Planning Toddler Birthday Parties
Tips to Plan a Toddler Party that Meets Developmental Expectations
Nov 21, 2008
Many parents go to a lot of work to plan the perfect party for their toddler. The results can quickly become disappointing when chaos erupts or the plan falls apart. A large part of the chaos can be avoided by considering developmental issues prior to planning the party.
Social Expectations
It is important to remember that children of this age are not yet developmentally ready to socialize the same way older children do. Two and three year old children tend to play side by side rather by interacting with their peers. This means that parents do not have to feel that they did something wrong if the birthday child and guests are playing in separate corners.
Sharing is another issue that parents tend to base the success of a birthday party on. Toddlers are not yet developmentally capable of sharing. Parents should expect that battles over who had a toy first are perfectly normal and not a sign of bad parenting. Often, some gentle distraction can help alleviate the situation and keep it from becoming a larger problem.
Attention Span
Toddlers have short attention spans. Party activities that last a long time will lose the interest of the children quickly. The best approach is to have a few different activities that can be completed in a short period of time rather than one or two hour long games that require concentration. Getting to the point of the activity as soon as possible will be more stimulating for young guests.
Some quick tips to think about regarding attention span when planning a toddler birthday party include:
- Keep the party short. An hour to an hour and a half is plenty of time to accomplish a few activities and have a few treats.
- Keep the party activities brief and to the point. Long drawn out activities will lose the interest of the children quickly.
- Be flexible. If the children are losing interest in musical chairs and choosing to play with the box in the corner, abandon the game and go with the box.
Energy Levels
Most children in this age group will still be napping or at least be needing some quiet time during the day. Although it may not be the most popular time for parents, mornings can work well for toddler parties since the toddler is more refreshed from a full nights sleep. Afternoons can work if the party is held shortly after nap time.
Alternatively, having a room available for those party guests who get tired and need some down time during the party can be a good option. It is important for parents to recognize that the party is not destined to be a failure if most of the guests end up taking time out for a power snooze.
Include Other Parents or Caregivers
It is perfectly acceptable to ask the parents or caregivers of the other children that are invited to attend the party with their child. Many parents already assume they will attend with their child but some may look at it as an opportunity to have their own quiet time while their child attends the party.
Including the parents of the guests has two benefits. First, the guests will feel more safe and comfortable knowing their own parent or caregiver is available should they become anxious. Second, this allows the parents of the birthday child more opportunity to enjoy the milestone celebration along with their child rather than spending it trying to console unattended and possibly overtired guests.
Toddler birthday parties can be full of fun and create some wonderful memories. Keeping a few developmental issues in mind when planning the party can turn an otherwise chaotic party into a raving success.
