Turning your kid and his friends loose in the local pizzeria or, worse, your own back yard, for a birthday party will end up in a frenzied free-for-all that will conclude with your ban from the establishment or the neighbourhood Do yourself a favour and give your child the gift of a memorable birthday when you host a party that is as unique as it is fun for him and his friends.
You might think sending out invitations and gathering decorations and party favours is the place to start. But the Simply Modern Mum points out if you pick a theme, that will make choosing birthday party supplies, like decorations, food, party favours and even the invitations, a snap.
Maybe your child has a favourite activity, game or super-hero. Pick one and build the party from there. With super-heroes, the invitation could encourage kids to dress-up costumes. Or you could provide capes for each child attending the party.
Or centre the theme around polka dots for a boy's or a girl's party. Create over-sized dominoes, and use them for a boy's birthday party centred around games. You can create domino party-favor bags like the ones described on Better Homes and Gardens, then fill them with inexpensive travel and card games. The food can fit the domino and polka-dot theme, too, with a domino cake, melon balls and sandwiches cut out into rounds. For girls, polka dots themselves are a cute idea or you could use lady bugs as the main decoration and sprinkle the dots throughout other parts of the party like the food and favours.
Customize Party Hats, Noise makers and Thank You Favours
Cut out different shapes from card stock and construction paper, then glue them together in layers and add a cute message that fits in with your theme -- or just a simple "Adam is 8 Today!" Glue these embellishments to store-bought noise makers, party hats and individually wrapped lollipops and candy bars.Make One-of-a-Kind Favour that Doubles as a Refreshment
Customize small bottles of soda with labels you print. Put a picture of your birthday kid on it with his favourite saying or just "Happy Birthday" and be sure to cut them a little long for overlap. Wrap them around the bottles, covering the original labels, and secure with glue or double-sided tape.Plan Activities for the Party
Have bowls of beads and stacks of flower shapes cut out of card stock and craft paper then let the kids make their own leis. Or get a supply of frames from the discount store as well as some craft glue, beads, plastic jewels and other embellishments. The party-goers can use these to decorate their own party favours Assign someone to take pictures during the party and print them before the kids leave so they can take home a custom-framed remembrance of the party of the century.Piñata Alternative
Fill balloons with confetti and candy. After inflating, attach balloons to board with a shape that fits your theme. Let the kids throw darts to get the candy and treats out.Your imagination is the only limit to how memorable you can make the next birthday party for your child and his friends. Include him in the planning and it will be all the more special. You might find that a kid's party can be just as fun for you as it is for them
