Everything you need to know about toddlers’ party

Perhaps your child’s first birthday was a low-key affair with family and friends (including yours!). After all, what do little newborns know about having a good time? You may be considering raising it a notch now that your darling is older, more social, and anxious for a toddler birthday celebration. But, before you call in the clowns, ponies, or live cartoon characters, keep the following in mind when planning a toddlers London birthday party: Don’t feel obligated to organize the biggest party on the block because toddlers and preschoolers are still easily impressed (and easily freaked out).

Here are some more dos and don’ts for toddler birthday parties:

• Keep it short and sweet

One of the keys to a great toddler’s birthday is knowing when to call it a day. An hour to an hour and a half of party excitement is plenty for newly minted two-year-olds. Children from three to five can play for an hour and a half to two hours before becoming exhausted. Timing is also crucial: Parties in the late morning — or right after lunch — work well with most toddler nap schedules (the last thing you want is a roomful of cranky, overtired toddlers). Maintain a realistic guest list – too many revelers might lead to greater chaos and meltdowns.

• Don’t leave your guests guessing.

Be precise about when the party will end, whether you’ll be serving lunch (particularly if the scheduling confuses), and whether parents are invited or expected to remain on the invite, along with the who, what, and where (most will plan to if their child is under five, but spelling it out leaves less room for misunderstandings). Your child already has many toys, and you want to raise an altruistic child in a materialistic world? Consider including a condition on the invitation that says “your presence is enough” or “bring a gift for a youngster in need.”

• Get your child’s opinion.

Make the important decisions (such as where and when) for your toddler’s birthday celebration, but give your child some input. This way, she’ll know what to expect on the big day, but she’ll also feel like she owns and controls her party. To assist you in deciding on a theme, opinionated soon-to-be twos can choose a favorite character. Three and four-year-olds will be ecstatic to weigh in on the theme and the decorations and activities (and maybe even the cake flavor). They may also assist you in choosing the invites and decorating them.

• Make sure to plan activities that are appropriate for the children’s age

.

 Toddlers and preschoolers aren’t known for their extended attention spans or for always being good sports, even at toddler birthday parties. So forgo the outside scavenger hunt (you don’t want tiny ones trampling your flower beds anyhow) and instead play short, non-competitive activities like Ring Around the Rosie (for toddlers) and Freeze Dance (for preschoolers). Older toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy simple projects like make-your-own party hats (although sharing isn’t their strong feature, so have plenty of supplies on hand). Group projects, like a big mural on a roll-out sheet of paper, are also worth considering.