Lately we are seeing all these over the top celebrity extravaganzas for kid’s birthday parties. I’m not sure what this is about, particularly at a time when so many folks are stretched financially in every direction and are having a difficult time affording extras. It doesn’t make me feel good to know some little tyke has just been celebrated with a $25,000 00 plus fete. We know this is not about celebrating that child’s birth. It is all about something else, but never mind.

We’re going to be planning outside parties that can go inside if it rains.

But first. If your birthday girl or boy is under three, keep it short and sweet, Keep it to the family and best very best friends of the parents or just the play group crowd. Take a couple of cute birthday child pictures and a group photo and then put the little guy or girl down for a nap. Everyone will need one. Go with your favorite theme and keep the sweets low. Plan the party for after morning nap. Serve finger food that is typical of what your child likes. It should go quickly like this. Greet the guests, let the kids run around for about twenty minutes, feed the kids, Have the cake and ice cream as dessert.  Take the pictures while the kids are all anticipating the cake. rather than afterwards when they are all wearing it. Next, open the presents, say ”thank you” and end the event with a small party favor or  gift to the guest child as he is going out the door, Ninety minutes is a long time for little kids and it can seem like an eternity for the parents if the kids all are over stimulated and cranky. 

A word on “goody bags” and party favors. Used to be a balloon and a paper whistle would thrill a kid but times have changed and gone way more commercial. Choose a thoughtful affordable keepsake type of singular party favor. Keep it appropriate to the age and gender of the child. Examples might be a Hot Wheels car, a chunky toddler book, a pretty hair clip. You can avoid the wrapping and the expense of bags by not having them at all. If you do decide to give a gift, you can always use a basket and let each child reach in and take their pick. If you do this , make sure all the items are the same. Birthday party favors are not about what  the guest is getting, it is about celebrating the birthday of the child who is being honored by the party.

Affordable Party deas.

Try a craft theme. for ages 4 and beyond.   Assemble the materials you need for kids to make something you can do easily with them and they can play with, One idea is masks. you cut them out ahead of time and provide stuff your kids can stick onto them using glue sticks or double sided sticky dots or tape. Another thought is making a stick puppet, Again you do the prep work, cut out a pattern, use  themes such as animals or people faces, keep it simple. Get tongue depressors to use as the sticks, Glue or tape the child’s puppet on the stick. If you can afford to get kid’s craft kits at the local box store, use those and the party activity then also becomes the party favor There are lots to choose from and you can usually find mini kits for under $5.00

 Have a scavenger hunt in you back yard. Make up a list of items the children will look for if they are  pre-readers, make a picture list. These items can be things that are in nature and are abundant, like certain leaves or acorns or they can be things you place in the yard. Scavenger hunts can work two ways. One is collaborative where everyone helps find the things or they can be competitive where the first child to find everything is the winner.

Have wacky relay races. Try eggs in spoons, balancing balloons, filling up buckets with water-This works best if you have six or more kids and you know them pretty well. Some kids are shy and self consciousand some are poor losers You probably don’t want to find this out at you child’s party nor do you want your guest going home in tears.

Make Giant bubbles. Sorry. This only works outside. Use buckets and tubs and create bubbles using such things as coat hangers, string that is strung through a plastic tube. two liter bottles that have the bottoms removed.

Get a large roll of craft paper and let everyone paint a mural with washable poster paint. If you try this, make sure you warn everybody’s mom and have the kids where play clothes. Take a group picture of everyone with the mural after it’s done. If you do this activity, do it after the ice cream and cake.

Have a cupcake decorating party. Get enough cupcakes for each child to frost one and then add sprinkles and what ever other decorations you decide on.

When it comes to a birthday theme and activities, plan something you know your child enjoys. It’s their celebration and they ought to have fun Some children are naturally less social, maybe one or two friends to share an outing or a special movie night might be a better choice if your child tires easily or doesn’t like a lot of excitement.