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Birthday parties are always among the highlights of a child's year, but did you ever wonder how the tradition of birthday parties started?
The
tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared
that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To
protect them from harm, friends and family would to come be with the birthday
person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good
cheer to ward off the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.
Many
of us know etiquette for weddings and baby showers, but what about children's
birthday parties?
Many parents wonder whether they
have to invite all their child's classmates or whether they can pick and choose.
The rule of thumb is to take your child's age and add one to it. For example,
if your child is five, you should limit the amount of guests to six.
Send
invitations with an RSVP, but don't be put off if that request goes unanswered.
Set an RSVP deadline and wait until it passes, then contact the people who have
not responded.
Ten to fifteen dollars is plenty to spend
on a gift. If the birthday boy or girl is a special friend of your child, you
can spend more.
Some parents have even turned to children's gift registries.
It might sound off-the-wall for a child's party, but it's one way to reduce the
possibility of duplicate gifts. The key is to choose gifts that are reasonably
priced.
If a rude parent refuses to leave the party, the
best thing to do is put them to work. That way, they are too busy helping and
won't interfere.
Themes are always popular with children's parties. For very young children, Sesame Street, Blue's Clues, Mickey Mouse and all things Disney are popular and easy to find. Many bakeries have all the current themes in cake decorations for kids.
Older
children - 6 and up - usually have their favorites from watching TV, going to
movies, participating in sports or music. What ever their interest, with a little
effort you can find a cake, decorations and party favors that match a theme
Children's
parties can be either hopelessly dull, or brain numbingly chaotic if they are
not meticulously organized. This means having a good idea, in advance, of scheduled
activities, food, and supervision. Try to plan on at least one adult for every
four children. It is generally best to save food, such as birthday cake or pizza
for the end of the party. It is also a common practice at parties for very young
children to have a little gift bag to send them on their way.
Games
are a must when there is a room full of children. Many popular games that have
stood the test of time are:
Go to our Games page for instructions on how to play these games.
Parties you don't really have to plan.
There
are many pizza parlors now that have large video game areas and picnic tables
to sit at. Many will supply tablecloths, balloons, plates and cups along with
the pizza. There is no cleaning up your house before hand and no damage to your
carpet from spills and dropped cake. Check your local listing for these parlors.