Themes don’t have to be based upon the latest movie or cartoon character. They can be as simple as a favorite color, favorite type of food, or a hobby. One family held a “Purple Party” and asked guests to come dressed in purple. They served purple punch and used purple plates and cups.
Avoid the party escalator as long as you can. If your younger child is happy with a simple party, don’t be the one who complicates it. Your children will start to have strong opinions about their parties as they get older. Give them more input then. If you start out with elaborate parties, the tendency is to think every year has to surpass the previous year. The best way to avoid this is to start small and simple.
Guests should number the child’s age plus one. For a five year old, invite six guests.
A creative way to have your child do thank you notes is to have your child write “Thank You” on a large sign. (He can copy your example.) Then take a photo of your child holding the sign. Use this as the illustration for a note that your child signs. Moms can fill in the details as in the case of younger children.
Rehearse with your child how to say “Thank you” as each gift is opened. Even if your child isn’t thrilled with Aunt Hilda’s hand knitted mittens!
Home made cakes are perfectly fine. You can even let your child help. Yes, those beautiful fantasy cakes are lovely, but if the cake isn’t that big of a deal to your child, go with home made and splurge on something else.
Time slows down when you host a birthday party. If you think a three hour party sounds reasonable, think again. Three hours could feel like six by the end. Paradoxically, time also speeds up during a party. Those activities you spend days putting together will take about three minutes for the children to complete. Have several activities planned.
If the kids especially enjoyed a certain activity during the party, feel free to do it again.
Have a rainy day plan if the party depends on good weather.
If the party is at your house, consider putting Kitty and Fido someplace calm and safe. You don’t want a party interrupted because a guest let the cat out of the house.
Try a local park for a party. Easy set up, minimal clean up, and the kids can run, jump, yell and act like kids all they want.
If your child is invited to a party, be sure to respond to the invitation! Some mom is wondering how many goody bags she needs, and your replying early will make her life so much easier.
Don’t feel your child has to go to every single birthday party to which she is invited. If the timing is bad, simply decline the invitation early and don’t sweat it. If you accepted every party invitation ever sent, you’d spend most weekends ferrying your kids around to birthday parties.
Consider a week day party. After school, if your child is old enough to not be tired and grumpy, could be perfect. Some places offer discounts on weekday parties. The Fondren Trolley Express, for example, offers a $75 discount for “matinee” charters—between two and five pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. That’s a $125 package for $50.
