How to host a toddler birthday party without paying the big bucks to rent out an expensive play place! You CAN have your little one's party in the park or in your own home!
Birthday parties are fun to plan but they can also be stressful! Here is the key: KISS: keep it simple sister.
For kids under five pick up to three games MAX for the party! Letting the kids and adults have some "free time" in between to snack and play/socialize is always a good thing. The party will also not feel rushed and you will be able to relax a bit!
One of our favorites is the hard boiled egg balancing on a spoon game! 🥚 Have the kids walk from one side of the room and back and see what happens! 😆 You can get creative with the egg coloring 🌈
There does not have to be a winner for this game, it's just great fun trying to balance and walk. The kids can also eat the hard-boiled eggs for a snack later!
Having a fun cake will also add some enthusiasm to your party and will help set the theme!
This year was all about unicorns, lama's, and now sloth's! Are we tired of seeing them all in Target yet? Probably! But with these three trending themes, you will be sure to find excellent decorations and the best party favors! 🦄
Of course you can aim for a less "trendtastic" theme and that will be just as fabulous!
A piñata for one of the games is a great idea for these young electric children (because what child doesn’t like taking all their energy out on some mythical creature or Disney character filled with candy 😁🍭🍬). This game is also sure to exhaust your little one so that they are fully prepped for their early bedtime 😉
And finally, the pin the tail(or horn) game never fails to generate some good laughs and fun for your party!
Additional Tips:
1- Having a playlist for your party is a great idea because then you have a few songs available for each game, getting the cake ready, free time, etc. These songs also add to the mood of the party and keep the adults and kids entertained throughout. Take a look at the Despicable Me soundtrack and also the Sing soundtrack for some great party favorites!
2- This age group is prone to LOVING balloons all over the floor and this is great because they keep them busy while everyone is still arriving to the party and the games and cake have not yet begun. Balloons are also great entertainment between all events of the party and after the party when everyone is slowly trickling out and the kids still want to party (especially after all that cake)! 🎈
3- Having a few helpers is a must if you are going to be the one dictating the rules of the games and are going to be the one planning and in charge of the overall flow of the party! Having a few people to help cut the cake, blow up the balloons, hold up the piñata, set up the decorations, and help with the food really adds some support and helps you feel more relaxed during the party! Guaranteed that your little one will still want a lot of your attention during their party 😅.
4- Allow one hour to set up, one hour to clean up, and two hours for the MAIN EVENT!
5- Creating your own invitations is a great idea! You can do this on canva.com for free (using their layouts/color schemes and your pictures to personalize) and then send them out over email or text message (also for free 😄).
6- Remember this is just one day, so do not spend a ton of energy, time, and money unless you really want to! :) Kids will love any kind of game and in the end, you will see them having fun and making up games on their own by the end of it all.
Written by Caroline Swensen, Owner of LittleBearBig