The first birthday is a big deal for many parents. Since you want to make this experience memorable, here are a few things you should know when planning the first year kiddie party.

Every kiddie party must have activities and games.

A child’s first birthday party is a very special time. The funny part is that because your child is still a year old, he or she won’t be able to do anything so the ones who are participating will just be the guests. So you don’t have to spend too much, it is best to make the party fairly short. If you can make this under an hour or two, that is perfectly alright.

One problem often faced by parents in a party is that the baby could be asleep during the party or it gets cranky. Since you want your baby to be awake during this time, you better schedule the party in between their nap time.

If money is a bit of a problem during this economic time, invite only a few guests like only family members and friends. This will give you time to show the baby around to them.

Instead of having the party done in a restaurant that will surely offer you a package deal, why don’t you have the party at home? Your baby could be overwhelmed by the place and the number of guests so this should be done with a small group and in a place where they are comfortable.

Do you have to think of a theme for your first birthday party? Not really but if you want to, there is no harm in choosing one. If you have nephews and nieces, try to find out what is the trend these days among kids so you are still in touch with their generation.

From there, you can already source the materials you will need like party hats, invitations, souvenir cards, prizes and a host of other things for the party.

The smaller the kid is, the more presents they get. If you don’t think this is true, try and remember the last time you ever received a load of presents? When your kid is opening each present, give them some time to look at each one before moving on to the next. A great idea will be to open these in batches so your kid is not stressed out.

Your kid will only celebrate their first birthday once so be sure to take lots of pictures and video. If you are tied up with other things, delegate the task so you can review it when the party is over. Also, have a memory page for your guests to write on. That way, your kid can look back at their first party even if they don’t remember what happened that day.

Now that you more or less know what do for your infant’s first kiddie birthday party, you won’t have to worry about how much it costs, what is the theme, when and where it should take place and the time that this will be done.

If you need help, ask your other family members because they will be more than happy to help you make this celebration a memorable one.

One of the most enjoyable parts in preparing for a kids birthday party is coming up with the theme. Generally, the theme of the party will depend on the age of the child. For those who are younger kids, ages 1 to 2, it would be best to come up with themes where almost all kids can relate. For toddlers and older kids who are able to decide what they would want for their parties, it is best to base the theme on their favorite cartoon characters and the like.

Tips in choosing themes

For parents, it can be hard to decide on a theme that will suit their kids best. If you are one of those who are having a hard time choosing what theme to use, here are some tips for you:

1. Conduct a simple research. This can be done by reading kiddie magazines that feature birthday themes for each age bracket or can be done by surfing the net and search for sites that offer theme ideas for kids birthday parties. Here, you will have a wide array of choices for your child and you will know how to prepare for it.

2. Know the most popular themes for kids birthday parties for the year. This is the safest way to go about choosing a theme since your child’s party will be up to date. You can get updates on the popular themes by watching shows that feature kids birthday parties or also by checking it on the Internet.

3. Choose a common theme and make your own variations. There are so many common themes for kids birthday parties these days. But if you want to be unique, you can make your own variations to suit your child’s personality. You  can also mix two or more themes and come up with a new one that will definitely be a surefire hit to the guests regardless of their ages.

4. Pick a theme that would suit your kid’s personality. As a parent, you somehow know what your child’s personality is like. To make sure that he or she will enjoy the party, choose a theme that will tell about his or her individuality. In this way, you are also introducing your child’s personality to the community he or she belongs.

5. Make sure that the theme of the party is appropriate for the child’s age and gender. This is very important because it will ensure that the child would enjoy the party. To avoid him or her feel awkward, make sure that the theme is suited for his or her age as well to the gender.

For boys, the most common themes being used include a “Sports party” where younger boys can incorporate their favorite spots in the activities, the “Pirate party” where little boys can act like pirates in a pirate ship inspired venue, and a “Farm party” where boys can experience how it is like to live in farm by preparing foods and decorating the venue like a real farm.

For little girls, the most popular theme would be the “Princess party” where the celebrator is dressed like an olden day princess and the venue is decorated like a castle, “Pop star party” where younger girls can imitate and dress up like their favorite pop stars, or an “Arts and Crafts party” where older girls can enjoy making crafts as part of the activities during the kids birthday party.

A kids birthday party would not be complete without the supplies needed. This is because the party supplies are the ones that will make the party more lively, exciting, and enjoyable for the birthday celebrator as well as for the guests.

Nowadays, there are so many one-stop-stores that offer almost all the supplies you need to pull off a kids birthday party. But since many of them would encourage you to buy as many items as possible, it is best if you have a list of the things that you really need. Aside from avoiding confusion, having a list of the supplies you need can also help you save money since you will only be buying the items that you really need. The following is a simple list of the supplies needed for a kids birthday party:

1. Invites and Thank you notes. These are the basic supplies you need for a kids birthday party simply because without these, no one will be informed about the party and there is no way that you can thank the attendees after the party. Today, there are so many ready made invitations and thank you notes that can match almost any theme you have in mind. These come in different sizes, colors, shapes, designs, and volume depending on your need and the number of guests you will be inviting. But, if you want to veer away from the common invites and thank you notes, you can make your very own using different colored papers, acetates, and frillings that you can attach on them.

2. Decorations for the party venue. If you are planning to hold the party at the comforts of your own home, you are in charge of decorating the place. Decorations will depend on the theme of the party. But, no matter what the theme is, make sure that the decorations are colorful and lively since this is a kids birthday party. To add more zest to the party, include banners, centerpieces, hats, blowers, and candles that match the theme. You can also make streamers that would welcome the guests to the venue. If you rented the venue, ask the owner to take charge of the decorations. You can give specific instructions so the decoration of the venue will fit the theme.

3. Party favors to be given away. After the party, it has been a tradition to give favors to those who have attended it. Giving party favors is one of the ways of thanking the guests for taking the time off and celebrate with you. Party favors will also depend on the theme of the party. Party favors may contain souvenirs, goodies such as candies and chocolates, as well as toys and other treats that kids usually enjoy.

4. Party ware to be used during the party. If you are holding the party at home, it is best to chose party wares such as plates, utensils, glasses and even napkins to suit the theme. In stores, you can choose from a wide variety of selections. The good thing about these options is that you can mix and match the items that you will be using.

Other supplies needed for kids birthday parties include balloons that come in many colors, shapes, and sizes depending on the theme, piñatas that can be a favorite cartoon character or toy, and crafts needed for the games during the party.