Birthday parties have somehow evolved to out of controlled expenditures with great efforts to rival celebrations at any age level. One often wonders if the party was designed to entertainment the parents rather than the children in attendance. This certainly does not have to be the case and I assure you the birthday child will feel just as special, if not more so with a traditional party that targets fun rather than expense. Here are some suggestions for throwing an inexpensive birthday party that will impress parents and children alike.
The best parties are those at which there is plenty to do and everyone feels a part of the celebration, with the birthday boy or girl at the center of attention. A return to these basics will insure pleasant memories all around.
To begin with, set a theme for your party or just have a traditional party with games and cake. Select birthday invitations that include all the necessary information such as date, time and location address with your phone number. These can be hand delivered or mailed. It is best to make sure they get directly to the parent. Do not hand them out at school unless you are inviting everyone in the class.
Before parents rented party venues, inflatables, ponies and clowns, parties were thrown at individual homes with parents and family members pitching in to help. Simple crafts and games kept the party jumping before presents were opened and cake and ice cream consumed. The birthday girl or boy was pleased, guests left happy and parents were left with no bills to pay.
Begin with simple crafts to keep everyone engaged and happy while waiting for others to arrive. Children can make their own birthday party hats and goodie bags. Have them decorate precut hat shapes with crayons and stickers, then staple them together and add an elastic band. Goodie bags can begin as plain brown lunch bags. Inexpensive prizes from games played can be collected in them.
Simple and timeless games like musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, go fish or a bean bag toss can be enjoyed by all. Easy to create and inexpensive, the children will enjoy the games and parents can easily manage and enjoy the laughter that comes with them. Prizes can be inexpensive and put in their goody bags. At the end of each game, make sure everyone gets a prize for competing and being a good sport.
A home made paper mache piñata is great fun and inexpensive to make. Let the birthday girl or boy help design and paint it and fill it with bulk candy beforehand. Take it outside for everyone to have a whack at it. This loot too can be put in their goody bags.
At gift opening time, put a gift in each child\’s hands and pass them to the right while music plays. Once the music stops, the birthday child opens the birthday cards and gift he or she is holding or the one nearest to him or her. Repeat until all the presents are opened.
Next up is cake, singing and candle blowing. A home made cake is simple enough with boxed mixes and pre-made frosting. Or individual cupcakes can be fun too. Add a scoop of ice cream and small cups of juice and enjoy.
For a final wrap up as you wait for parents to arrive, play a game of charades until all the guests have departed. With goody bags already in hand everyone leaves happy. Simple and traditional, hold the party outside if weather permits. Make sure the birthday party invitations specify an end time and relax. You\’ve done your best knowing that each year the party will get a bit easier and your child a bit older and more independent!
Linda Cress Dowdy is an avid greeting card enthusiast and professional author, editor and copywriter. For a great selection of all occasion Greeting Cards visit www.CardsDirect.com.
