A Kid’s Guide To Easy Birthday Parties

by Sandra Foyt on August 27, 2008 in family, tradition | 2 Comments

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It’s ridiculously easy to go a little bonkers planning your child’s birthday party. Trust me. I know. Especially with your first child, you get caught up creating an event that you hope will be a treasured memory.

Some moms agonize over the perfect theme, coordinated paper products, spectacular decorations, and goody bags that rival the birthday presents. Others turn to expensive professional party venues to avoid the stress.

It doesn’t have to be that way; birthday parties can be cheap and easy.

Given the choice, most kids take a relaxed approached to entertaining. Many are happy to get some chips, soda, candy, and time to play with their friends.

This time around, I let my kids plan and run my son’s 9th birthday party. It was easy, cheap, stress-free, and loads of fun.

KISS Kid’s Party Plan - (Keep It Simple Summer):

1. Kayla and Alex made a guest list, limited to 12 max.

2. We picked up a set of invitations at Target.

3. I set the date and time.

4. Three weeks before the party, as we were leaving the country, the kids filled out the invitations that included a request for guests to bring their water guns and bathing suits.

5. The kids forgot to mail the invitations until we returned, less than one week before the party.

6. I sent out Emails to make sure everyone got the invitations.

7. The party was set for Saturday, but we were expecting house guests on the Wednesday. Since we wanted to enjoy the time with our guests, we had just 3 days to unpack, clean the house, plan the party activities, and shop for any supplies. We had to keep things simple.

8. We worked together to get the chores done, but we didn’t go crazy cleaning. Kids don’t really care if the house isn’t spotless.

9. To keep party expenses affordable, I gave Alex a choice between 4 standard party items: a piñata, goody bags, helium balloons, or a store-bought cake. He chose the piñata.

10. At Target, we picked up the piñata, a couple of bags of candy to fill the piñata, 2 packets of water balloons, and mini water guns (for guests who didn’t have their own.)

11. The refreshment shopping list was just as short: 2 bottles of soda, 2 bags of chips, a jar of salsa, s’more fixings, and cake ingredients. Kayla surprised Alex with a Totally Chocolate Cake – topped with a layer of Hershey chocolate squares.

Keep It Simple Summer Party:

1. Kick off the party with a high-octane water gun fight.