Fun Ways to Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday

Birthdays are huge occasions for kids. Even very young children love the attention and the focus on how much they’ve grown in the past year. But coming up with a new and fun birthday idea can be difficult, especially when all the popular ideas have been done to death. Here are some options to consider and tips to keep in mind:

For Younger Kids

A Hoe Down – For toddlers and very young kids, a short one-to-two hour party is a good bet. Choose a theme and provide some easy activities. For our hoe down, for example, you could provide stuffed animals to play with and find an old Red Flyer wagon to give hay rides in. Singing “Old MacDonald Had A Farm” and eating animal crackers is a humble activity, but it’s likely enough to satisfy the little ones.

Pool Party – This is an old standard, but there’s nothing quite as fun as a pool party for birthdays in the summer months. Hanging lanterns or string lights, tiki torches and hula music add a great touch. This party is appropriate for kids around the ages of 7 and up.

A Sleepover – Sleepovers aren’t just for girls and they can come in many variations. From “spa” sessions with facials and nail painting to camping out in the yard, inviting your child’s friends over for the night is a versatile way to celebrate. Remember to collect contact information for all the participants’ parents. You may also want to arrange for any siblings to spend the night at their own friend’s house or to stay with a family member, so that they can get a good night’s sleep.

For Tweens

Activity-Focused Parties – Having a party focused around a particular activity takes the pressure off of the social interaction, especially with a group of tweens. The trick is picking an activity that is a lot of fun and results in a cool end-product, but isn’t too stressful. Scrapbooking is a great one, if your tween is into it; beading or tie dye can also be good options.

Get Out and About – Find an event or activity outside your house and gather up all your kids friends into the minivan. A sports game can be a good option for a sport-minded kid. Bowling, concerts, roller skating, and mini golf are also good bets.

Tips for Successful Parties

Get Help – Unless you’ve got a degree in early childhood education, you’re not going to want to plan a large party entirely by yourself. Its fine, especially for outdoor parties where supervision is required, to ask parents to pitch in an hour or so of help. You can also ask parents to bring particular dishes or snacks or to help pick up afterwards.

Send Invitations Early and Get RSVPs – Two to three weeks is the optimal time period for sending out invitations so that friends can clear their schedule. RSVPs will help you get a head count and plan for food and activities.

Be Straightforward About Presents – Remember that presents can be a headache for your attendees, for kids and parents alike. Besides the expense, everyone worries if their gift will be “good enough.” If you want to avoid the present headache, you can always specify “cards only please, no presents” on your invitation.

Be a Leader – While you can’t do everything on your own, someone will need to step up and direct activities at the party, especially if the kids are young. While you don’t want to be a drill sergeant, you can lead games or activities, announce lunch and generally guide the vibe of the party.

Go With the Flow – As with all things that are carefully planned, it’s likely that everything won’t go exactly to your schedule. Lighten up and let the kids direct the day as well. If they’re really into a game or just enjoying each other, don’t worry if you have to skip something else. Remember the psychology of older kids and that they prefer to have parents in the wings, rather than hovering over the party.