By Pam Molnar
If you are planning your child’s birthday party, there are many factors to consider. To make it the best fit for your child, narrow down the options with a simple “this or that?” list.
Home celebration or a destination party? Home celebrations are less expensive, smaller celebrations but usually more work for the host. Destination parties include all the food, entertainment and a party host, but you will pay for that luxury.
Buy a store-bought cake or a more unique dessert? Perhaps your child prefers a chocolate fondue fountain or an ice cream sundae bar? Get creative with candles by placing them in a floral arrangement instead of the dessert.
Celebrate with close friends or your whole class? Inviting the masses (everyone from your child’s classroom) saves on hurt feelings and means more gifts, but is your child friends with all those kids? A smaller group of real friends might be a better choice for your child.
After-school party or weekend event? An event held after school is nice because these parties have more availability and are cheaper. Weekends are better for working parents but also mean one more event that cuts into family time.
Open gifts at the party or wait until everyone goes home? Gift time is both exciting and chaotic. Opening gifts after the party allows the parents to slow down the process. However, when gifts are opened at the party, the gift giver can see their friend’s reaction.
Serve a meal or just dessert? An after-school party will mean hungry kids, so you might consider an early dinner meal like pizza. A weekend party that falls between normal meal times will allow you to get away with just serving dessert.
Play games or make crafts? The energy level of the kids you are inviting will determine this. Kids who have the wiggles will prefer games with movement. If you have a quieter group, crafting quietly at a table will be more successful.
Hire entertainment or not? At-home parties might benefit from having entertainment come to the house (balloon animal artist, face painter, etc.). However, some groups of kids are happy to just use their creativity (backyard swingsets, sidewalk chalk, etc.) to entertain themselves.
A goodie bag of small toys and sweets or one usable thank-you gift? Matching themed loot bags are adorable and a fun gift for the ride home, but they often end up in a junk drawer. A larger single gift to match the party theme (baseball, swim goggles, book) might be better.
Party theme or general celebration? It is fun to see the progression of your child’s interests as the years go by. However, as a parent who has hosted several birthday parties, I would say the guests don’t notice who is on the plates and balloons. They are just there to celebrate.
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