These days, parents are under a ton of pressure to throw the perfect, Pinterest-worthy birthday celebration. It seems like every year, the celebrations get more elaborate. Party planning becomes a competition to see who can top last year's festivities. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of trying to make everything bigger and better. In an attempt to make things more and more flashy, we can lose sight of what really matters. The whole point of a birthday party is to make the guest of honor feel special and for everyone to have a great time. No one will remember the DIY decorations you spent hours on. What they will remember is how they felt during the event. Setting the right mood and avoiding unnecessary stress are the keys to pulling off a successful party. With that in mind, here are some strategies to make sure everyone has a blast at your child’s next birthday shindig.
Keep the Guest List Under Control
While it’s tempting to invite the entire class, everyone on the soccer team, and the whole neighborhood, it’s a slippery slope. Before you know it, the list is a mile long and your kid barely knows most of these people. Take some time to think about who your child is really close with. If they’re old enough, discuss it with them and garner their input. Decide on what would be a manageable number of guests, then commit to it. A good rule of thumb is one guest for each year old your child is.
Specify 'No Gifts' on the Invite
Sitting around watching a kid open gifts is super boring. It is also prime time for meltdowns. Often, the birthday child feels a lot of pressure while all eyes are on them. It feels performative. There’s no real way for the guests to participate meaningfully during the routine. And at the end of the day, most little ones have far too many toys already. If someone has a very special, personal, meaningful gift already planned, they may ignore the request, which is fine. Just set it aside until after the party and be sure to get the thank-you note out promptly. For the rest of the guests, they’ll be happy to be relieved of an obligation. As a bonus, you’re keeping wrapping paper and bows out of the landfill. Even the environment will win! Save your own gifts for your kiddo for a time when it’s just family.
Stick to a 2-Hour Time Frame
Containing the festivities to two hours is an excellent way to make sure that everyone leaves on a good note. Kids can only party hard for so long before the meltdowns start springing up. A couple of hours gives everyone plenty of time to enjoy the festivities without getting overwhelmed. Make sure to specify the party’s end time on the invitation, as well.
Curate a Playlist Ahead of Time
Every party needs a good playlist! Decide on what music will set the right mood. Make sure to listen to the whole thing once through ahead of time. You don’t want to be dashing for the skip button in the middle of the party because you forgot that the third verse of a song you were only kind of familiar with takes a sudden turn into explicit territory.
Provide Beverages for the Adults
Often, some of the parents will want to stick around for the duration of the party. Caffeine is a must! A well-stocked coffee station is just what they need. Depending on the crowd, you can also take it a step further and throw in the option of Irish coffee. Let the adults have a little extra fun, while keeping it low-key.
Skip the Boring Goody Bags
No one wants another plastic bag filled with cheap candy and those stretchy sticky-hand toys that you know they’re going to use to slap their siblings. A better option is to have the kids do a craft or project that they can take home as a favor. Friendship bracelets, make-your-own slime — the options are endless. You’ll have the two-for-one benefit of having both an entertaining activity and custom favors that the kids will treasure.
Employing these tips is guaranteed to take some stress off the next birthday party you plan, for both you and your guests! Make sure you give yourself time to sit down and enjoy that well-earned piece of birthday cake. You deserve it!
