1. Being Competitive
This is among the worst mistakes a party-planning-parent can make: trying to plan an over-the-top party that will put all the other children’s parents to shame. Not only does it make you look bad in the eyes of adults, but it can also make your child seem like a snob in the eyes of other kids. Just don’t do it.
2. Not Making a Guest List
This mistake, if averted, could save you much toil a trouble, because, without a guest list, you can all-too-easily forget important people you should have invited. Please don’t insult great uncle Louie by forgetting to invite him to your child’s first birthday party!
3. Not Listening to Your Little One when Party Planning
What is one of the most wonderful prerogatives of those titles, Mommy and Daddy? Getting to listen to the voices of your children. When birthday time comes around, tune in with special care. If you’re hearing things like: “Mommy, this Barbie is my most favoritest thing in the world”, then it’s pretty likely your little girl doesn’t want a Toy Story birthday. Or, if you’re hearing, “Daddy, when I grow up I’m gonna be a de-fect-ive, just like Shaggy and Scooby”, then you’re little boy probably doesn’t want a Cars party. Sometimes, they’ll tell you what they want point blank. Sometimes you’ll need to ask. And other times, you’ll need to play “de-fect-ive.” But, you must always listen to keep from having a very disappointed child on your hands.
4. Having the Party at the Wrong Time of Day
If you’re throwing a birthday bash for your child, remember that s/he and all the party guests are still little ones. Yes, they have copious amounts of energy to burn, but, no, that energy is not eternal. They will get tired! So, for the sake of the children, the parents, and your own sanity, don’t plan a birthday party at naptime or too late in the afternoon and close to bedtime. Try to hit at the day’s peak of energy so that the children can have fun and you can (hopefully) have a party free of tired tears and tantrums.
5. Paying Too Much Attention to Detail
Young children have notoriously short attention spans. They aren’t into attention to detail. They are all miniature Picassos. Don’t give them a party suited for the detail-oriented tastes of a da Vinci. Don’t give them intricate and hard to play games. Let them bounce around, run, play hide-and-seek, and just have fun. And, as for food, think hot dogs, cake, and ice cream over beef wellington, shrimp cocktail, and flaming Baked Alaska. Keep it simple – for your own sake and because it will be more fun for the kids.
6. Inviting the Wrong Children
Yes…it is possible to invite the wrong children to a birthday party. The dynamics between children are much the same as those between adults. They just happen in smaller bodies with cuter voices. So, don’t invite the kids that bully your child. (Case in Point: Remember that woman who wrote you up at the office when you didn’t do anything and then got your promotion? Would you want her at your birthday party?)
Also, if your child is rather shy, be sure to invite the children who are closest to him/her. (Case in Point: Imagine yourself trying to entertain a whole bunch of people you barely know at a party that was meant to be fun for you. Wouldn’t you be nervous? Would you have any fun?) Keep your child’s happiness first and foremost in your mind, and you’ll know who to invite.
7. Giving Invitations Out At School / Preschool / Daycare
Okay, technically you can do this, but ideally…you probably shouldn’t. The reason is directly related to the “Inviting the Wrong Children” category. If you can’t invite everyone (which is rarely possible or practical), then you must use discretion when sending out invitations. Disappointment, hurt feelings, and resentment among classmates are never the connotations that should be attached to the words “birthday party.”
8. Not Considering Guests’ Needs
This is arguably the biggest mistake in party-planning history. One of the most important aspects of a party is that all guests feel at ease. This can only happen if you make a conscious effort in that direction. To give yourself enough time to make menu arrangements, check with the parents of party guests beforehand about children’s food allergies, diabetes, and the like. Also, if you know one of your guests has a physical and/or mental disability, make sure to compensate for that fact so that they, too, can be involved in the fun. Imagine how you would feel if you were left out at something as wonderful as a birthday party, and plan from there.
Okay folks…these are some ideas of what NOT to do while planning your toddler’s birthday party. Now, go out, start preparing, and get ready to make some wonderful memories with your little one with bounce houses Scottsdale AZ.
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