A toddler birthday party is a milestone in your child's life. While babies won't remember parties you've held for them, toddlers most likely will. When kids are toddler aged, they begin to develop their own interests, and make their own friends. Combining these two things for a toddler birthday party can be fun for both you and for your toddler.
When planning a birthday party for your toddler, consider your child's personality. Some children don't like big crowds or lots of fuss, so make sure that they won't be overwhelmed. If your child is shy, keep the guest list small and the party intimate. If they're outgoing and noisy, you may want to hold it outside or at a park. Some toddlers will get grumpy after a few hours, so keeping the party fairly short is always a good idea. Make sure that parents are able to take their children home whenever they need to. For this reason, try to keep your party central, and fairly unstructured.
A theme is always fun for a toddler birthday party. At this age, you can keep things simple but still fun. A simple color theme can be great fun. You can use one particular color of balloons and streamers, and try to serve food that suits the theme. For a yellow theme, for example, you could serve bananas and yellow lollies, and have a cake that matches, too. Party plates and accessories in different colors and themes are also inexpensive to buy and easy to find.
The cake is always one of the best things at a toddler birthday party. We all have a shameful photo of us covered in chocolate frosting from a novelty birthday cake. The birthday cake is your chance to shine. While it doesn't have to be anything complex, you can have a lot of fun with a toddler birthday cake. You could shape the cake in a number two, for example. Or you could make a cake in the shape of a particular animal or toy that your child is fond of. You could even bake a simple square or circular cake and decorate it with a mix of colorful candy and chocolate sprinkles. Anything goes, but often the brighter it is, the better it is.
When planning a toddler birthday party, food is another thing to keep in mind. Many toddlers are very fussy, and some may have food allergies or specific food requirements. Check with parents if there are any things to avoid, and see if there are any foods that stand out as favorites. Candy and sweets are good fun, but they can rot toddlers' teeth and result in children climbing the walls. Moderate high sugar foods with healthier options such as chopped fruit. Similarly, if you have fairy bread or similarly sugary meals, also provide some low sugar options to ensure that the kids don't run amok on all that sugar.
Make the most of your toddler birthday party with a fun theme and a great cake. And don't forget the all important camera.