Hacks to plan your child’s stress-free birthday

If the thought of throwing a birthday party for your child makes you want to start a savings account and plan a year in advance, this article is for you! The good news is that it is possible to throw an epic birthday for your child – on a budget and with as little stress as possible. Here’s how:

Choose the venue carefully

Parties at home are great for first and second birthdays. Children this age are still quite egocentric, require constant supervision and are not quite ready to grasp the party concept. If you don’t have the space at home, ask friends or family if you can have it at their place. If you are hiring a venue, take into account how much it will cost, how big it has to be, and what time of year it is – do you need an indoor or outdoor venue?

Less is more

For a first birthday, you will want to include everyone as it’s such a milestone event. But as a rule of thumb for subsequent parties, try to limit the number of children to 10 or less for a second birthday and less than 12 for a third birthday. From four onwards children start to have ‘favourite’ friends, so they’ll more than likely want to compile their own guest list. You also won’t feel obliged to invite every blood relation you have, and they won’t feel obliged to come either.

Decorations don’t have to be fancy

When it comes to décor, go easy. A few matching party boxes, serviettes, balloons, table cloth and banner in a theme or colour is all you need, plus the invites. The themed party plates will end up in the dustbin anyway.

Don’t over-cater

Children have small appetites, so huge quantities will go to waste. Keep it simple. As long as they recognise it and can hold it in their hands, they’ll eat it. The snacks and treats should be fun and appetising, so get creative. Great party foods for kids include fish fingers, mini hot dogs, chicken nuggets, sandwich animals with jam, peanut butter and cheese spread, cocktail viennas, cheese wedges, and fruit juice. Finger snacks are best for parents. They are easy to manage while holding a toddler. Good choices are sausage rolls, savoury pastries, chips and dips, and pizza slices.

Party foods to avoid

For children under four, it’s best to steer clear of peanuts and popcorn. They can choke on this while running around. Anything with a stick is also a bad idea. Avoid fizzy drinks. These are often wasted and can lead to ‘hyper’ activity.

What to pack in the goodie bag

Some venues provide this as part of their service, so ask when you book. If you’re making them yourself, keep them light and compact and keep most of the treats bite-size: Include the following:

• A small assortment of sweets
• A packet of crisps
• A fruit juice
• A streamer (or something similar)
• An inexpensive toy (whistle, water squirt, pretty hairclip)

Age-appropriate games

If you want the day to be a success, make sure you have age-appropriate games planned for the day:

• One and two years: Play should be unstructured. Most children will love splashing around a sprinkler, playing in a giant ball pond, and staying close to mom.
• Three years: Solitary activities are best if you want to avoid tantrums, but make sure there are activities to do from the start, as they are quick to get fidgety and irritable if there’s nothing to do. If the party is at home, jumping castles and ball ponds are still popular favourites, while hiring an entertainer will keep them enthralled (remember to be wary of clowns). Organised games are not a good idea, as you’re bound to find yourself pulling your hair out due to lack of cooperation and teamwork!
• Four years: Treasure hunts, ‘pin (or prestik) the tail on the donkey’ and ‘pass the parcel’ are enjoyed by most, while magic shows will definitely do the trick. At this age most kids are especially interested in animals, so a mini farmyard will go down well (you can either have the furry friends brought to your house or have the party at a venue with a petting zoo).
• Five years: Children this age love surprises, so a puppeteer, magician, or clown will keep them riveted. If it’s hot out, water games can be a real hit (just make sure they are supervised at all times). Cooperative games like ‘Simon says’, ‘musical chairs’ and team games such as egg-and-spoon racing, obstacle courses and three-legged races are also appropriate. They’ll also love having their faces painted and participating in arts and crafts (girls especially).

5 Handy party tips

1. Dress comfortably – this goes for both you and your child. Heels don’t respond well to running around and retrieving a crying child from the far corner of a jumping castle. Your child will thank you for not adorning her with clips, bows, frills, tight leggings and new shoes, when all she wants to do is let her hair down and jump in the ball pond.
2. If you’re entertaining at home, put pets away (don’t forget to ‘poop scoop’), keep a first aid box handy, and ensure that the pool and fish pond is secure.
3. Make sure your camera is charged and the memory card empty.
4. Have a contingency plan in case of rain.
5. Have plenty of foil and cling-film on hand to wrap left-overs.