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PARTIES FOR CHILDREN 1-3
PARTY FOR A CHILD TURNING 1
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MENU
Hard, teething-type crackers or large pretzels, unfrosted cupcakes (frosted ones are too messy)
Ice cream
Juice
Food and beverages for the grownups
DECORATIONS
If possible, use or set up a very low table so that the children can sit comfortably and safely. Use low chairs or boxes.
Ask each child to bring his or her bottle or drinking cup.
Skip paper tablecloths and napkins. The children could rip them and eat them.
Baby-proof the house for the party. (Put away breakable and dangerous objects.)
FAVORS
Teething crackers, teething toys, squeak toys that can't be chewed open, plastic keys on a chain, tennis balls, rattles, bath toys
PLAN
1. Greet the children and their parents.
2. Bring each child to the play area.
3. Help the birthday child open the presents.
4. Serve the children food at a low table. Ask a friend to serve the grown ups.
5. Take photographs.
6. Try reading the children picture books while they are seated. Some good ones for this age group are The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Mama Mama/Papa Papa by Jean Marzollo. Read them over again if the children seem interested. If they are seated low and comfortably, the children may be content to sit and stare for a surprisingly long time. If a child goes off to play, don't worry about it as long as the child is supervised and safe.
7. Play Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake.
8. Let the children play again in the play area.
9. Give the children their favors on the way out.
PARK PARTY
Instead of having the party inside a house, invite the children and their parents to the park. Meet at a certain time and place. Or just bring birthday goodies to the park and celebrate with whoever is there.
PARTY FOR A CHILD TURNING 2
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MENU
Cupcakes (served first)
Ice cream cones (served after the cupcakes are eaten)
Milk or juice
Food and beverages for the grownups
DECORATIONS
Use a low table, or put a tablecloth on the floor and sit around it.
Fancy decorations are unnecessary for this age. If anything, just buy a tablecloth with pictures children like.
Regarding balloons, make sure the children don't put pieces of popped ones in their mouths to chew. They can choke on such pieces. It might be better to skip balloons until the children are older.
FAVORS, ITEMS FOR TREAT BAGS
Large pretzels, bell bracelets (securely sew bells on bracelets made from elastic), toy horns, little plastic wrist watches, paint-with-water books
PLAN
1. Greet the children and their parents.
2. Bring each child to the play area.
3. Help the birthday child open the presents.
4. Serve the children food. Ask a friend to serve the grownups.
5. Take photographs.
6. Read to the children while they are eating. Try Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Kraus, and The Little Fireman by Margaret Wise Brown.
7. Sing songs that the children know. "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"; "Jingle Bells"; "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" are familiar ones.
8. Do finger-play games the children know, such as Itsy Bitsy Spider.
9. Play Ring Around the Rosie.
10. Play Follow the Leader.
11. Let the children play some more.
12. Give the children their favors on the way out.
PARTY FOR A CHILD TURNING 3
MENU
Cupcakes (served first)
Ice cream cones (served after the cupcakes)
Milk or juice
Food and beverages for those grownups who wish to stay at the party
DECORATIONS
Cover the table with newspaper and let the children scribble all over it with crayons.
Make newspaper party hats.
FAVORS, ITEMS FOR TREAT BAGS
Bananas, animal crackers, apples, party hats, toy horns, toy cars, safe plastic action figures, small dolls, ribbons, barrettes, crayons
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PLAN
1. Greet the children and their parents.
2. Bring each child to the play area.
3. Help the birthday child open the presents.
4. Serve the children food. Ask a friend to serve the grownups.
5. Take photographs.
6. Read to the children while they are eating. Try Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack, In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.
7. Ask the children what songs they'd like to sing.
8. Ask them if they know any finger-play games. Do them.
9. Play musical-action games, such as Ring Around the Rosie, London Bridge, and Hokey Pokey.
10. Sit in a circle. Spread legs so that everyone's feet touch. Roll a ball back and forth to each other. Try this to music.
11. Let the children play some more.
12. Give the children toy horns and have a parade.
13. Turn the parade into Follow the Leader with the birthday child as the leader. Then let a grownup be the leader and lead everyone to their coats or a place where favors are given out.
14. The party is over.
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