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For Second’s 6th birthday I wanted to keep it low-key after his no-holds-bar all-out drive-in movie party last year. I told him he could invite 5 friends and we threw up the bounce houses that someone had generously given us earlier that summer. BUT, I did want to make it a little more exciting than a regular play-date. And thus the ice cream truck idea was born:
So simple, almost no prep, and I didn’t even have to MAKE any thing! All store-bought baby. For me and my 4 month-old baby that sounded fabulous.
How to Make Your Own Ice Cream Truck
- Head to the store and pick out a variety of ice creams/popsicles. I got 8 different kinds.
- Dump contents of each box into a numbered ziplock bag, for example I put all the ice cream sandwiches into a ziplock with the number 1 on it.
- Cut out the picture of the ice cream from the box and glue it onto a poster (aka your menu!) Use the printables (found at bottom of post). Put the picture of each ice cream next to the number it corresponds with. So I put the ice cream sandwich picture next to the number 1.
- Get some dry ice and coolers and throw all your numbered ziplock bags in there at the last possible moment.
- Put the coolers in the back of a pick up truck and recruit some 7 year-olds, or a grandpa, or whoever, to run your ice cream truck!
- Let kids come up to the truck and tell you what number they want, find the corresponding ziplock bag, and hand them their ice cream!
This pose of 7 year-olds was delighted with all the power bestowed upon them. They even made a “closed” sign that they put up any time they wanted to go play on the bounce houses.
Decisions….decisions….
By the way this cute little easel pictured above is Melissa & Doug, you can get it here.
This sad little fella is being told he’s cut off after a few too many…
Not happy bob. Not happy. (name that movie)
Free Printables
I did reduce the size to about 80% when printing these for my poster. If you are making a banner leave them at full size. And always tag that sucker with #partylikeacherry when you use my printables so I can see all your awesome ideas!!
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Thanks!