Kids Birthday Party Planning
If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of planning a child's birthday party, you're not alone. But don't panic - just take a deep breath, get organized, and allow yourself time to plan a simple but fun theme party for your child.
You don't need to spend a week's grocery budget on invitations, decorations, food and favors.
Simple and home made goodies, favors, and decorations are just as much fun and they won't destroy your budget.
Children enjoying crafts at a birthday party
It's a birthday party and the kids will be ready to play - you can organize a few games and they'll probably devise their own entertainment as well.
Are you overwhelmed just thinking about planning your child's birthday?
Simplify your life and opt for a "less is more" kind of party.
You can do it ... you can plan and organize a child's memorable birthday party without going broke or feeling like a failure. Here's how ...
What's most important to kids about their birthday party? Having their friends together all at the same time to celebrate and play!
Keep It Simple and Economical
You don't need to try to compete with the neighbors or your sister's kids' party ... kids don't notice, and it's really not a big deal. They want to have fun and eat birthday cake.
They want to see the gifts and they're delighted with simple decorations that follow a theme. Cute favors are a nice extra, and you can include those as part of the treats.
10 Popular Party Themes for 1st Birthday or 2nd Birthday Parties
Here are 10 of this year's most popular 1st or 2nd birthday party themes for girls or boys:
- Cupcake - one candle on a cute cupcake, suitable for boys or girls first birthday party fun
- Lady Bug - favorite for little girls first birthdays, cute as a bug baby girls.
- Princess or Prince - one or the other, or both. Classic favorite for little girls 1st birthdays is a princess or fairy princess, and Little Prince or King for a Day for boys turning 1.
- Owls - Whooo's turning 1 or a Forest Woodland Theme, for girls or boys
- Farm Friends - John Deere gear and all the cute farm animals are trendy and lots of fun for everyone
- Wild West - little buckaroos will adore a cowpoke theme party for cowboys or cowgirls. This is a popular theme party for all ages, really.
- Airplane or Hot Air Balloon - flying high on my first birthday, up up and away
- Construction - carpenter, handyman, tools and fun stuff
- Baby Dinosaurs - classicly cute dinosaurs and popular dino characters are hot
- Safari - jungle classic theme with friendly beasts and lots of fancy birds
The secret to a successful first birthday party success is to keep your baby's 1st birthday party theme related to your child and your family and to make it simple. Then invite friends and family and celebrate your little one's first year of life with joy and merriment.
How to Plan a Super Fun Birthday Party
Plan the party to last about 2 or 2.5 hours total time, from first guests arrival to last child waving good-bye.
Organize that time into blocks of structured activities including free play, a party activity, a snack or lunch and of course cake and ice cream. Allow plenty of time for opening gifts and cards, and for a game or two, depending on the children's ages.
Shopping Tips
Select a party theme, and create a guest list. It's better to have only a few guests for younger children.
There's less chaos and less expense, plus you can focus more on the group when you keep the guestlist small.
Plan a Menu
Next make a menu if you're serving lunch and a list of the food and decorations or supplies you'll need.
When you head to the store to shop, leave the birthday child at home ... and don't be tempted by the displays in the party store that don't fit your theme or your list - you'll blow your budget on stuff you just won't need.
Keep it simple and on theme, and avoid distractions while ou're shopping for food and decorations.
If you're baking the cake or cupcakes, make and decorate it the day before the party.
If you're buying the birthday cake, order it a week ahead of time and arrange to pick it up the day before the party. If you can decorate the party room the day before, that's great. If not, do your decorating early, on the morning of the party.
Prepare as much of the food and the party favors ahead of time. Favors can be assembled a week before. Lunch or snacks can be prepped the night before the party.
Party Day
On the big day, arrange to have at least one other adult or a teenager to help you out. One person can keep the kids organized while the other is getting snacks, preparing for the next activity, or cleaning up any spills.
At the end of the party, be sure to help your child thank each guest for coming and say good-bye to each one individually.
