Gone are the days when birthday parties were simple affairs where you called the kids from the neighborhood and your child’s school, cut cake and served some chips, coke, and sandwiches. Today’s birthday parties actually need ‘planning’ unless you want to cut a sorry figure in front of your child.                                                                                                

So with my toddler’s birthday round the corner, I busied myself with the birthday preparations. And if you are one of those young moms, here are some useful tips…

Theme

Plan a theme for the party. There are a host of ideas out there but I have learnt that simple topics such as fruits, vegetables etc are a great hit with kids. And if other moms have already beat you to such themes, don’t panic. Turn to your kid’s school syllabi. Pick up some topic that’s being taught in school and see the desired result.

Bouncy Castle

Make sure to arrange for a bouncy castle. And if you are one of those who doesn’t know what a bouncy castle is, it’s the modern day equivalent of a tarpaulin and is an all time favorite with children.

Tattoos

Who said tattoos were only for the rough and tough? Today’s children revel in tattoos, well not really the ‘real’ stuff but child friendly tattoo pens that are readily available these days. So make sure there is someone (can be one from your family) who can design pretty tattoos for all the children attending the party.

Magic/Puppet Shows

It’s no secret that children love magic/puppet shows. These days there are special birthday magicians whom you can hire for your kid’s birthday party. With simple tricks, these magicians can turn your party into a rage.

Toddler Pool

If your child’s birthday falls in the summer, a toddler pool is just perfect. You can plan the entire party around a pool theme. So the dress code, cake, invitations and the decorations can be coordinated accordingly.

Bubble Machine

The bubble machine is another crowd puller. Place it in a corner and it works just perfect for children to retreat to in the course of the party.

Return Gifts

This is a new highlight of today’s birthday parties although; I cannot remember it being there in our times. Plan the return gifts carefully. If your party is around a theme, make sure the theme extends to these gifts too. However, if there is no particular theme, take into account the kind of children attending the party.