Kids" Party Tips: How to Plan an Affordable, Low-Pressure Birthday Party
For a young boy or girl, their birthday party is one of the highlights of the year.
For the parent, it can be an exercise in stress, confusion and, at worst, ugly politics.
Every party your family attends will set expectations and encourage comparisons.
Whether real or simply imagined, the feeling of being judged by other parents can be a huge burden.
Even lower-income families will feel the pressure spend well beyond their needs in order to simply keep up.
Happily, many birthday-related neuroses are preventable, or at least able to be minimised, through a little forward planning.
The following tips will help set you on the right path to an inexpensive, practical and entertaining birthday party.
Keep numbers down While it's important not to exclude a minority, it might not be necessary to invite an entire class.
A good rule is "less than half or everybody".
One great strategy is to ask your child to select their five closest friends for a sleepover.
Ask them why they would like each guest to be there.
This has a nice bonus: helping teach the value of friendship.
Simple party games We can't all afford a jumping castle or pony ride, but there are certainly no end to "pass the parcel" or "musical chairs" style party games.
(If your budget can cover prizes, make sure there's enough for everybody.
It's hard to beat the satisfaction of winning a prize.
Extending this to everybody will help ensure your guests leave satisfied.
(However, this can get pricey with larger numbers, so it may have to be an "all or nothing" situation.
) Let the venue do the work for you Why rent out an expensive hall or party room when a park can offer just as much fun and convenience? DIY favour bags While pre-packaged goody bags are a convenience, a little department store shopping and a couple of hours' preparation will get you a similar (and more personalised) result for a fraction of the price.
Let your guests help with decorating Encourage your guests to decorate their own favour / goody bags and cupcakes at specialised "activity stations".
Not only does this make a terrific, creatively rewarding distraction; it will also add colour and personality to the event on your behalf! Don't underestimate simple home creativity Remember that fellow parents will admire DIY innovation.
"Being inventive" does not equal "being cheap".
Compare notes with other parents A little coordination and friendly communication will ensure you and your fellow families are on the same page, with similar expectations and etiquette.
Remember: many other parents will be feeling similar pressures or confusion.
By being open and supportive, a lot of the perceived judgement and politics will quickly evaporate.
Most importantly: remember your priorities.
Children will evaluate a party in terms of fun, not dollar value - and that's a limitless resource.
Recommended Further Reading The University of Minnesota has compiled a fantastic resource for families looking to reduce the stress and expense of arranging kids' birthday parties.
Learn more at Families Under Pressure.
For the parent, it can be an exercise in stress, confusion and, at worst, ugly politics.
Every party your family attends will set expectations and encourage comparisons.
Whether real or simply imagined, the feeling of being judged by other parents can be a huge burden.
Even lower-income families will feel the pressure spend well beyond their needs in order to simply keep up.
Happily, many birthday-related neuroses are preventable, or at least able to be minimised, through a little forward planning.
The following tips will help set you on the right path to an inexpensive, practical and entertaining birthday party.
Keep numbers down While it's important not to exclude a minority, it might not be necessary to invite an entire class.
A good rule is "less than half or everybody".
One great strategy is to ask your child to select their five closest friends for a sleepover.
Ask them why they would like each guest to be there.
This has a nice bonus: helping teach the value of friendship.
Simple party games We can't all afford a jumping castle or pony ride, but there are certainly no end to "pass the parcel" or "musical chairs" style party games.
(If your budget can cover prizes, make sure there's enough for everybody.
It's hard to beat the satisfaction of winning a prize.
Extending this to everybody will help ensure your guests leave satisfied.
(However, this can get pricey with larger numbers, so it may have to be an "all or nothing" situation.
) Let the venue do the work for you Why rent out an expensive hall or party room when a park can offer just as much fun and convenience? DIY favour bags While pre-packaged goody bags are a convenience, a little department store shopping and a couple of hours' preparation will get you a similar (and more personalised) result for a fraction of the price.
Let your guests help with decorating Encourage your guests to decorate their own favour / goody bags and cupcakes at specialised "activity stations".
Not only does this make a terrific, creatively rewarding distraction; it will also add colour and personality to the event on your behalf! Don't underestimate simple home creativity Remember that fellow parents will admire DIY innovation.
"Being inventive" does not equal "being cheap".
Compare notes with other parents A little coordination and friendly communication will ensure you and your fellow families are on the same page, with similar expectations and etiquette.
Remember: many other parents will be feeling similar pressures or confusion.
By being open and supportive, a lot of the perceived judgement and politics will quickly evaporate.
Most importantly: remember your priorities.
Children will evaluate a party in terms of fun, not dollar value - and that's a limitless resource.
Recommended Further Reading The University of Minnesota has compiled a fantastic resource for families looking to reduce the stress and expense of arranging kids' birthday parties.
Learn more at Families Under Pressure.