With about a month until Dylan turns three, it is time for me to put on my party planning hat and dream up the details of a special day for him. He has been very interested in trucks and construction vehicles lately, so I am sure that our theme will be something along those lines. Having already planned two birthday parties, I have learned that a few simple guidelines are helpful for parents of young children who are planning a birthday bash.
My first tip for planning a party for a young child is to keep it small. Of course there are many people who will want to see your special little boy or girl on their special day, but more than anything you do not want your child or their guests to be overwhelmed. In the past, I have offered an early afternoon party for a couple of Dylan’s close friends and an evening dinner party for family. It has worked for us, and the dinner parties have been early enough in the evening that my family can get home at a reasonable hour – they live three hours away.
Another suggestion that I have found helpful is to prepare things over the few days before the party instead of rushing around the night before or the morning of. For food, I like to keep things simple and kid – friendly. In the past, things like cheese and crackers and fresh fruit have been well received at the kids’ party and simple dinners like lasagna or homemade burgers have been enjoyed by guests at the dinner party.
To incorporate Dylan’s love of big, yellow diggers and dump trucks into his party, I plan to make invitations with trucks on them. Decorations will be simple, as usual, probably a homemade banner with his name and some trucks on it as well as truck shaped Mylar balloons for the birthday boy and his friends. I may get a little creative and place the party snacks in big Tonka trucks (brand new, of course) instead of boring bowls. If I am feeling really ambitious, I might even make a piñata and fill it with little toys instead of candy.
What are your favorite toddler birthday party ideas?
Photo by wallyir on morguefile.com.