What kids REALLY want for birthday parties!

     Your child’s birthday is a momentous occasion every year. It means you are doing something right raising a little person, and it’s so fun to see kids grow. However, planning that annual party can be time-consuming and stressful if you let it. Instead, look for ways to make party planning a breeze for everybody.

     Pinterest, of course, can give you ideas, but don’t go overboard. Bigger is not always better. A birthday is a time to enter your child’s little world, one parenting author noted. Most kids want someone to see and understand them, which is what their birthday is all about, right?

     On that note, keeping the party smaller and simpler will perhaps make a bigger impression on her in the long run. The most memorable will be the parties that allow your child to slow down and enjoy herself with family, good food and laughter.

     Try a little nostalgia and spend the day outside in the yard tossing a ball or playing duck, duck, goose. You might gather on a beach or in a park or play board games. Whatever you do, take cues from your child. Remember, this is not a competition about who has the best venue and hands out the best goodie bags. Birthday parties are about connecting with the people you love and the ones who care most about you.

     Let your child pick the party theme. For example, little boys usually like construction, so why not visit a Home Depot to find decorations? You can even paint toolbox favors for guests. And don’t overwhelm your toddler. For example, consider inviting family over for cake the weekend before the birthday, then have a small kids’ party the weekend after. This won’t be so overwhelming.

     Even teens may prefer to do a special activity with a few friends instead of hosting huge party. Think indoor rock climbing, a trapeze class, a double feature with popcorn at the movies or even a day out on the town. Consider a ride on the streetcar or going to First Fridays.

     Try a story time at a local bookstore, where the owner reads from a favorite book. Each child goes home with his very own book instead of a goodie bag. Or how about taking the kids out to a ball game? You can buy group tickets and make a day of it. There’s nothing quite like cheering on your favorite team and being the birthday boy.

     Another option is to make the day about giving back. Have each child bring something for a local food pantry, animal rescue or homeless shelter. Put the bags together and deliver them together. Or consider volunteering to serve a meal at a homeless shelter together, then going out for breakfast to discuss big topics, such as what is important in life and why to not judge others. You also can focus on the love by having children bring gift cards to donate to a children’s cancer fund. Most birthday kids have everything they could want, and finding ways to give back will be a rich, memorable way to celebrate them.

     Younger kids often have favorite characters or people. If you can’t arrange to have Elmo or Elsa show up, arrange to have paper plates that picture a beloved character. You can do the same for balloons, games or a decorated cake. You can find some super talented local cake bakers online.

     Remember, let your kids have a say. Spending too much money for an hour-and-a-half of fun will pale in comparison to something like a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge with immediate family and a few close friends. Or Worlds of Fun, a local petting zoo or garden center. Scaling back a bit means you can spend the money on your child’s presents, not the party!

     Keep the focus on joy and togetherness rather than big-event drama. Your child will relish the love and celebration rather than worry how many kids are coming and what presents they are bringing. And if you have a very little one, remember that at age 1, most children don’t know what is happening when you place that cake in front of them. To reduce the shock of all the flashing camera phones, consider having a private “rehearsal” with just Mom and Dad before inviting grandparents, cousins and neighbors.

     Below, I share some of the parties I planned for my children. None are pricey, all were oriented to their interests and activities. Try coming up with your own unique ideas and make a list, let your child choose, then both of you can happily run with it.

My Party Memories

I’ve always loved planning unique parties for my kiddos. I had a party for my daughter at a place that had a DJ, and everyone danced and wore disco clothes. One year, I had a friend who brought a dress-up trunk to my house and dressed each child in pretty clothes. The children got to pick the outfits they wore, and we had a tea party and photo shoot. Another time, we made princess crowns by cutting out plastic visors, and a friend helped me make pink cupcakes and special gift baggies. We went to the McDonald’s playroom, so we could order food there and not have to cook. My son had swimming parties, where the place offers a party room and serves the cake, pizza and snacks. Parents can get involved in the swimming, too.

Once, we hosted a party for our dogs coinciding with my children’s September birthdays. I found a cake recipe that dogs could eat, and we invited kids to bring their friendly dogs to play in the hose and baby pool in our backyard. Scavenger hunts are another great way to get your children involved in planning their party. Make up clues together. Be sure to enlist extra parents, so when kids scavenge your neighborhood, an adult is present. Have partiers ask for things like a paperclip, a cookie, a golf ball, a dog treat, a rubber band … be creative! If you don’t want to go to neighbors’ houses, visit a park and find natural elements. You can also place items yourself, such as a bag of jellybeans, a baseball … again, involve your kids when coming up with ideas.

 An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: MyMetroParents.com, Mom.com