Planning the perfect party for your child’s first birthday may seem a little overwhelming. Once you decide on a theme, you must send out invitations, decorate and plan activities for all the guests. Along with this comes making a cake and party favors for all the attendees. Not only is this time consuming, but it can also become expensive. Fortunately, there are many things you can do yourself in order to save money on your child’s first birthday party. Not only will you save money, but you also will have an added sense of pride in the party that you are able to create for your child.
Do It Yourself Ideas
First, have the kids make their own party favors. Not only does this provide an activity for the kids to do during the party, it also lessens the amount of preparation time you will need to get ready for the party. You can also have a food station to get the kids involved in making their own birthday party food. Below are some ideas of crafts that can be done by toddlers that they can take home in the form of party favors.
· Allow them to decorate their own cookies or cupcakes with sprinkles and frosting.
· For a princess party, give them the chance to decorate their own crown or wand.
· For a boy’s superhero party, allow them to design their own shield with stickers and markers.
· Have a bar full of candy bowls with small boxes for them to make their own treat bags.
These are just a few examples of the many things you can do during a child’s birthday party to provide them with an activity. All that is required of you is that you provide the party supplies, and the kids do the rest.
Second, design a scavenger hut. Put clues throughout your home or your yard, and lead the kids on a themed hunt for treasure. This is especially fun if your child has chosen a pirate theme for their party, but can be adapted for any theme. At the end of the hunt, the children will find their bounty, or party favors. Scavenger hunts are very exciting for kids and require a minimum amount of guidance from an adult.
And of course, the ultimate do it yourself project for your child’s birthday party is the making of the cake or cupcakes for the party. Whether you have a themed party or one that is generic, give yourself ample time to make a cake that satisfies you and your guests. And remember, you don’t have to sacrifice taste for looks – it is possible to make a cake that both looks good and tastes good. Along with making the cake, you may choose to make candies or suckers for each of your guests. This adds a personalized touch to your child’s party, and they can even be given out as thank you gifts.
Planning The Perfect Party
Remember that the perfect party isn’t the one that is best decorated or the one that goes off without a hitch. The perfect party for your child is the one where they feel loved and cherished. It’s the party that is a celebration of your child’s first year of life. Minimize the pressure you put on yourself and your child by designing a party that will help everyone to relax.
