The first thing to decide is the theme so that you can work your party around it. Choose a theme that your child is currently interested in.
Typical Party Themes:
Superheroes for Boys: Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Power Rangers, Ben10, etc
Fairies and Princesses for Girls: Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Rapunzel, etc
You can also go for a theme that works for both boys and girls: Pirate, Circus, Dinosaurs, etc
What Food to Serve:
- Sandwiches cut in triangles or shapes filled with cream cheese or grated cheese, jam, chocolate spread, ham, tuna
- Pizza fingers with toppings such as sweetcorn, tuna, ham, cooked chicken, cheese.
- Bite size quiches and mini sausage rolls
- Mini vegetables and dips like carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes with houmous or cream cheese dips
- Breadsticks, cheese straws, crisps and potato rings
- Cocktail sticks with pieces of fruit like pineapple, grapes, berries, apple, melon.
- Tiny fairy cakes and cup cakes
- Chocolate fingers, jam sandwiches,
- Popcorn
Party Bags:
You can pick a theme for your party bags or just pick some fun little items like pens/pencils, stickers, jewellery, badges, colouring books and crayons, mini animals, games/puzzles, hair accessories, bubbles, purses, books/ notebooks, bouncy balls, yo-yos, fridge magnets, key rings, balloons.
At this age your child is much more mobile and will enjoy a wider variety of themes and games and although they aren’t yet truly social, they enjoy playing alongside other children.
Typical Party Themes:
Minnie Mouse Party
Mickey Mouse Party
Peppa Pig
In the Night Garden
Winnie the Pooh
Party Invitations:
Toddlers may become overwhelmed when surrounded by lots of people so it is best to keep the party small and invite just a few friends. Parents will have to stay with their children.
Buy Invitations according to the Party Theme chosen and send them out at least two weeks in advance so that your guests have the time to reply.
What Food to Serve:
You can hire some nursery tables and chairs for the children to sit on while eating or maybe have a picnic on the grass. Choose colourful and inviting food in small portions for little hands to handle like mini party pizzas, shaped sandwiches, bite size pieces of cucumber, carrot, cheese and tomato. Offer diluted fruit juices in spill proof cups or cups with straws.
And don’t forget the Birthday Cake! You can choose to make the cake yourself and for this you could use a cake tin in the shape of number 2 or your child’s favourite character.
Party Bags:
Children at this age love goodie bags. Example of bag fillers are crayons, stickers, plastic toys, necklaces or bracelets, hair clippers, purses.
There is no better way to celebrate your baby’s first year of life than hosting a First Birthday Party and get together with family and friends. See below a few tips on Themes, Food and Other Essentials to create a fun party for your little ones.
Typical 1st Birthday Party Themes:
Winnie The Pooh Party
Farm or Jungle Party
In The Night Garden Party
First Birthday Princess Party
Party Invitations:
Young children can get distressed with large numbers of unfamiliar adults around them. Perhaps it is best to keep guests to a minimum of close family, a few close friends and their children. If you think your child can cope with additional guests, then you could invite some parents and their children from your toddler group.
Buy Invitations according to the Party Theme chosen and send them out at least two weeks in advance so that your guests have the time to reply.
What Food to Serve:
Keep food simple: Finger Foods are excellent for both babies and adults, as eating them won’t interrupt play. Some babies will have quite a few teeth and be able to bite into food while others may still be toothless, so cater for both. Example of foods are: Organic bread sticks, tiny sandwiches with cheese spread, cubes of mild cheese, Rice cakes, small baby yoghurts, plain biscuits, melon fingers and plenty of water and milk as well as diluted weak fruit juices as an option. However, no party is complete without a Birthday Cake.
And don’t forget the Party Bags :
Suggestions for Party bags are: Mini Boxes of Raisins, Bubbles, Bath Toys, Mini Rattles, Board Books.
Avoid small goodies as they can be a chocking hazard for small children
