| One day, a friend of mine saw me in line at the | | | | important, and will help the party go more smoothly. |
| grocery store. I was balancing boxes of Capri Suns, | | | | This age will engage in free play for quite some time. |
| cheap plastic goodie bag paraphernalia, and a super tall | | | | And then you can have a simple craft station, followed |
| cake with a Barbie thrust through the middle. I was | | | | by a simple game, if you are feeling ambitious. Simple |
| running late, and I was fearing my child's guests would | | | | crafts can include making photo frames is great for |
| arrive before I did, so I was probably sweating and out | | | | simple ideas such as these.) All you need is some |
| of breath. I was tired of the birthday party already, and | | | | stickers and squares of cardstock with a 4x6 square |
| it hadn't started yet. | | | | cut into the center. Then you can take a photo of the |
| Figuring she could commiserate, I said, "Birthday parties | | | | child with the birthday boy or girl and print it immediately |
| wear me out." And she said, "But they are so joyous." | | | | (if you have a digital camera kit equipped to do so) or |
| Ah, spoken like someone who has a really good | | | | send the photo in the thank you note. If there's time, |
| nanny. | | | | you might play some games. Kids love simple party |
| Preschool birthday parties are joyous, but, the truth is, | | | | games, such as Duck, Duck, Goose and Ring Around |
| when my kids were younger, I tended to lose sight of | | | | The Rosy. But beware that once a group of children |
| what a successful birthday party is: a memorable | | | | gets riled up, it can be hard to bring them back down. |
| event that makes your child feel treasured. I invested | | | | Use music to help with crowd control. |
| way too much into the vision of what I wanted the | | | | Fun, lively kids' tunes can get the party started. When |
| birthday party experience to be, without thinking | | | | everyone starts to get a little wild and crazy, switch |
| enough about the experience from the point of view | | | | the music to soft classical. The kids probably won't |
| of my child. I stressed about not leaving out siblings, of | | | | consciously notice a difference, but you are bound to |
| having age-appropriate goodie bags for a range of | | | | see a change in their behavior. |
| children that was way, way too wide. Somewhere | | | | Maintain order at gift giving time. |
| along the line, the magic of the experience was lost. | | | | Too often, the children are feeling wild and a bit out of |
| Now that my kids are a little older, and I have a few | | | | control by the time it's time to open gifts, and it's hard |
| more parties under my belt, I do it differently. | | | | to regain control once the gift wrap starts flying. Start |
| Here are some tips for throwing a birthday party for | | | | in an orderly fashion by placing two chairs side by side. |
| children ages 5 and under. | | | | (Kid sized chairs are best.) The child who is opening |
| Start early. | | | | gifts sits in one chair and the giver sits in the other |
| It's much easier to get everything done when you plan | | | | while their present is opened. This way, the giver feels |
| ahead. | | | | singled out and special as she watches her present |
| Keep it short. | | | | being opened. This also sets up a perfect photo |
| A two-hour party is plenty long for children age 3 and | | | | opportunity, when you are guaranteed to have just the |
| under. Children ages 4 and 5 can generally handle an | | | | guest and the giver in the photo. |
| hour or two longer, but you don't need to go nuts. | | | | Make the birthday girl or boy feel special. |
| Birthday parties are tremendously stimulating for a | | | | One tradition that we've been doing for our children |
| small child. Throw in some sugar, and tantrums are | | | | once they turn four is to give the birthday child an |
| inevitable. | | | | inexpensive single use disposable camera (if you look |
| Keep it small. | | | | for these on sale, you can get them for under $5.) Tell |
| The rule of thumb is to keep the number of guests | | | | them that the camera is theirs to document their |
| equal to the age of the child. Too many guests take | | | | birthday and birthday party in whatever way they like. |
| the attention away from the child who is being | | | | When the photos are developed, they can put the |
| honored. If you have a large extended family | | | | prints in an inexpensive plastic mini photo book. Kids |
| (especially if your family includes cousins with a great | | | | take such pride in photos they take themselves. |
| variation in ages) you may want to consider having a | | | | Goodie Bags. |
| family celebration separate from the celebration with | | | | Go for quality rather than quantity. Young kids love |
| friends. We have started having our family over for | | | | anything with their name on it. Here's a popular idea |
| pizza the night before or the night after the children's | | | | that we've used: Find inexpensive little sketchbooks |
| party. | | | | and use rubber stamps to spell each guest's name on |
| Keep it simple. | | | | the front. Tie a ribbon around the front so it looks extra |
| Ask your child for ideas on activities, games, crafts, or | | | | fancy to young eyes, pair it with a couple of crayons |
| food to have at your party. Kids are surprisingly | | | | or markers and a lollipop, and you're all set. Kids also |
| imaginative and often know exactly how they would | | | | love to unwrap things, so instead of filling a goodie bag |
| like their birthday party to be. Plus, their ideas are often | | | | with small items, you might gift wrap a more |
| surprisingly simple. Asking your children to describe the | | | | meaningful item and send it home with them. |
| type of party they would like to have is a good | | | | Some more ideas: My 5-year-old recently came home |
| starting point. If it's over the top, you can simplify from | | | | from a party with a full-size Hershey's bar, and she |
| there. For example, if your child longs for a grand | | | | was the envy of the entire neighborhood. Another big |
| princess tea party, ask everyone to come in their | | | | hit: My sister-in-law once had a spring garden party for |
| favorite dress up outfit and decorate paper or plastic | | | | her 5-year-old with mini terra cotta pots tied with |
| mugs as your activity. The birthday girl can be | | | | ribbons and a tiny silk flower. Each child got to plant a |
| responsible for pouring apple juice and handing out the | | | | seed during the party and take the pot home as a |
| finger sandwiches. | | | | party favor. |
| Ask for help. | | | | Quick and Easy Thank You Notes. |
| Ask family members, older siblings, and friends to stick | | | | An easy way to do thank you notes is to save up all |
| around. If there is a child who you worry about how to | | | | of the artwork your child creates on any given day, |
| handle behaviorally, invite the parent to stay for the | | | | cut the page down the middle, and fold each half into a |
| party. | | | | card. Ask your child what he or she would like to say |
| Make each guest feel special as they arrive. | | | | to each of the guests, in turn. Write them up and ask |
| Young children can feel tentative at first in a festive, | | | | your child to sign their name, if they are able. If not, |
| noisy atmosphere, so make sure to make them feel | | | | they can draw a little picture (or not, depending on the |
| welcome. One really popular idea that we have done | | | | time you want to spend and the patience level of you |
| in the past: Enlist an older sibling or a parent to do | | | | and your child). Insert a photo of the birthday child and |
| simple face painting for each guest as they arrive. | | | | the guest enjoying themselves, and you're done till next |
| Give the wee ones something to do. | | | | year. |
| You don't need to go overboard, but having a plan is | | | | |