My daughter announced recently that she wants her next birthday party to be held at the beach. Great idea, I think, except that she was born in the middle of winter. Still, wouldn't that be an easy birthday party? Except for the sand in the cake, of course. Here are a handful of tips for your child's next birthday party, guaranteed fun with less stress:
- Let your child help plan and decorate. Sometimes, the anticipation is just as much fun as the party itself.
- Limit the guest list. Most party experts say that one friend per year of your child's age is appropriate, three friends at age three, for example.
- Keep it short. Little ones don't need an entire afternoon of fun. Consider your child's age, attention span, and even nap time when planning your event.
- Plan age appropriate activities. Little ones will be entertained by a simple craft using stickers or glue sticks. Older kids might enjoy a scavenger hunt or a relay.
- Splurge on the decorations your child will notice (streamers, signs, etc.) and save your money on the ones that he or she won't, like cups and plates.
- Don't succumb to the pressure. Over-the-top birthday parties are all the rage right now, but there are plenty of ways to make your child's day special without breaking your budget (or your sanity).
- Create a birthday tradition that you'll share with your child year after year. At our house, we pull out the book On the Day You Were Born (we have the photo album version) and retell the story of their very first birthday.
1. Generally our birthday parties are big playdates. I provide a couple of snacks, one drop in craft and the kids just play and have fun till they need to be rustled up for cupcakes and prezzies.
This year we made beaded necklaces. We always had at least one parent hanging out at the kitchen table to help kids get going and tie off the necklace when done. It was perfect because kids could come to the craft when they wanted to and drift off when they were no longer interested.
Posted at 10:33AM on Jul 14th 2008 by The Clever Mom