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It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To
Tips for a Tear-Free Toddler Fete
By Sharon Waldrop
Engraved invitations. A full-day of events and activities and an invitation list of 60 of the family's closest friends (a second party for extended family members will be next week). A small wedding? Hardly: it's a typical toddler birthday party. Is it any wonder that the guest of honor is in tears?
A toddler's birthday is a special event and an exciting day for the whole family. But too much excitement can overwhelm toddlers, for whom an outing to the sandbox is a big event. Too much noise, too many faces and watching mom and dad scurrying around tending to party business may be a little frightening to the child of the day. The key to successful party planning is taking the birthday child's age, temperament, attention span and limitations into consideration.
Ace Hawkins, a party director who has planned many toddler birthday parties, reminds parents that the party is as much for the family as it is for the child. At this young age, a parent/child gathering might prove to be the best party plan. The secret is to keep it short and simple. The party should be no longer than one to two hours, and activities should include tots and their caregivers. Singing, dancing to music, reading stories and cake and ice cream are sure to go over well. Things may not go exactly as planned -- toddlers are by nature unpredictable. In fact, that's what makes this age so special. "Some of life's most memorable events are created by our chubby-cheeked toddlers!" says Hawkins. She advises parents to keep their sense of humor, relax and enjoy the celebration.
Jennifer Chaffman, a Woodstock, Ga., mom, is a veteran of toddler birthday planning. In the past, she felt obligated to invite a lot of children to a toddler party, but finds that a better alternative is to keep the guest list small. "Three to five [kids] is ideal," she says.
