Nowadays birthdays for kids are theme based. Below are listed some of the popular themes. It used to be a Herculean effort to look for party supplies, but now most of them are available in the following stores:
• Landmark – Nungambakkam, Spencer Plaza and Citi Centre
• Toy R Here - Nungambakkam
• Best Wishes - Nungambakkam
Once the character/ theme is decided, list out the items you need for the party:
- decoration
- invites
- thank you cards
- return gifts
- cups, plates
- cake order
- venue
- music, movie/projection
- decide on kid friendly food
- Games, coloring etc.
- professional photos, videos
Most Popular Birthday Party Themes for Kids
Star Wars Birthday Party
Disney Princesses Birthday Party
Happy Feet Birthday Party
Batman Birthday Party
Spiderman Birthday Party
Superman Birthday Party
Firefighter Party Fire Truck Birthday Party
Pirate Birthday Party
CARS Birthday Party
Space Birthday Party
Baby's 1st Birthday
Curious George Party
Shark Birthday Party
Little Einsteins Birthday Party Adventure
Dora the Explorer Birthday Party
Harry Potter Party
Dinosaur Birthday Party
Classic Train Birthday Party
CREATE YOUR OWN PARTY BABY'S 1ST PARTY THEME:
ABC & 123 - Use solid primary colored party supplies,
building blocks and children's sing-a-long music to create
a baby friendly environment. Lead a "circle time" or ask a
preschool teacher to help.
A Color Party
Bright colors and simplicity is in order here. Have your guest dress in all red or all yellow etc.- Color rainbows- Have a rainbow cake - Children can decorate your walkway using sidewalk chalk. Give a coloring book and crayons as a party gift. Serve cupcakes made in colored ice cream cones.
BIRTHDAY PARTY PLANNING BASICS
If possible, begin planning your party 4-5 weeks in advance.
Allowing plenty of time for on-line shopping, cake orders and enlisting any friends or family you may want to help.
Pick a theme. Whether it's an elaborate royal kingdom theme, or something easier, like your child's favorite color, selecting a theme will help you organize your thoughts. You'll then plan all of your party supply purchases, party games and decorations around that theme.
Children remember what they did at a party, much more than what they ate, what the plates and napkins looked like or whether the house was spotless. Don't worry about the minor details.
The best party times are......1:00 - 3:00 or 2:00 - 4:00. You won't need to serve a meal but a few finger foods are advised. For little ones try 10:00am -11:30 to work around nap time.
INVITATIONS
Who to Invite
Parties for very young children, more often will include family members; cousins, siblings etc.
As your child gets older, invite only your child's closest playmates.
They already know each other well which makes the party so much more fun! Think about friends from daycare, school, special relatives and neighbors.
BABY'S 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY TIPS
When should I have my party?
• Keep the party short 1- 1/12 hours is about the most a one year old can handle without getting over stimulated and possibly cranky.
• Schedule around nap times. Late morning, allows for a morning nap or late afternoon to allow for an afternoon nap.
• Weekend parties usually work better for parents and other adults.
How many guest should I invite?
• Most first birthday parties are for the adults in your child's life (family and friends). Invite the most special friends and relatives.
• Keep it to a manageable number of guests for you and your space. Keep in mind, that you will be caring for your little one at the same time.
• If you intend to invite other babies or toddlers 1- 3 guests is ideal with a maximum of 5.
• Parents of little ones should be included as guests so they can assist their children and you if necessary.
Should I serve food?
• Although it is not necessary to provide a meal, finger foods are always nice. Especially with babies.
• Check with ALL parents regarding food allergies and safety. Keep packaging fun but safe.
What else should I keep in mind?
• Be flexible!!!! All parents know that children and their behaviors are not predictable. Un-scheduled rests, tears, accidents etc. are to be expected at a baby's
first birthday. Just relax and go with the flow.
• To help you be flexible...arrange for help from a reliable friend or family member who can watch your child or entertain while you change a diaper, pick up a spill etc.
• If you plan on having children at the party keep plenty of toys and activities available to keep them occupied.
• Baby-proof the party space.
REMEMBER - This is a day to celebrate the birth of your child. Keep the party simple so you can do just that. Plan some special quiet time at the end of the day just for Mom, Dad, and baby.
BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY GAMES & ACTIVITIES
- coloring pages and color pencils depending on the theme
- passing the parcel and the kid caught with the item when the music stops gets out of the game
- couple of games for adults: dancing on a newspaper and it gets folded in half each time/ kids sticking stickers on adults face/ kids putting max clips on adults head/ feeding bottles to adults and check finish time :)
- play the video of the theme/ u r child's spcl video
Games to play
Competitive games are enjoyable only for the people who win. A party should be fun...Avoid tears by selecting games where everyone gets a chance to succeed. For example, if it's a game like musical chairs, when a player is called "out", assign that player the task of playing the music.
After one round, that player will rejoin the group. Better yet, plan a few cooperative games, in which the whole gang faces a challenge, such as following a treasure map, then they each receive a prize or split
the treasure evenly.
ENJOY!! (Excerpts from Amazing moms.com)
