What's Your Birthday Party Do and Don't?

February 15, 2010

Celebrate good times, come on! Readers had some strong opinions on our birthday party dos and don'ts post, so it's time for you to give your advice. When planning pint-sized festivities for your children — what's your do and what's your don't?

10 Comments

lickety split 3 years 13 weeks

Do: personalized thank you notes with a pix of the birthday child and the guest. Don't: bring siblings that weren't invited to the party.

3 years 13 weeks

Yeah, a Wii and 4 controllers with a schedule does not equal happy kids at any party I've been to, unless there's only 4 kids in attendance. It just leads to a constant steam of "Is it my turn yet? Their turn's over! WHEN'S MY TURN?!?!?" I don't even bother to incorporate video games into a party, if the kids can't go an afternoon without them then we have a huge problem.

3 years 13 weeks

"Face painting may be fun, but no parent enjoys cleaning the party off their child." I do. I figure after a party is bath time for the kids who attended, they're bound to get something on them, even if it's just icing. I think face-painting is awesome and cleaning it off extends the bath by maybe a minute. No biggie, totally worth it. I think food depends on the party time. People who come to a party at 2 pm expecting a full meal or buffet are going to be disappointed with us, it's not a meal time. We provide munchies and of course cake, but I don't do a whole menu of "healthy eating options" and food for all types. It's a party, I'm not going to say "Here honey, have an apple instead of a cake!" One day isn't going to kill them. This is where the "loosen up and relax" advice comes into play.

POPSUGAR Tech 3 years 13 weeks

Do incorporate games into your day of fun to keep the kiddies occupied! This can range from using your Nintendo Wii as a group play station (four controllers and a scheduled rotation = happy kids), to outdoor games where the attendees can win prizes (bean sack toss, wheel of fortune, duck duck goose, ect). My favorite part of my cousin's birthday parties when I was a kid was the interactive games my uncle used to build. It was like a circus midway in their backyard! Do provide healthy eating options! I've seen firsthand what too much sugar can do to a child in a short amount of time, and it's s-c-a-r-y. Fruits satisfy tiny sweet tooths just as much as cake when you start 'em young! Don't let the kids run around unsupervised. Seriously, who wants their kid to be the one that throws a tantrum cause another partygoer isn't playing nice, and things escalate to tears!? Total buzzkill.

elisabeth 3 years 13 weeks

Make sure to have food for both the adults and kids, nobody wants to be hungry!

lauren 3 years 13 weeks

My niece's first birthday was very fun until we put her in front of the cake. We tried to put a adorable hat on her combine this with the attention from all of these strangers and she LOST it. I think if I ever have child, I will avoid those uncomfortable birthday hats and keep the first birthday small.

Findingmyway 3 years 13 weeks

Don't plan an activity that is going to send the kids home dirtier than they arrived. Face painting may be fun, but no parent enjoys cleaning the party off their child.

3 years 13 weeks

We've found that you shouldn't over plan activities for the little ones. Many times a few activities to do with them and some free play time is best. The kids most likely are just happy to get together to play and will flutter through many different activities on their own if they have the stuff. We also make sure to plan little kids parties for the morning. Many kids need naps or down time after lunch, so they are often in the best moods and behave best if you get them when they're "fresh" in the mornings. We try to do from 9:30-11:30am. We also try to have fruit and veggies and meats, cheeses and crackers out for everyone to snack on, and then have cake a bit later. That way no one feels so hungry and wants to pig out on cake, and there's good stuff in the belly to help absorb and digest the sugar to keep from too many hyper kids.

3 years 13 weeks

Same as any other event - have fun, relax, and don't worry if things don't go perfectly. Go with the flow.

Angelica 3 years 13 weeks

Do plan a major activity and backup for partygoers who can focus and play on their own, but don't get upset if it turns into a nicely decorated, but disorganized playdate. Do put care into your menu and have simple and tasty veggie and meat options, but don't think you need to deliver a gourmet spread. It's a kiddie party, not a dinner party!

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