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| |    Parties for Toddlers by Penny Warner reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. To a toddler, a birthday party means lots of attention, excitement, and stimulation. He may not know what a birthday is exactly, but he knows that something special is going on and that he's the star. As you prepare for your toddler's party, keep in mind that he has a short attention span and plan accordingly. An hour to an hour and a half is long enough for the merrymaking. Restrict the guest list to one to four toddlers, but don't forget the relatives who will enjoy the party almost as much as the guest of honor. And schedule the party after your child's morning or afternoon naps, so he's awake and alert for the festivities. Also remember that at this age, his eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills are still developing. Play games and activities that are geared to the senses, which toddlers love to explore. Keep the rules simple and easy to follow, and avoid competitive games since toddlers don't really understand the concepts of winning and losing. If you hand out prizes or awards, make sure that all your little guests get one. Don't try to overdo the entertainment or be too structured with your party plans--it will only cause unnecessary stress and unrealistic expectations. Remember, keep the party short, simple, and stimulating, and your toddler will have the time of his life. Here are some tips and suggestions to help keep it simple and fun: 1. Choose a theme A young child's party comes together more easily if you choose a theme and keep it in mind as you plan the invitations, decorations, activities, snacks, and favors. Here are some fun themes appropriate for toddlers:
Once you've selected the theme, create the invitations and decorations to match. The Beach Blanket Party, for example, might inspire you to reproduce pictures of the birthday child playing in the sandbox or pool and send them as party invitations. Then decorate the backyard with colorful plastic fish, sand, bright beach towels, seaside travel posters, and inflatable water toys. Or if Under the Big Top is your theme, use face paints to decorate your toddler's face like a clown, take a picture and reproduce it, then send it as the party invitation. Fill the party room with crepe paper streamers to form the big top, set out stuffed animals, and play circus music in the background. 3. Plan the games and activities Keep the games simple so the kids enjoy the fun and don't get frustrated. Traditional favorites work the best at this age, so teach them how to play and let them practice a few times. You might try such classics as Musical Chairs; Pin the Tail on the Donkey (or storybook character, sea monster, or circus elephant, depending on your theme); Red Light, Green Light; and Duck, Duck, Goose. Remember that there will be tears as well as cheers if you stress winning, so make sure that all the participants get prizes. Finally, it's good to intersperse the boisterous activities with some quiet ones, so be sure to have art supplies, puzzles, and building toys on hand. 4. Keep safety in mind Make sure that your home is toddler-proofed. If you include balloons in your decorative scheme, use Mylar ones, not latex, because of the latter's tendency to pop and cause a choking danger. If the party is held outside, protect your guests' tender young skin by applying sunscreen and confining activities to the shade as much as possible. Lock up any excitable (or allergy-provoking) pets, and enlist the services of a few child-savvy adults to help keep an eye on things. When you light the candles, keep the cake a safe distance from the toddlers, and watch the birthday child carefully when it's time for him to blow out the candles. And if you're having a pool party, even if it's just with a shallow, inflatable model, be sure that the pool area is always under adult supervision. 5. Serve fun and healthy foods Offer your guests easy-to-eat snacks that they won't choke on, such as crackers and cheese, banana bites, dry cereal, fruit juice, and chocolate or strawberry milk. Decorate a homemade or store-bought cake that reflects the theme, such as a beach scene, a circus tent, or a storybook. Or skip the cake and make festive cupcakes or cookies, which are easier for toddlers to nibble on. 6. Stock up on favors Favors in keeping with your theme will keep the spirit of the party going-books or dolls right out of the storybook you chose, for instance, a small set of blocks for your master builders, or stuffed circus animals for your ringmasters (remember to make sure that all your goodies meet the safety standards for toddlers; if the label says "Not for children under age three," take it seriously). You also can opt for classic toddler pleasers, such as washable markers, modeling dough, bubble liquid, or activity books. 7. Don't forget the camera! Take lots of pictures and videos to preserve the memories of this special time, and create a scrapbook or album to save the photos and other mementoes.
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