want to pull the chairs away from the table while the kids are making their treats.

The main activity of the party will be making banana splits. You can have a competition in which the kids make their splits using your ingredients and the special ingredient they brought. Hold a tasting competition, allowing everyone to taste everyone else’s and vote on prize-winning splits.

If you have had the kids bring a banana that is “dressed up,” have a competition to see whose is most creative, funniest, etc. Hand out banana candies as prizes, and make sure everyone wins!

Here are a few more activity ideas:

• Play Pass the Banana, with the kids passing a banana around the table while music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding the banana wins a prize.

• Have the kids jump up and down and do “banana splits!”

• Hold a series of relay races with bananas. Divide the kids into two teams, and have a bowl of bananas at the opposite end of the starting point. Each child must run to the end, peel a banana, eat it, place the peel on his or her head, and race back to the team. The first team done wins!

For another relay race, have the kids peel a banana at the start, race to the other end and make a mini banana split, eat it, and race back. The next kid must do the same. The first team done wins!

For a favor, have the kids exchange toppings that they brought. Combine them into plastic containers so the kids can try them on banana splits they make at home!

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

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