Birthdays are one of the most important days in a child’s life. The anticipation of receiving gifts is one of the reasons they get excited. The fun party and the friends they will have at home make them wake up early and in a good mood. So birthday parties, to be raucous, need to be planned weeks, even months, in advance.
Consider the many aspects to a child’s birthday party and list them accordingly so you can organize the materials and activities required for each. Here is a list to guide you in planning the perfect birthday party.
The guest list.
Before doing any real planning, first consider how many people you and your child will invite to the party. Ask him to list all the friends he wants to invite, but give him a limit (usually 20-25 friends). Your guest list should include factors like your budget and location.
If this is your child’s first through third birthdays, you will need to make the guest list. However, remember that when you invite children at a young age, they will likely be bringing one or both parents, so they should also be factored into your budget. Children who are 8 years old or older will invite children without their parents accompanying them.
The theme of the party.
An idea holds all activity together. It also shows the personality of the celebrant. Popular themes include cartoon characters, Disney movies, fairy tales, and superhero characters. The celebrant’s cake, party hats, and party favors will reflect the selected theme.
Invitations and food.
With the theme and guest list established, invitations should be made and distributed at least two to a week before the actual date. This will give the guest a chance to clear the day for any other action. Also, it’s a good idea to place an RSVP on the invitation so you can determine the exact number of guests that will be coming.
Food should be fun and appropriate. Younger children will want simple foods like fried chicken, sandwiches, and French fries. Older chicks will probably want more pasta-based foods, like spaghetti or lasagna. Sandwiches are less complicated to prepare and less likely to be a disaster. Remember to keep it simple.
Fun games and party favors.
What’s a birthday party without games and a loot bag? Great party favors for girls include cute jewelry like Disney enchanted bracelets or necklaces with heart charms. For boys, rings with Batman and Superman symbols or rings with water jets are fun items that children will enjoy. You can even make these items part of your party games by including them as prizes or stuffing them inside a piñata.
Make this day special for your child. A pretty dress will make his daughter the queen of his prom. Why make it more dazzling by giving her a gift that will last a lifetime, like a beautiful silver or gold necklace with a heart-shaped locket? This will make her feel very special. For boys, a cool pair of shoes will make him happy and a simple silver chain with dog tags as a pendant will make him feel great.