Celebrating a child's first birthday with friends and family is an exciting event. Make it special by choosing a theme for your little one from a favorite television program, a stuffed animal or a story book. Whether it's for a girl or boy, a party with his little group of friends and accompanying parents can include age-appropriate activities, treats, birthday cake and refreshments and favor bags to take home when the fun all comes to an end. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose a theme for your child's birthday party. Examples include princess, basketball player or Sesame Street. Purchase invitations with the chosen theme and fill in the name of the birthday child, the date, time and place of the birthday party and RSVP phone number. Give the invitations to the parents of each invited guest. Request a reply so you can plan the party appropriately.
2. Purchase paper supplies and decorations based on the chosen theme. These can include a birthday banner or wall poster, paper plates, table cover, cups, napkins, hats and favor bags. Also purchase age-appropriate and child-safe party favors and treats to place in favor bags such as fruit snacks, balls large enough to not be a choking hazard, cookie or cracker packs, stickers, little coloring books and crayons. Order a tray of themed birthday cupcakes as the centerpiece for the refreshment table. Buy Mylar birthday balloons the day before the birthday party. Have fruit juice on hand to serve with the cupcakes.
3. On the day of the party, set up the dining table where the birthday child and his guests will sit. Lay the party themed table cover and arrange paper supplies. Hang a First Birthday poster on a wall, party streamers and a banner. Tie a Mylar balloon to each chair. Write the name of each child invited on favor bags and fill them with treats.
4. As guests begin to arrive, greet each child and place a birthday sticker on his hand. Direct the guest and his parent to a play area while waiting for other guests to arrive. When all are there, read a short story, and then open presents with the birthday child.
5. Have guests sit at the dining table and serve cupcakes and fruit juice (have each parent help his child). Sing "Happy Birthday." Children have short attention spans and may prefer to continue playing in the play area. Be prepared to send birthday cupcakes home with a guest's parent. As the party ends, give each guest his favor bag to enjoy at home.
Tags: favor bags, birthday child, birthday cupcakes, birthday party, chosen theme