Congratulations! It is another milestone for you as a mom, and there must be lots of happiness and fun moments in the past year. Let’s celebrate for both our toddlers and ourselves. Here we listed 6 pragmatic steps to help you prepare your toddler’s birthday party within budget and schedule.
Table of Contents
STEP 1 – 6 weeks before – Defined Time, Budget, and Location
Time: The weekend is the most popular option because we are all booked up during the week.
Timing is also important; the birthday party should be planned when the children are at their peak energy level, not when they are sleepy or tired and begin crying. Toddlers still need nap time. As a result, the best time slots are late morning (10 to 12 am) or after their nap (3 to 5 pm). Sunday afternoon is my preferred time because many families have planned activities for Saturday and Sunday morning (e.g., church). Time becomes less significant as the children get older.
Duration: Toddler parties normally last no more than two hours, otherwise, they are getting overtired.
The Budget is the parents’ choice depending on the family situation. As a reference, a survey indicate that majority parents (61%) spent $200 or less, 25% spent $200 to $500, and 11% spent more than $500. The major expenses for a toddler’s birthday party are location, birthday cake, food, and decorations, if you are willing to save some money, I suggest you focus on one or two things, for example, buy a birthday cake and prepare homemade food.
Location: The most convenient location in your home, as toddlers easily get overexcited in a new place, and you save lots of calling time to check avenues. Moreover, you also need to carry lots of things with you, such as diapers, food, water, milk, etc. Of course, the downside is the guest number needs to be limited, and you have to clean up after the guests leave.
There are also other locations such as kids-friendly restaurants or indoor playgrounds. Moreover, many places now offer workshops for kids’ birthdays, such as dancing studios, swimming pools, etc.
STEP 2 – 4 weeks before – Pick a Party Theme and Invite Guests with your Toddler
Select Party Theme
Toddler’s birthday party themes normally are their most obsessed animated characters, cars, train, animals, etc. My son’s first birthday part is Minion, second year is Thomas the train, while my daughters is the legacy Elsa and Peppa Pig.
A party theme is not required, but involving your toddler is enjoyable. They can help you choose the theme and colors for the party, assist you with shopping and decorating, and even help you bake the cake. Although doing it all yourself is more efficient, the preparation session is also enjoyable and memorable! This way, they’ll know what to expect on the big day and will feel like they’re a part of her party.
Invite Guests
Generally speaking, toddlers do not have a strong sense of friendship yet, and it is more of a combination of family friends plus their toddlers. In most cases, toddler parents will stay for the party to watch the situation. Therefore, we suggest no more than three families. When the kids start school, they will make friends and take care of themselves, and parents can drop them off and enjoy a happy time.
Put the start and end times, address, contact way, what each child should bring (swimsuit, clean clothes and towels, etc.), and if there will be a meal (especially if the timing is likely to confuse) on the invitation. Whether or not parents are invited or expected to stay for assistance (most will plan to if their child is a toddler, but spelling it out leaves less room for misunderstandings). If your toddler already has an abundance of toys, maybe you want to specify the gift as well. Mention if there is specific entertainment, such as a dancing party or art session.
STEP 3 – 3 weeks before – Arrange Cake and Photographer if needed
Birthday Cake
If you don’t plan to make the cake yourself, it is best to arrange it in advance. Either you ask a friend or buy from a bakery. Also, you can customize the cake to fit your theme. If you are a skilled mother and can make a cake with your toddler, I am sure it will be full of fun memories!
Otherwise, cupcakes are easy and super trendy as well. You can also let your toddler help decorate it as well!
Photographer (Optional)
For parents who can’t take good pictures (like me), maybe you want to hire a photographer as the memory lasts a lifetime! You can also ask one guest to take photos if you know they are good at photographing.
Hiring an Entertainer (Optional)
While magicians and clowns are traditional for children’s parties, there are many toddler-friendly options, such as dance teachers, face painters, and professional storytellers. Reminder, hiring the entertainer can be costly. Review your budget before you make the decision.
STEP 4 – 2 weeks before – Choose Theme-Related Decoration and Party Games
Depending on the party theme, you can buy various decorations packages. Usually, one package includes invitation cards, balloons, plates, cups, napkins, gift boxes, etc. You can also use matching color decorations. My easy and pragmatic solution for decoration is always the balloon – safe, cheap, and easy to clean up. Here are some examples.
Party Games – Entertainment is the necessity of the party. If you hire an entertainer, they will take the job. If you decide to do it by yourself, here are some tips.
Plan age-appropriate activities. Toddlers don’t have long attention, and their muscles are not strong enough for sports, so skip the backyard scavenger hunt or football match. Keep toddler games and activities simple: such as Simon says, hide and seek, dancing with good music and songs or making potato print t-shirts. This requires more forethought but will pay off in the long run.
STEP 5 – 1 day before – Buy Fresh Food & Put Away the Potential Safety Hazards Item
Buy fruit, drinks, and other food. Buy fruit, drinks, and other food. Take the cake back, clean the indoors and outdoors, temporarily put away the items with potential safety hazards, make ice cubes, buy flowers, and sleep well.
Children enjoy eating familiar foods like pizza, bread, sausages, fruits, vegetables, and juices. You know where to find everything at an at-home party. Close doors to other rooms and define the party area with balloons and streamers to keep kids from wandering around.
STEP 6 – Birthday – Dress Up and Enjoy
Dress Up: Select clothes according to the theme, if you are following one, or else you can choose that will be both significantly unique and comfortable.
Goodie bag is optional. Personally I will not take the goodie bag if there is a toy last for 3 min play and then lost in a drawer. If you really want to prepare the goodie bag, put something that more useful and not harm for the environment.
Conclusion
Birthdays always bring happiness, and a nicely celebrated birthday leaves loving memories for everybody. Enjoy your toddler’s birthday party the following year! Remember to involve them as much as possible in the party preparation!
About Me
Hi, there. I am Lin. Together with my husband and two kids, we live in the beautiful Netherlands in Europe. I am dedicated to self-development, creating quality time for the whole family, and fully supporting kids with their potentials with all I have learned from engineering, MBA, and 10+ years of working experience in the energy sector.
