How To Put On A Real Old-Fashioned Birthday Party For Kids

Thanks to the sour economy, the days of hiring magicians and ponies for children's birthday parties or going to high-priced venues to celebrate a little one's big day are long gone for most American families. The trend is a return to basics and simplicity: making birthday parties a reasonable celebration again instead of the overblown affairs they had become. If you are a young mother who needs a little help in putting on a real old-fashioned birthday party for your child, read on.

Invitations

Invitations should go out no earlier than two weeks before the day of the party. This will give busy parents a chance to shop for a gift with their invited child, and it will also give you plenty of time to do your last-minute shopping and get prepared. The more you can do ahead of time, the better. If your child is school-aged, do NOT have him pass out invitations at school unless you are planning on having his whole class over to your house: it breaks the heart of kids who haven't been invited. A good rule of thumb is: invited one child per your child's age. For example, if a child is turning eight, then he can invite eight guests.

Decorations

The most memorable old-fashioned parties at home are those that follow a theme. The theme should be something that really interests your child. If your daughter loves animals, for example, consider holding a "jungle party." It's always a good idea to check out the good parenting magazines on the market: they will often have entire issues devoted exclusively to theme birthday parties, or you can simply get your inspiration online if you need it. All of the decorations, cake, activities, etc. should somehow tie into that overall theme. Whatever you do, make sure to use plenty of balloons! Balloons are the one thing that makes a party festive: helium ones, air-filled ones, whatever you prefer.

Activities

As guests arrive, make sure to have a quiet activity for them to do while they're waiting for everyone else. Otherwise, you will have over-hyper, over-excited children running all over the place and your party will get off to a rough start. You might have a simple craft for them to do, for example; or if you have extra help, you could have guests sit and get their faces painted in a manner befitting the party's theme. Plan 2 or 3 activities and games surrounding the theme: or maybe a few "oldies but goodies" such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Musical Chairs. All of the activities combined should last no longer than 45 minutes to one hour.

Bring on the Cake!

The cake is the focal point of any good children's party, so make a big deal out of it: candles, singing, music, etc. Serve food or refreshments first, then let the cake ceremony steal the show, followed by opening gifts.

Going Home

Children love going home with booty! Make sure to have gift or goodie bags for each child and let them go home with some of the balloons too.

Kids just want to enjoy each other's company and have fun at birthday parties: an old-fashioned affair is the way to go.