The Busy Parents’ Guide to Birthday Party Planning
Putting together the perfect birthday party for your child can be a fun process, albeit a time-consuming feat—especially if you’re trying to keep up with the Joneses. Sure, Pinterest, parenting blogs and other sites on the Internet will fill you with great birthday ideas, but that alone can overwhelm. So, what’s a busy parent to do to throw an easy, fabulous birthday party for a special little boy or girl? Here are some wonderful tips for planning the event and choosing the perfect decorations, food and activities.
- Forget the computer. Instead, sit down with your child and brainstorm. What will make the birthday magical for him or her? Will there be a theme? Where should the party take place? How many friends will be invited? Write everything down and create a schedule for getting it all together.
- Pick a day. For parents who work during the week, Sunday parties give more time to shop and prepare, but Saturday parties give provide more time to clean up afterward.
- Choose a venue. If you’re a busy parent, consider booking a venue that provides everything, including décor, food and entertainment. Roller-skating and ice-skating parties are always a hit with the older kids, as are rock-climbing walls and trampoline parks. Kids under 5 always appreciate a petting zoo, a local park, bounce house, water park or painting/art studio. If you wish to host an at-home celebration, maybe opt for a pajama party for kids 6 and up. You can hang a projector screen to show your child’s favorite movie! For younger kids, set up a sprinkler and water balloons in the summer months or, if the weather is too chilly, have a pretend sleepover party and have them bring sleeping bags and pillows, then let them watch a movie while snuggled in. Don’t forget the popcorn and snacks!
- Make a list. Include everything you will need for the party from beginning to end and make a list by store. This trick makes for quicker shopping.
- Send email or online invites. This cuts time having to purchase invitations and write them out. Sites like Evite and Facebook make sending invitations easy! If you prefer paper invites, go for it! Kids usually love getting their own snail mail.
- Keep decorations easy and simple. Have balloons delivered rather than trying to blow them all up yourself, and instead of running out to the party store, order what you need online. You can find everything from banners and confetti to party favors and tableware in just a few clicks!
- Entertain with ease. If it’s an at-home party, utilize your own skills and teach kids how to paint, dance or cook. Play games such as Twister or musical chairs. For a sleepover party, buy mini pillows for the kids to have a pillow fight. They can take them home afterward.
- Keep food simple. Seriously. For an easy and quick way to feed your party, pick up a veggie/fruit tray, set up a chili or pasta bar, let kids make their own mini pizzas or sandwiches, or ask other parents to bring a side dish and make it a potluck.
- Make dessert easy. Who needs a custom or homemade cake when you can run to the
nearest grocer and let your kiddo pick out a box of premade cupcakes? If you’re short on time, this is the perfect option, and the kids don’t care whether it’s homemade or not
(unless there’s a food allergy). Or, if you have time to whip up a dozen cupcakes, do so, but don’t frost or decorate them. Instead, let the kids have fun decorating their own with icing and sprinkles at the party!
- Don’t stress over party favors. If it’s a party full of girls, pick up some cosmetic samples at cosmetic counters to put into goodie bags. Or, buy a pinata, hand out cellophane bags, and let the kids collect their own candy. Piece of cake!
- Say thank you. It’s always important to thank friends for their company and gifts, so have a plan on how you wish to go about it. Perhaps your child hugs each friend and says, “Thank you,” immediately after he opens the gift they brought. If you prefer thank you cards, purchase some to send through the mail (be sure your child writes them or at least signs her name), or you may opt to send email thank you’s. Either way, be sure they come from your child and not you.
Birthday parties don’t have to be stressful or expensive. If you plan properly and strive for simplicity, your kids still can have just as much fun as they would if you had spent hundreds of dollars!
Did You Know?
48 percent of parents splurge on their child’s birthday cake, while 42 percent splurge on entertainment.
Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein loves throwing parties for her daughters and involving them in the entire process. It makes it more fun!