Party for 1 y.o.
The Wonderful Number One
First birthday parties are among the most joyous occasions in the life of a baby – and, need we add, the life of the parents and grandparents. A first birthday a landmark. It should be treated and celebrated as such.
Remember, your baby does not have an expectation of what the party should be like. This party is for you, the proud parents, and for family and friends who come to “aah” and “ ooh” over your wonderful one year old!
Plan the entertainment well I in advance. Good Boston clowns, jugglers, and magicians get booked weeks in advance, sometimes months in advance. Pick the time for the party as early as you can; make it a time that is convenient for you and those you most want to attend. Select a time of day that takes into account your child’s sleep and nap schedule, so that the baby is rested and awake, to enjoy the party – and to be enjoyed by others.
Plan for late arrivals when planning the participation of any professionals. If you invite folks for 12 Noon, have the clown arrive at 1 pm, so that when he arrives all the other children whom you have invited will be sure to be there.
Choose a place. For a one year old, it is probably best to have the party in your house or in the backyard, in a familiar atmosphere. If you live in an apartment complex, perhaps reserve a common party room. Local park sites can be good sites, but assume the worst in terms of weather, and be sure there is a shelter available; you don’t want a downpour to ruin the event.
Create a guest list. Your one year old will get a lot of attention from the guests, other kids, and the clown, so do not invite too many people. Perhaps no more than ten other children is a good number, so your little one is not overwhelmed.
Get the invitation out at least one month before the event. It is unbelievable how busy some parents are on weekends, especially if they have more than one child. Doing the invitation in advance will improve the chance that your family and friends will attend. Creativity in the invitation is not essential, except that you will preserve a copy as a keepsake of the occasion. The important thing for the invitees is the date, time, and place. Include a sheet with directions (or at least the specific street address) for those who may be unfamiliar with the location. There are many free samples of invitations on the web.
You do not need too many decorations. Balloons and a “Happy Birthday” banner are probably enough. The subject of all those photos that attendees and you will take is the baby, not the decorations.
Keep the food simple, perhaps finger foods for the adults, fruits and vegetables on a platter, some foods that other children will enjoy and can consume easily. Try to keep the amount of sugar in the children’s food low; the cake will be enough of an extra charge of energy!
You do not need to plan any activities. The kids will arrive and acquaint themselves with the room and other kids. When the magician or clown arrives, everybody gets involved.
If Natasha the Clown is your entertainer, the event will begin with balloon art. That gives the kids time to meet the clown and understand that she is not a threatening person, but rather a very approachable and friendly source of fun.
Your one year old will get a balloon animal and a fun hat. Take a picture quickly; the hat may not stay in place long. If the parents get a hat, be sure to capture it in a photo.
Your child will likely want to stay near you at all times; guard against the event being too overwhelming and strange. Introduce strange new sights or sounds – music, balloons, decorations – slowly, so the baby does not become too excited. The clown will know to approach your child slowly, so as not to be a stranger surprise.
After all the children have received a balloon, we will start the magic show. We can begin with a “changing silk” magic trick together with your baby. Toward the end, we will do a “cake out of nowhere.” We can add the Happy Birthday song at a time of your choosing and we will work with you to plan when to serve the cake.
We will be sure to keep the other children entertained. The magic show involves much participation by all, and is a great time for pictures. If you have fewer than 15 children in attendance, everyone will get a chance to wave the wand and participate in the show. All children will receive small gifts for participating in the magic show.
We will do face painting during the time when the children are eating their cake, so that those who finish early will remain occupied. Your little one might agree to become a vey cute bunny, kitty, tiger, clown, or princess, unless you think face painting is a bit too much to introduce to a one year old, in which event we could paint the face of mommy or daddy. Older kids have a variety of face painting designs to choose from: amazing butterflies, sparkling fairies, playful kittens, brave Spider-man, gorgeous princesses, furious tigers, lovable puppies, the possibilities are endless.
After the paintings, the party is almost over. All kids like to get a party favor. They will also take home a balloon animal as a present from the family, great pictures, and tons of memories of a great party. You will be considered a great party planner and a wonderful host. Most importantly, you and your family will enjoy this special day, and you and your guests will have lots of fun!
