Kids and Birthday Parties

Some of our favourite memories of childhood include the birthday parties we had as kids. We can all remember what it was like to have all of your friend show up at your front door. Their parents would drop them off and one by one they would run into the house to be greeted by all of the other kids. And there was that weird feeling of all your friends coming together in one place outside of school, because that’s where you usually saw them. Sometimes there would be the occasional cousin who didn’t know anyone else so they would have to be introduced to everyone else. But in no time at all everyone would be laughing and playing together as your parents prepared food and snacks in the kitchen. Of course there was the sugary birthday cake loaded with brightly coloured frosting, and let’s not forget about the goodie bags that contained trinkets that were monetarily cheap but seemed like treasure to each kid at the time. If you want to re-create this experience for your child, it really isn’t that hard. All you need is a bit of planning and you can have your very own awesome Kids Birthday Party. Just be prepared to have your Shark Steam Cleaner on hand for the cleanup when it's all said and done.

Guest List – it might be tempting to make a huge guest list to confirm the popularity of your child, but there is also value in keeping it smaller and more personal. Just think of your own birthday party, would you like it if everyone you knew was there? Always consult with your child as to who should be invited since a conflict in this department can end up in disaster if you have the wrong mix of children.

Food and Snacks – kids don’t care about watching their calorie intake, so have plenty of food and snacks available. If you are concerned about healthy eating, then have a good mix of fresh fruits and vegetables along with the standards of chips and cookies. Freshly squeezed fruit juice also makes a great alternative to pop, so if you have the time and the money consider going this route.

Entertainment – you don’t absolutely have to have organized entertainment since kids will make up games and find ways to keep busy no matter what you do. But things you might consider include hiring a clown, setting up a piñata, or even watching a movie on a big screen TV. If you have musical children, you could even invest in a karaoke machine and let the kids do some singing. There are many good karaoke machines on the market aimed directly at kids and they already come with music CDs loaded with songs that kids love. If you really want to go all out, you could enlist the help of other parents and put on a backyard carnival complete with games, a jumping gym, and food stands. In the end, the key thing to remember is that you want the kids to have as much fun as possible.

The Goodie Bag – No kids birthday party is complete without a goodie bag, so make sure that’s the last thing your guests receive while they are leaving. It’s up to you to fill it with whatever you like as it can include a mix of small toys and snacks.