I recently watched Tim Burton’s recreation of the classic fairy tale Alice in Wonderland and it had me all giddy, even more so than my kids which is why I am excited to share Tips to enjoy a TEA-LICIOUS Mad Hatter Tea party with your kids. There’s something positively magical and lush about the landscapes and worlds Mr. Burton breathes life into in his movies and with a cast featuring deliciously devilish characters like the Queen of Hearts, the anxiety-prone white rabbit and the sweet and all-too-curious Alice, well, he’s got his work cut out for him.
But the best part about this re-imagined Alice in Wonderland is the opportunity to get my kids interested in sipping and enjoying a spot of tea the idea that we can recreate our very own Mad Hatter tea party either at home and for those precious moments in time, live out our own fairytale-like experiences. I’ve always been the kind of mom who likes concocting schemes to keep my kids still firmly believing in whimsical characters like the Tooth Fairy (to whom my son penned many a lengthy note asking for more money) and who also believed actual superheroes walked among us on this planet. That’s why these Tips to enjoy a TEA-LICIOUS Mad Hatter Tea party with your kids is right up my alley!
Can you really fault me for telling a few white lies? Maybe you can, but I’m convinced if white lies like believing in a magic rabbit hole will encourage my kids to don silly hats and boas and indulge in heart-shaped peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, well it’s a risk to my integrity I’m willing to take. For some Tips to enjoy a TEA-LICIOUS Mad Hatter Tea party with your kids, keep reading.
Tips to enjoy a TEA-LICIOUS Mad Hatter Tea party with your kids
Vanessa Valencia, a Tucson, Ariz.-based artist, writer and photographer and blogger, who hosts a yearly everyone is invited virtual Mad Hatter tea party every June, says the sky is the limit when hosting your own tea party.
Decorations
She suggests asking your children to help you decorate for the event. Their eye may have a perfect mad flair. Of course you MUST have an assortment of Alice in Wonderland books!
This Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Board Book is perfect for the toddler crowd
Use everyday items in your home as props to create that Mad Hatter ambiance. Clustered together on a table, they might be quite mad. Use anything from toy pianos and statues, to lamps and trays and mismatched tea sets and silverware and bits of fabric and ribbons to toss around and hang from your chandelier for a colorful effect.
Tiered cake stands and toys are a nice touch. Have your kids take a basket and go hunting around your home, gathering things to use on their table for decoration. Liquid bubbles for blowing on hand.
Mismatched table cloths and napkins work wonders, too. Check thrift stores for wacky inexpensive props and tea supplies, too. Keep a copy of Alice in Wonderland on hand, and let the kids flip through it.
Of course if you want to go full out and buy a few tealicious items- here are some really cute ones!
Foods
Cupcakes and bowls of maraschino cherries are always a hit. You can serve dark-colored soft drinks instead of tea to the children, but still served in tea cups.
Fill large bowls and glass jars with gum balls and jelly beans, or fancy pastel candied licorice. Make fruit kabobs with kiwi, strawberries, maraschino cherries and pineapple.
Serve little sandwiches cut in funky shapes with cookie cutters, like rabbits and hearts and stars. Tea sets: Let them be mismatched, and use the ones you won’t be sad about breaking; check thrift stores for inexpensive china. You can use plastic colorful tea cups for younger children.
Featuring cute bug designs, this Schylling Summer Bug tin tea set is perfect for every tea party.
Just make sure to use safe, age-appropriate place settings.
Costumes
Boys can wear a T-shirt with a suit vest and dress pants and big tennis shoes and a hat, and the little girls can dress in ruffled dresses with ribbons, gloves and hats. Adults usually wear fun outfits, too, by wearing funky clothes and shoes. Send the kids to their rooms and ask them to come out in their own choice for a Mad Hatter tea party. Bet they will surprise you on their own. Here are a few costume ideas to get you in a Mad hatter mood!
How cute are these Alice in Wonderland mismathced flip flops?!
Overall
With these Tips to enjoy a TEA-LICIOUS Mad Hatter Tea party with your kids you can create a Mad Hatter tea party with a sense of wild abandon and let anyone in the family participate in an anything goes adventure can bring more joy to a family than imagined. You step outside of technology and outside of a theme in a way because a Mad Hatter tea party truly has no boundaries.
Children and parents have an equally lovely time, and using things you already own for costumes and props creates an inexpensive journey to Wonderland, from the privacy of your own home. What more could you ask for?
I Have always wanted to go to a tea party, but even as a little girl I never have. It sounds like so much fun.
Love the idea for the tea party – and the blowing bubbles is such a whimsical (and creative) touch! Also, I still believe that superheros walk among us… so its good to keep that idea going strong with your kids!
I used to LOVE tea parties when I was little and now I enjoy going to Afternoon Tea! It’s such an adorable event! I love the tea sets you found!
I am a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. I love all these little tea sets they are adorable and I’ve been wanting to host my own mad Hatter tea party with a group of friends I just need to sit down and plan it all out .
Though I’m already a tea party lover, the tea sets are really adorable and the food got me drooling alllll over. Absolutely beautiful and delicious looking!
Aww these adorable! Gosh I want a mad hatter tea party now. I love the tea set. xx
Tea parties are so much fun! I really cannot wait to have a proper or pretend tea party with my youngest.
I always thought that whatever Tim Burton breathed his creativity into became a beautiful masterpiece. Mad hatter included, what a great idea! I love the sound of a mad hatter tea party x
Alice in Wonderland is one of my all time favorite books. My family used to read it and my husband would make the story scary and full of surprises. Love the tea party idea!
I LOVE tea. I think it was 2 years ago that my husband got me a tea variety box, that was from the Disney store. Mad Hatters Un-Birthday tea. It was on my birthday though so naturally I waited till it was my un-birthday!
Hosting a tea party sounds like a lovely idea, especially if you’re allowing the kids to join too. These are wonderful ideas, I love the Alice in Wonderland theme!
My aunt used to take me out for high tea as a little girl and I loved every moment. I need to do something similar for my little guy 🙂 So much fun eating the little sandwiches and desserts. That alice in wonderland costume is adorable!
I love Alice in Wonderland. My daughter loves having tea parties, so this is really perfect for her
My kiddos aren’t old enough for this yet but it looks like a lot of fun. I would have loved it when I was younger.
Ok now I have to throw a mad hatter party! I have little boys but I’m sure they’d love it!
I’m loving the Li’l Tea Tote Set from Toysmith. It’s so cute. I can use that in my kitchen.
This totally makes me want to have a Mad Hatter tea party now! I love those tea sets!! Alice in Wonderland is SUCH a fun classic!
I love Alice in Wonderland. Throwing a Mad Hatter tea party would be so much fun. I wish I would have done this when my kids were younger.
Awe what a cute idea. I should do this for my younger daughter who will be 5 later this month, she would love this theme!
Alice is one of my favorites. A total classic! 😉 What a cute way to celebrate the movie!
I was obsessed with tea parties when I was little. I can’t wait to have tea parties with my little girls. Love your ideas for the Mad Hatter tea!
I love Alice in Wonderland. Throwing a Mad Hatter tea party sound like a great idea. Love it!
So stinkin cute! I loved Alice in Wonderland growing up. I totally want to have a tea party with my daughter now.
These are really cute ideas! I am sure little girls will love these!
These are really adorable ideas. I think this would be a fabulous way to spend time with your littles.
I love these ideas. I am going to have to try this one day soon.