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Tips for Successful, Stress-Free Birthday Parties for Kids
Filed under: Holidays, Birthdays, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Development: Big Kids, Expert Advice: Big Kids
Consider educational places to host your child's birthday party.
Credit: D Sharon Pruitt, Flickr
Plan Early
Kothari, owner of kids' party-planning company Peppers and Pollywogs, says parents should start planning their child's birthday party at least six weeks in advance -- especially if you want to host it outside your home. If the child's birthday occurs during a busy time of year, such as the winter holiday season, you may want to start even sooner.
Don't Have the Party at Home
Throwing a party in your home can be stressful, so ParentDish came up with a list of fun and educational places to host a great children's birthday bash, thanks to Seattle-based party-planning expert Lisa Kothari:
- Museum
- Aquarium
- Science center
- Zoo
- Petting farm
- Rock climbing venue
- Fire station
- Cooking school
- Dance studio
- Swimming pool
Get Responses from Everyone
Invitations should be sent about four weeks before the big day, Kothari adds, and she recommends setting the reply date for 10 days before your party so that you can plan your numbers comfortably. Contacting nonresponders can be awkward, but it needs to be done.
"Once the RSVP deadline has passed, take note of who you have not heard from and contact them," Kothari says. "A phone call is preferable to email, as some people will not check their email and this will keep you in the same bind. Call and ask what their response is."
Follow the Guest List Rule
The invite list itself can be a cause for consternation. Kothari says the "golden rule" of children's birthday parties is to limit the number of guests to your child's age plus one. If your son or daughter is turning 3, invite four children to the party.
However, children older than 3 generally have minds of their own, and Kothari says you should follow their cues. Just remember to keep your venue -- and your budget -- in mind.
"Older kids may feel the pressure to invite the entire class, and many schools have policies about invitations in the classroom and inviting the entire class, but it is OK to not invite the whole class any year," she says. "You must look at the time and budget you have available."
Related: Fabulous Birthday Cakes
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 3)
4-01-2010 @ 12:19AM
TINA AUTH said...It doesn't matter where you have your childs party. It is how you plan the party. Why shouldn't you have the party at home? Most places that host childrens parties charge you an arm, leg, and your first born. And for what?? A tow hour party that you could have put together at home for a mere fraction of the cost.
This article annoys me!!!!
Reply
4-01-2010 @ 12:24AM
TINA AUTH said...The article states DO NOT HAVE THE PARTY AT HOME in bold letters.
Reply
4-01-2010 @ 2:21AM
bg said...what a bunch of skanks. u hate ur kids and ur hubbys! haha. losers. now go have your affairs and claim domestic violence. boo hoo!
Reply
4-01-2010 @ 4:06AM
P. Burger said...Only have a child's birthday party at a swimming pool if you pay a certified Lifeguard to ensure every child's safety.
A public pool may provide this service from a local recreation dept. to a private country club pool.
If drowning were a disease American would be up in arms about the number of children that drown each year.
Don't take drowning for granted. Practice the THE A B C & D'S OF
DROWNING PREVENTION
A is for Adult Supervision--Watch your child while they are in or around water.
B is for Barriers--Keep your pool secure with fences and locked gates so your child can not enter unsupervised.
C is for Classes--Swim lessons and CPR--Learn how to swim and how to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
D is for Devices--Use lifejackets* in or near any open water and have a ring buoy available to throw to a drowning victim (Throw, don't go).
*US Coast Guard approved
Thanks for reading this you may save a life.
Reply
4-01-2010 @ 5:22AM
So.Cal STS said...What a stupid article, probably written by a moron who doesn't even have kids......
Why would you make a bunch of kids and their parents go to some inner-city museum vs. your own home for a birthday party????
This article is really stupid and empty if it suggests you should plan a bday party for your son or daughter at some cold, unfamiliar venue vs. having a fun swim party with good food and entertainment at your own home!!!! These are morons, for sure.....
4-01-2010 @ 7:52AM
BArb Royal said...Use www.kidscangivetoo.com to manage the gift giving. They print th e invites that tell your guests to contribute to their party account at the www.kidscangivetoo.com website. Then, your child signs on after the party and splits their birthday money with a charity. Some goes to them as a visa gift card and the rest goes to the charity of their choice. It also manags the RSVPs. No more influx of plastic junk they don't need.
Reply
4-01-2010 @ 5:32AM
So.Cal STS said...This article is offensive and generic to any parents who love their kids.......I guess this article was written for moms with nannies and maids who are generally watching other people raise their kids and who don't connect at all to their own children's upbringing. Idiots....
Too bad for you.....backyard parties are the BEST!!!!! So real and so personal for everyone, and the kids really love 'em too.......
But if you're a hands-OFF mom, this isn't for you.......book your kids' parties with whatever is on the dull list.
Reply
4-01-2010 @ 6:05PM
Magpie said...We have done parties at home that were simple with cake and a jumpy house. We have done private pool parties. So far the least stressful were the parties at home. Private pool parties are expensive and you have to transport EVERYTHING there and back. We have done the same at a park. Nightmare! Never again. Home is where the heart and party is. Party planners are in it for the money. Its their job.
Reply
4-05-2010 @ 1:19PM
katherine said...You didn't think of the obvious did you? Not everyone has warm weather all year round. in many states it is it is freezing, wet and occasionlly snowing for six months of the year so many people cannot have outdoor parties.
In response to your second comment about backyard swimming pools, do you really think everyone has a pool? They don't. There are many people who don't have large backyards either. I'm sure there are many moms and dads who would love to have home birthdays but due to lack of space and inclement weather it's just not possible. Another possibility also is having elderly parents, etc living with them who would not want a lot of kids running around the house.
I'm still in awe that you think EVERYONE has a pool in their backyard...makes you sound like an unaware idiot.
Reply
9-11-2010 @ 8:37PM
rjrivers27 said...Im 13 and my birthday's in late december so this year im having a movie and game party. At 4:00 everybody comes and at 4:30 we go into the den which is turned into a movie theater and were planning on watching a movie. At 5:30 we go to play board games and by 6:30 we order Papa Johns around 4 boxes and we have snacks like chips and pigs in a blanket for the whole night. And I plan on making virgin pina coladas as my signature drink at my party. Then at 7:20ish we have a shop-rite or stop-and-stop vanilla golden cake with vanilla ice cream. The last part of the night involves gift bags for all of the guests. I plan on including candy from one of the bags you would buy at costco, along with rulers, notepads, pens, silly bandz for boys and necklaces for girls.
All of this can easily be done for around 150 dollars. Relatively cheap and a fun chance to bond with cousins and family.
Reply