5 Ways To Throw the Best Birthday Party
John is 7. His favorite snack is popcorn and his favorite food is ZaZa’s pizza. He is a Boy Scout and he practices his “ninja skills” through jiu jitsu and kickboxing. His favorite cartoon is Zig and Sharko.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. But the great thing about kids is that they usually don’t know the plan in the first place.
This becomes especially handy when it comes to birthday parties. Party favor bags are missing an item? The kids will have no idea.
You ordered a chocolate cake and the bakery delivered red velvet? Just tell them it’s special birthday chocolate, and once they taste it, your problem will be solved.
But of course parents would like to avoid any kind of party catastrophes.
Rachel Haynes, a Little Rock-based event planner, gave her advice for throwing the best birthday party for your kids.
1. Simple is almost always better.
“I really think that the biggest mistake is that people make it too detailed — I don’t think kids remember that,” Haynes said. “Details are what stress people out.”
So what do you focus on instead? Haynes recommends picking a theme and then choosing three big, fun elements to go with that theme.
For example, a carnival party could feature a cotton candy station, a couple of outdoor games and a balloon artist because those are the kind of big things kids will remember.
As much as you may love Pinterest, it’s best used as a tool for big ideas, not tiny details.
John celebrates with Luca, who is 7. Her favorite food is apples, and she likes writing and illustrating stories. Her favorite cartoon is WordGirl.
2. Make sure the focus is on the child, not the parent.
It’s easy for parents to get carried away in planning the “perfect” party. But who is it really perfect for?
Just because you’ve dreamed of throwing your 3-year-old daughter a princess tea party doesn’t mean that’s what she wants.
“My daughter just turned 2 and her favorite thing in the world right now is Popsicles, so I did a Popsicle party,” Haynes said. “Just make sure the party reflects the child and not the parent.”
As kids get older, they can give their own suggestions and ideas, but it’s also fun to keep an element of surprise. It’s also important not to stress out.
“It’s supposed to be about what reflects your kid — do something special and fun,” Haynes said. “Don’t take it so seriously because it’s for a 5 year old.”
Luca creates birthday art with Leighton, 6. Leighton's favorite dessert is chocolate ice cream. She likes soccer, singing, dancing and doing cartwheels.
3. Let each of your kids have a turn in the spotlight.
As tempting as it may be to throw a joint birthday party for a brother and sister whose birthdays fall only a couple of weeks apart, it probably isn’t the best idea.
“You absolutely do not have to do something over the top or huge, but I think it’s best to do something for each of them individually,” Haynes said.
The exception is when kids are very young. She said that up until the age of 4, it’s much easier to do a party together.
Past that age, kids have more opinions about themes and most likely have different groups of friends from school and people they would like to invite.
4. A low-cost party can be just as much fun.
Haynes said that the easiest way to cut cost is by not having to pay for the location. By having your party in your backyard or at a local park, you cut out the most expensive element: the venue.
“Let outside be the entertainment; let the outdoors be the adventure,” Haynes said.
This could mean buying $1 water guns and a few dozen water balloons during summer, or maybe doing chalk art with everyone. The options are endless.
Another major way to cut cost is by serving cupcakes instead of a custom bakery cake. Haynes said that Sam’s Club sells them for about 50 cents apiece. Customize cupcakes with fun toppers, and your dessert is ready to go.
5. Don’t forget about thank-you cards.
“I think that thank-you letters are such a lost art,” Haynes said. “They are so important. A handwritten letter will never be something that people don’t appreciate.”
Up till the child turns about 6, Haynes said, it is up to the parents to make sure the cards are written. Kids can help by drawing a picture on the note.
Once they know how to read and write, or are learning, kids can fill in the blanks, sign their names or write the whole card with guidance.
It’s also a great way to teach how to address an envelope and send mail.
Rachel Haynes is a Little Rock native with her own event planning company, Rachel Haynes Events, based in the city. She’s the mother of a two-year-old daughter and has another one on the way. She loves to take risks in her industry and plans everything from weddings to corporate events and of course her kids’ fantastic birthday bashes.