A child s 1st birthday party is commonly an event taken very serious by parents, extended family and friends. When a child grows and gets older, the amount of birthday parties thrown will usually taper off. The birthday party when the child turns one is a way to celebrate the first year of the child s life and look back at how quickly their infancy went by.
A 1st birthday party can be held at someone s house, park district, amusement park, the zoo, etc. Mine was a huge party in the back yard of my parent s first home. The yard provided enough space for my small cousins to run around and the adults to mingle with one another. Since my birthday was in July, my parents barbequed and served cold lemonade. In a videotape my father took of the party, I watch myself sitting under my favorite tree on my mom s lap, surrounded by mountains of presents. Everyone looks like they cannot believe how big I am.
Though a child may not remember his or her 1st birthday party, their families will and pictures can capture the joy from the day. Some people hire professional photographers to document the party and the child s reactions. If a baby book is kept documenting the baby s life, the photos from the 1st birthday party will be important in remembering the important milestone.
Entertainment also is important at a child s 1st birthday party. A variety of life-sized characters are available to come to the location of the party and entertain guests. I ve seen the most popular, clowns along with balloon artists, face painters, well known super heroes and princesses. This kind of entertainment is interactive for the children and often provides a good laugh for the adults. When a popular character comes to life, the child feels that magic is possible and it helps expand their imaginations at an early age.
The cake is another focal point of a first birthday party. Sometimes the cake comes from the best bakery in the city or town the family lives in. Other times, a relative may take on the task of baking the birthday cake like they do for everyone else in the family. The cake is baked to accommodate the number of people attending the party. The cake is placed in front of where the child is sitting and the guests gather around to sing Happy Birthday to the child. The child is normally encouraged to get messy and stick his or her hands in the cake to really get the full experience.