Christine Tran offers some rules for what to prevent when you are conducting Feng Shui decorating for your kid’s room. If you follow these general guidelines, you’re on your way to making an environment of good energy for your child. Find out more about Feng Shui decorating at http://www.fengshuimirror.com.

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.

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.

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.

For a parent, this is also an equally exciting and touching gesture they can make for their child. If you are one of those parents who are trying to sew a costume either for a child who is about to celebrate his or her birthday party or for a child who is going to attend one, here are some tips for you.

1. Work on the sewing style that you are comfortable with. For beginners, one of the most important things to consider is the type of sewing that he or she wishes to do. Usually, sewing is done using the hand alone because this gives personal touch and displays the sewer’s talent in sewing. But, since the sewing machine is now available to make the work easier, faster, accurate, and convenient more and more people prefer using it. For hand or machine sewing, you need tools such as different types of needles and threads.

2. Determine what type of costume you will be sewing for your child. Once you have decided whether you will be sewing by hand or by machine, now is the time to consider what is costume itself. You can base the costume from the theme of the party itself or ask your child what he or she wants to wear. The most common costumes for kids birthday parties among boys include “Old West Sheriff” which is easy to make and comfortable when worn; the “Captain Jack Sparrow” the ultimate pirate costume; “Zorro” which is ideal for kids regardless of size, age, and height; and “Harry Potter” costume which is more modern as popularized by the Harry Potter movies.

For little ladies, the most popular kids birthday party costumes are the “Grecian Princess” which transforms the child to a pretty Grecian goddesses; the “Pirate Lass” the counterpart of Jack Sparrow costume; “Woodland Fairy” which is a safe yet amazing fantasy costume; and the “Can Can Dancer” which is fun and pretty to look at once worn by little girls.

3. Choose safe fabrics for the kids. After deciding what will you be sewing and the costume design, make sure that you also put much attention to the type of fabric that you will be using. Since the clothing will be for kids, the most common fabrics used are made of cotton because this is hypoallergenic, strong, and easy to work on compared to other types of fabrics. But, you may also opt for other synthetic fabric types for curtains and mates such as wool, silk, satin, and others depending on the type of clothes or items you will be sewing.

Although you can buy ready made costumes for kids birthday parties, it is best if you take time and effort in making one for your little one. Aside from saving money since you will be the one to choose the materials you will use and ensuring the uniqueness of the costume, you can also use the sewing time as a bonding time for your and your child.

Indeed, birthdays are one of the most fun events that people can make a scrapbook of. Experts say that scrap booking is one of the most effective and enjoyable ways of keeping birthday celebration memories safe and fun to look at. By collecting and keeping bits and pieces of memories during the birthday celebration, a child can create and tell a story. Aside from these, children can also use scrap booking as a learning experience because this can teach them the value of resourcefulness, creativity, patience, and perseverance.

A great way to keep memories

For parents, scrap booking is one of the most enjoyable activities they can share with their kids especially after the birthday celebration where every moment is fresh in the child’s mind. Aside from being a bonding time with kids, scrap booking can also be a post-birthday activity for the child with his or her friends since they are the very characters present during the celebration.

Although, scrap booking is a nice activity, parents must make sure that they teach their kids the basic of arts and crafts so no materials will be wasted. Parents should also:

• see the inclination of their children. It is important to consider the interest of the child in the craft. If your child is one of those who are into arts and into collecting mementos to create another work of art. Then she or he is the perfect candidate for the activity because she/he already has the drive and the creativity to create another masterpiece. But if your child is not yet interested with crafts and arts, it doesn’t mean he/she cannot indulge into scrapbooking. In fact, this is the perfect time to introduce him/her into a new world of exciting and enjoyable activity.

• consider the availability of space. Since scrap booking can be a messy activity, it is a must to have a space large enough for kids to do the activity. Since scrapbooking requires a lot of materials, you will need a space big enough for them to sprawl and to scatter the materials they will use for making the scrapbook. It is advisable that you provide a space where kids can do their scrapbook and a place where they can leave their stuff.

• know the amount of materials your child will need. Since you are about to teach the basics of scrap booking for a kids birthday party, you will need the materials which you can find in the four walls of your house.

Here’s a quick list of the materials and supplies your kid needs: paper or scrapbook paper, pens and colored pencils, photos, scrapbooking die-cuts and cut-outs, scrapbooking tools such as punchers, scissors, rulers, stamps, adhesives and removers, stickers of different designs, templates, embellishments such as eyelets, brads, nails and tacks, colored and specialty papers, and scrapbook apparels such as scrapbook kits for starters.

Two Days Before The Party
Since most of the things have already been well taken cared of, checking out the smaller tasks would be foremost in the tasks at hand two days prior to the birthday party. One of the important small ones include checking for things such as camera and batteries. Surely no parent would want go through any kid’s birthday party without a good quality camera to capture those memorable moments. Checking the camera condition as well as the batteries may be a small matter for some. But it is something that should not be left out in any birthday party preparation.

Confirmation for rented equipment should also be done two days before the party. The reason for this is to make the schedule and the time clear with the rented equipment owner just to make sure that the plans are well understood on both sides. It might also be a good addition to prepare additional garbage bags as well as plastic wrap that will always come in handy at any birthday party.

A Day Before The Party
So, the party is just a day away and the parents should now be making only the final preparations. Make sure that the bathrooms are made clean and sanitary. Possible outdoor playing areas should be cleaned and then cleared of any hazards. Parents can then do some last-minute touch ups to the decorations.

Set out every thing that is needed for the party in a single allocated area. Things such as game and activity materials should be arranged in an organized manner to make them easier to locate and use during the party proper. If flowers are needed, the floral arrangements can be made and ordered a day prior to the party. If the party involves having a caterer, confirmation of the schedule should also be made to clear things up.

Hours Before Party
The early hours prior to the party can be made by giving the checklist another run. After that, the next things to prepare would be keeping everything well organized and confirmed. It is usually just several hours before the party that ordered balloons, cake and ice for the birthday party can be picked up. Considering that these are easily perishable goods make it a wise idea to get them on the day of the party itself.

If the setting in on the outdoors, decorations for the party are usually made also hours before on the day of the kid’s birthday party. The party area should be set up as well as the other allocated activity areas such as the place where the kids would be playing their games. If there are pets in the house, it would also be a good idea to have them well secured in a safe area to avoid possible pet-induced confusion and chaos later on.

If there is time left, a second and final look at the checklist would allow parents to make sure that everything is ok. The last thing to do prior to the kid’s birthday party is to wear a smile and enjoy the festivities.