A good time for all and fond memories afterwards – that’s all you really need from a party! Some simple techniques will help assure fun for the children, minimize stress for you, and help you to stay within your budget.

by Christina DiMartino

You want your child's birthday party to be one that he and his friends will enjoy and that will provide fond memories. Following a few tips can help insure that a kids' party will be a fun, safe and memorable event. Here are simple techniques to assure fun for your child, parenting stress-busters for you!

Creative Kids at Home is a website developed to encourage children to have fun and be creative without commercial influences to limit their imagination. It cites these five birthday party planning rules to help assure a fun time for your child and his guests, minimize stress for you, and help you to stay within your budget.

1. Talk to your child about what type of birthday party she wants. Then determine if your budget, creativity, and energy levels can deliver that type of party. If not, scale down. Your daughter may have asked for a party with pony rides, but she will likely be just as happy having a "pink" party with pink balloons, pink lemonade, pink cupcakes and pink napkins.

2. Don't go it alone at the birthday party. You can't organize and monitor games, pour the punch, cut the cake, and direct traffic to the bathroom on your own. Enlist other adults or responsible older children to be on hand to help.

3. Birthday parties are a wonderful opportunity to reinforce your child's good manners. Don't wait until the day of the birthday party to set etiquette rules. Begin the moment you write the invitations by enforcing good behavior and gracious hosting qualities in your child.

4. If you're not inviting your child's entire class, school is not the place to hand out invitations. If you are inviting the entire class, ask the teacher to provide you with a list of names so no one is overlooked.

5. Be sure there are plenty of activities at the party. Young children need to be kept occupied from the moment the first guest arrives until the last guest leaves. Have your child put out some toys to share to help fill in the time gaps.

Safety tips for a trouble-free party

• Balloons can create a choking hazard to young children. Keep them out of reach or use Mylar balloons.
• Make sure the birthday favors you hand out are age-appropriate and safe.
• Ask each parent to tell you who will be picking up their child when the party ends, and tell them that you will not release the child to anyone else.

Themed birthday parties by age

Birthdaypartyideas.com offers an extensive list of age-appropriate birthday party themes.

Creative ideas include a girl-only tea party for a 6-year-old where, instead of a game, the guests get to decorate straw hats with ribbons, flowers and other trims from a craft store, and then take them home as party favors.

One clever mom created a railroad-themed party for her 5-year-old son. She drew train car designs on cardboard boxes and lined them up in the yard. She handed out novelty "conductor's" hats as favors.

There's a practically endless list of theme ideas that are unique, creative and fun, and can help you to get your own creative juices flowing.

The right number of guests

AmazingMoms.com offers some sound advice on how many guests should be included at birthday parties for children under 10 by using an invitation equation that takes your child's age into consideration.

Parties for very young children, like 1- and 2-year-olds, typically include only family members.

As your child reaches toddler age, invite only his closest playmates and cousins. They already know each other well, which will make the party more fun.

When your child reaches school age, consider increasing the number of guests to include friends from his daycare class, Sunday school and neighbors.

For children under age 10, invite as many children as your child's age plus one. Some parents choose to add one or two more to this equation, so use your own instincts. You can revise the formula as your child gets older.

Games and activities

Express Birthday Party Planning provides information on quality birthday party resources for parents. The section on Party Games includes detailed directions for these creative activities and more: 

• Cave dweller race
• Backwards bean toss
• Elephant walk
• Yard bowling
• Pass the bubbles
• Box sculptures

Your primary goal is to make your child feel special on his birthday. A secondary goal is to ensure that everyone has a good time at the party. The children will remember the fun, not whether you carried out your chosen birthday party theme down to the last tiny detail.

 

Christina DiMartino has been a freelance and assignment writer since 1985. She is a researcher, interviewer, writer, editor, and manuscript collaborator with a repertoire of clients from around the world.