Birthday Parties for Two and Three Year Old

The first year is gone. Sneakers have taken the place of booties and the bubba has given way to the sippy cup. Running at full speed and napping shortly after from the pure exhaustion of just having fun. This little one knows it’s his/her birthday and now time to step up the party. Decorations, entertainment, food and favors have jumped into a new category, and unlike the first birthday, the second and third celebration become all about the little guest of honor for the first time.

Though it is time to get fun, it is important to be aware that two and three year old children are still quite young and haven’t the patience or stamina than older children. So keeping the party light, simple and enjoyable would be the best option. Anything too loud, exciting or fast paced runs the risk of frightening the toddler and making the bash tense and unpleasant for everyone. Keep the party on a casual level that feels more like a play date then a large gala filled confusing games and frustrating rules that a toddler could not possibly be expected to follow or understand.
For the little one it is best to keep the guest list small and familiar. A large party full of people that the child doesn’t know can be intimidating and strange. Some simple decorations with a favorite character in mind will be exciting and comforting. Make sure the food is simple, not too sweet and easy to eat. It is a good idea to have an alternative menu for the adults, with savory finger foods that a child could also eat if they wanted to. Also, keep the length of the party a bit shorter than for older children, three hours should be the limit. Toddlers wear out quickly and a tired toddler is seldom a happy one.
There are debates with whether an entertainer at a party for a child this age would be appropriate. This of course is up to the parents, but keeping in mind that the entertainer should be capable of understanding children at these ages is vital. Research the entertainer and find out if they have experience with younger children and that their performance will not be scary or overwhelming for the little guest of honor.
The most important thing to remember is that though the little one is walking, talking, running and using the potty he/she has just made his/her move to the life of a toddler and it is best to help make the transition, easy and fun.