Most parents relish the idea of celebrating their children’s’ birthdays. Every trip around the sun is another victory for a family – another reason to party. As kids grow older, they will start to have more autonomy when it comes to celebrating their birthdays. While they are still completely dependent upon their parents, however, it is typically the parents’ responsibility to organize a party that will make children feel special. All children have unique needs and desires when it comes to celebrating their birthday, but there are some general ground rules that it is worth keeping in mind. Here is a rundown of those ground rules according to the age of the child that is celebrating.
6-8
Most 6-8-year-old kids are ready to take part in a celebration outside the home. Choosing the right kids birthday party venue is important. Make sure that the venue is staffed appropriately for handling large groups of unruly kids. 6–8-year-old kids are still a little volatile, so don’t host too long of an event.
5
Five-year-old children are well on their way to developing the motor skills, understanding and intelligence that they will have later on in their childhood. They are ready to take part in organized competitive games and craft activities. Five-year-olds might be just as interested in the planning of a party as they are in the party itself. Make sure to involve them in the planning stage and listen to their desires.
4
Four-year-old children are developing their personalities and emotions. They are excitable, curious and playful. This can be a wonderful (and stressful) time to host a party. Slightly more complex games, food and a slightly longer party will suit these youngsters.
3
Three-year-old children are ready to start cooperating and playing with other people their age. Simple party games and stories can thrill three-year-old kids. The more you encourage them to interact with each other, the better.
2
Long-term memory starts being developed after a baby clears their first year. There is a good chance that some memories will be kept from a second birthday party by your beloved child. Inviting other kids of a similar age over to play with your youngster is definitely recommended at this age. Two-year-old children are not typically very good at sharing, so keep presents modest. At two years old, most children can go from excitement to anger very quickly. Make sure the party is relatively short to avoid tired kids getting unnecessarily furious.
1
While a child’s first birthday is important, it is very unlikely that they will remember the celebrations or really understand the activities taking place. For this reason, many parents choose to throw an adults-only soiree. Think of a first birthday party as being more like a celebration of your achievements as parents than an event to be celebrated by the child themselves. First birthday parties should be kept short in order to accommodate nap times.
There you have it: a guide to organizing parties for young children.
