Birthday Party Ideas for 2-Year Old
Arranging a birthday party for children can be exhausting as well as overwhelming for parents, especially if it is for a two-year old. Though a two-year old child may begin to understand the meaning of birthdays at this age, he or she may not be prepared to see a whole lot of people at the same time, especially if he/she is a shy kid by nature.
Though parents can arrange a party according to their wishes as well as budget, keeping the birthday party for a two-year old a small affair is always a good idea. One important advantage of a small party is that there will not be too many guests and you can avoid a chaotic situation. It is always better to have a few people rather than overwhelming the kid with several people over.
However, do not think that a small party for your two-year old will be a boring affair; there can be a lot of fun, even if it is just with a select few. Here are some things that you need to keep in mind when you are planning a birthday party for a two-year old.
Theme
Though a simple party with balloons and ribbons is usually fine for a two-year old toddler's party, selecting a theme will make it all the more enjoyable. There are several party themes that you can choose for your little one's birthday party. As children by the age of two start recognizing different types of animals, having an animal theme party will be a great idea. Hosting a princess birthday party or castle and crown theme party for your two-year old daughter will also be simply perfect. Other themes that are popular for two-year old kids are train birthday party, cartoon character birthday party, pirate birthday party, etc.
Guest List
The next step in your party planning agenda will be to make the guest list. As most two-year olds do not have too many friends, most of the guests are the children of their parents' friends or even relatives. When you make the guest list, it is better to call children who are closer to your child's age as same age children have similar interests. It is also a good idea to invite their parents as it will be difficult for you to handle so many young children on your own. Besides, having their parents with them will also make the children more comfortable. On the other hand, you can even keep it a family affair by just having your close relatives at the party. The choice is completely yours.
Venue and Time
The best venue for holding your two-year old kid's birthday party is your home itself as it is a safe place for children. However, if you are holding a bigger party, it is better to have the party at an indoor play area. Make sure that it has plenty of place and is safe for the kids to run around and play. The time is also crucial as the party involves little children. The best time to hold birthday parties for 2-year-olds is in the morning, during lunch time or even post-lunch. Just make sure that the party does not go beyond two hours as children get tired and irritated very easily.
Invitation Cards
Once you have made the guest list and decided the time and venue, the next arrangement is that of invitations. Your invitation card should reflect the theme of the party. For instance, if you have a train birthday party, make an invitation card that has the shape of a train or if it is a princess party, the invitation card can be in the form of a crown or a tiara. Though there are lots of Internet sites that will help you in designing and printing invitations, doing this yourself can be really fun. Keep the invitation wording theme-related too.
Decoration and Favors
Just like the invitations, the party decorations will also depend on the theme that you have selected for the day. For instance, if you have princess party, decorate the place with balloons, ribbons, and floral table covers, in pink and lavender colors. On the other hand, if it is a train party, decorate the place with colors like red and blue. Placing a cut out of a train as well as tracks at the entrance will also be a fabulous idea. In the same way, the birthday party favors should also match your theme. For example, if you are having an animal birthday party, giving a small bag containing little animal figurines or gummy bear candy will fit in perfectly with the theme.
Food
Now, you have to be very careful while planning the party food as two-year old children are often sensitive to certain foods. Do not arrange for too many dishes as children do not eat a lot. For the birthday party food, you can have sandwiches, cookies, cup cakes, jellies in small pots, mini pizzas, etc. Also, make sure that you have enough chairs and tables for little children so that they can have the food while sitting comfortably. Most parents think that they have to arrange for some other foods and beverages for the parents attending the party. This is not needed at all and you can serve them the same foods that you are serving the children. A small tip to keep in mind is to find out if any of the kids coming to your party are allergic to any food. This way you can avoid any mishaps at what is meant to be a fun event.
Games and Activities
Though most people think that it is difficult to arrange birthday party games for toddlers, they will surely enjoy some simple everyday games. Children enjoy playing games like Simon Says, Ring o' Roses, etc. You can also provide them with colors so that they can indulge in finger or hand painting. Simple activities like decorating the cupcake, passing the parcel, etc. will also be good games to be played at a two-year old kid's birthday. However, make sure that you do not include any competitive games as children may not understand the idea of winning and losing. If you do not find any other interesting game or activity, just play some music and enjoy watching the little ones dance.
Pointers for Planners
Just like for any type of party, arranging a birthday party for your two-year old needs a lot of planning. Before looking for any ideas, fix your budget for the party. This is a crucial aspect because the rest of the arrangements depend on how much money you want to put into this affair. Once this is decided, all other arrangements will fall into place automatically.
Also, constantly reminding your child about the birthday party in terms of people who are coming, the games that will be played at the party, the food that will be served, etc. may help you get him/her prepared for the party and prevent your child from panicking upon seeing so many people. Once the party is going smoothly, do not forget to take pictures to capture the wonderful moments forever.
