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Children's Birthday Party Planning - When and When Not
to Have a Big Party
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only because this birthday
is more for the parents than for the child. At age 1, a child doesn't understand
the concept of "Birthday Party." He or she is getting a lot of attention---which
is all a 1-year-old wants or understands anyway. You should not go overboard on
presents because too much could scare or confuse a child. You should consider
getting specialty items such as a plate that says "First Birthday," a 1-year-old
candle, and possible a table cover that everyone could sign with fabric paint to
have as keepsakes that can someday be shown (or given to) to your grown child.
Age 2: 2-years-olds should have one or two playmates over for a small Birthday
Play Day. Again I suggest you keep a birthday plate and other keepsakes for your
2-year-old.
Age 3: 3-year-olds should have three to four playmates over, and at this age you
might have try a birthday game such as "Who can stack the blocks the highest?" I
do not recommend having a clown or playing any games that require a blindfold
over a child's eyes such key due to the fact either can scare children at this
age. Remember your child has just turned 3, and the playmates are around that
age. They are still not able to understand fully structured games very well.
They only know if they do something good or better than other children, everyone
will give them attention. Again I suggest you collect keepsakes.
Age 4: At 4, children should now be ready for a "real"
party. I suggest four or five playmates. 4-year-olds are ready now for party
decorations, but I suggest you do less and save your money for the big number
"5" birthday (or buy decorations that you can put away and use again). Games
such as Musical Chairs, and carrying a hard boiled egg on a spoon to the finish
line without dropping it relay race can be appropriate, but remember that games
will be played and finished much sooner than you think. Consider having a few of
your child's favorite videos on hand. Even if the kids have seen them 100 times,
they will enjoy them. After an hour or so, you will probably need a break and
the children might be cranky. A movie they are all spellbound by will be a great
way to relax the kids and you. You might want to consider spreading a couple of
blankets on the floor and have some pillows handy for sleepyheads!
Age 5: 5-year-olds should have a big party, but remind them that this is because
they are the big "5," and either starting school or just in school, and having a
"big" party will not happen every year. Explain to them that big parties are
only for special birthdays such as 5 because they have started or are starting
school, 10 because that is the first double-digit number, and of course 16
("Sweet 16" for girls and "Driving Age" for boys). This will save you money in
the long run. On the fifth birthday, I suggest you first decide if you want to
do it yourself, rent a building or park area but still do it yourself, or call
local businesses (like McDonalds) to see what party-planning packages they
offer. I personally suggest renting a park area if weather permits because the
kids will be just as happy playing on park equipment as they would if you spent
a ton of money on a professionally planned party. Have several inexpensive
disposable cameras on hand and let your Birthday Boy or Girl take pictures of
his or her first "big" party!
Great games for 5-year-olds whether inside or outside are:
1. Hitting a
2. Relay races, which can be held in a garage, carport, or park.
3. Water balloon fights if weather permits (and you have advised the parents
that the children are likely to get wet).
4. Dancing to music and "freezing" when the music is stopped to see who looks
the silliest (this is a great game and everyone should win a party favor).
5. Pin the tail on the donkey (consider a game that uses Velcro instead of
pins).
You can also do face painting and movie time. As with the 4-year-olds, you need
to over plan for games and activities and a movie is a great back up (or a
much-needed rest time). Another helpful hint is to take enough large plastic
trash bags to cover your kitchen floor and lightly throw all colors of paint on
them. Allow for adequate drying time before the party. Then you can use these
bags to cover your kitchen floor before cake time to catch cake droppings and
milk or soda spills (which WILL happen).
Ages 6-9:Birthdays can be simple overnight parties ("slumber parties" for girls
and "all nighters" for boys) filled with popcorn, junk food, movies, and video
games. As long as you let the kids stay up all night and sleep in half the next
day, this type of party can still be "cool"---what kid doesn't love the idea of
staying up all night (even if they don't make it all night). If it is summer
time, think about letting them sleep outside in a tent or on a screened-in porch
(just be sure to let the parents know exactly where their children will be
sleeping and you should plan to check in on them a few times during the night).
Age 10: This should be done about the same as age 5 in terms of it being a
"special age" (and reminding your child that "big parties" like this will not be
done every year. Ten is a good age to consider renting a facility such as:
1. Pool parties: most local pools offer after-hour times when you can rent
the pool for birthday parties.
2. Roller- or ice-skating parties.
3. Local arcades or pizza parlors often have special birthday packages.
4. A day at the Zoo for your child and their friends.
Hint: To save money, check with the place where you plan to hold the party to
see if you can decorate, bring in the cake, and other party favors instead of
buying the
supplies from them.
Ages 11-15 do the same as ages 6-9
with a simple overnight party.
At 16, if they even agree to let you have a "party," then consider yourself
lucky. If they do, then you need to let the teenager decide what kind of party
it should be. Remember kids at that age are very "into" who is popular and who
is not. Don't push your child into inviting everyone you might think they should
(because they might be afraid of being made fun of for having a party at home
with their parents.) They know who to they can invite and who they can't without
fear of peer pressure. My best suggestion for this age is either a pizza party
at home or at a pizza parlor or a pool party, depending on the teenager's
interest.
Any party that you give should be "Fun" for your child.
Expect that your only reward will be the memories you create for yourself. If
you happen to get a hug and a kiss from a very happy child at the end of the
day, then it will be a bonus to remember!
Written by Kimberly Hargis
Visit Mom's Break Birthday Section at http://birthdays.momsbreak.com to find birthday party free printable
invitations, crafts, scrapbooks, candy wrappers and more along with recipes and
party planning articles.
© Copyright 2001 All rights reserved.
Remember
When --- Old Fashion Birthday Games
Drop
the Handkerchief
Have
the children form a circle facing each other. Have one child be “IT”
and take the handkerchief and walk around the outside of the circle. The
child drops the handkerchief behind one child and begins running around
the outside of the circle while the child who the handkerchief was
dropped behind picks up the handkerchief and tries to tag the child who
dropped the handkerchief before he or she makes it back to the empty
spot in the circle. If the child who picked up the handkerchief is
unable to tag the child running before he or she reaches the empty spot,
then that child is “IT.” If the child who dropped the handkerchief
is tagged, then he or she must be “IT” again.
Hot Potato
Using a
regular baking potato as the hot potato have the children sit in a
circle facing one another. Play music and have the children toss the hot
potato around the circle. Stop the music periodically, when the music is
stopped the child holding the hot potato must leave the circle. Repeat
this until only one child remains and is the winner.
Red
Light
Have
the children stand in a line at one end of the room while you stand at
the other end of the room. Say, “Green light!” to have the child
more forward toward you. Say “Red light!” to have them stop. Any
children still moving after you say “red light” are out of the game.
All children who make it to you are winners. To make the game harder,
you may want to have the children jump or any other silly type of step
you can think to have the children do as they move toward you when you
say “green light.”
Break
the bag - (budget version of piñata)
Decorate
a paper bag and fill it with candy or party favors. Tie the end of the
bag up and tie to a tree. Blind fold one child at a time and let them
try to break the bag with a broomstick. When the goodies fall out of the
bag, the child can grab all the goodies he or she can.
Hot and Cold
Pick one child to be
“IT” first; this child will leave the room. The rest of the child
will sit on the floor and watch you hid a party favor. Have “IT”
come back in the room and this child will search for the party favor
while the other child say “Hot” (to mean close) or “Cold” (to
mean away from) to help the child searching find the party favor. When
the child finds the party favor he or she keeps it. Repeat this until
each child gets a chance to be “IT.”
Written by Kimberly
Hargis
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