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Party ideas for different ages
By Simone Ryder
If, despite a year without socialising, you are a parent who feels that party planning is yet another of the daunting challenges to be faced on the hazardous path to parenting success, then read on….
Love or hate party planning, we hope this thumbnail guide will help you on the road to a successful event
Age 1-2
Your child’s first party is your celebration – the anniversary of becoming a parent. Your 1 year old will have no idea what’s going on, so you can make this a celebration for adults only, if you prefer. Two year old can catapult from excitement to temper tantrum in minutes — so you need to be prepared. Most age twos are still very possessive of their toys so do put away your child’s favourite things beforehand. And avoid opening gifts at the party since most of the guests won’t understand they can’t just take the birthday child’s new things home! Organised games aren’t really necessary since children still play independently at this age.
Age 3-4
Now your child is likely to be familiar with celebrations. Singing and circle activities work better than group games as they will usually enjoy playing with other children briefly but may still have trouble co-operating. Keep the party to about ninety minutes to avoid overstimulation. By age four, children are full of energy and imagination, which makes them wonderful partygoers. Plan short games and keep things moving as they may still find it hard to wait their turn. Treasure and scavenger hunts work well but many parents opt for soft play venues or similar to allow little ones to burn off energy. Entertainers at your home or hired venue are also popular. Plan for a party of one to two hours.
Age 5-6
Five year olds know parties are very important and may have all sorts of wonderful (and wild) suggestions about the event. Theme parties work well at this age. Children are usually ready for games that involve instruction like Hokey Cokey and Simon Says. They are acquiring fine motor skills necessary to use scissors and string beads so they’re ready for simple crafts too. Plan for a party of about two hours.
