Birthday party planning time...sigh, looking for inspiration

[Violet2]

I am excited about DD's bday but not about a party.

DD is really into Tinkerbell but her party will be mostly adults so I'm not sure what to do for her in that regard.

I also see a lot of 'Made in Sweatshops and probably laced with lead' crapola and I don't want to do that.

Someone inspire me. Please.

V

[Comtessa]

There's some fun ideas for kid birthday parties
here. But, seriously, if most of the guests are adults, then don't worry about a kid-centered theme. Just make some simple finger foods, bake a small cake and ask guests not to bring gifts. Voila! No sweatshops, no lead.

If your guests insist on birthday gifts but you don't want crap, you can always make a wish list on Amazon.com of things that your daughter might like as gifts that aren't of the made-in-sweatshops variety, too. There's a list of Top Green Toddler Toys here, and there's plenty of great toy/clothing companies who advertise in Mothering. I always start there when I'm looking for something.

Of course, be prepared to get crap anyway. Thank the giver graciously, then package it up in a box and save it 'til the holidays, then give it away to a child in need.

[sept04mama]

I assume you meant party supplies were laced with lead and such.

We do a lot of parties with my kids and just adults, since I'm the only one with kids in my family. I always make a cake of the theme- so you could make a tinkerbell cake. You'd know just what was in it if you made it.

I usually do 1 thing with the theme for decorating- like napkins, that's pretty safe. Then put up some generic paper or balloons that match. The last few years my kids (turning 5 and 4) have colored their own banner that welcomes guests and they draw pictures of the theme (Robin Hood in DS2's case) I also do a cute invitation using the theme that usually has a picture of them included.

As far as gifts, I just make a wish list with links if applicable and send it out. Most of them go off that, so it's stuff I want the kids to have. A few times they have gotten other things, but usually nice handmade stuff, so we were happy about it.

Good luck!

[sapphire_chan]

Paper plates and napkins should be okay, lead wise. Then you could decorate a cake. The guests know she likes TB? (Also other fairies?) So some of them will get themed wrapping paper and/or themed birthday cards.

And that'd be enough TB theme.

The other thing I'd suggest for a two year old's birthday that only has adults is that you warn the adults that they'll be outside and moving and possibly messy. Bubbles for everyone!

[marispel]

DS just turned 2 and we did an Elmo theme. It was mostly adults with another 2 yr old at the party. I did an Elmo cake and bought an Elmo table cloth. He had an Elmo balloon and then a couple little Elmo figures on the tables. I matched it up with colored plates, cups and utensils....that was it!

DS could have cared less. He was just having fun playing with the other little boy and the attention from all the adults. He didn't want anything to do with his cake (wouldn't even take a bite) or openning presents.

I was worried about his party at first (even posted something on here), but then decided that he is just too young to really care. I focused more on the adult beverages and food

[tbone_kneegrabber]

I am doing ds's 3rd birthday on Sunday. (We just decided on the day last night, yes we are those people that wait until the last minute. But we are inviting like 50 people and figure only half will show up if we don't tell them until the week before!)

We are doing a potluck brunch. (I am huge fan of the potluck and most events/parties etc I go to are potlucks so folks are used to that)
I got some balloons and streamers (only because I found them super cheap)
We will eat off of our regular plates and dishes. I might go pick up some paper cups because we don't have enough glasses to go around.

No favors, no games, no activites planned so far and probably won't be any. No gifts.

We eat food, we hang out, the kids play, we eat more, we talk. done and done.

That's what we did last year for ds's 2nd birthday as well. I think I set up the baby pool last year and had some bubbles out (hmmm maybe I'll do that again this year).

Oh and I think I'm going to have ds try to make party hats, but I did pick up a few real cheap in case he isn't interested (he has recently become obssessed with party hats!)

[kcstar]

For DS' last two birthdays, we celebrated with the family over the Labor Day weekend. We're planning to travel for that again this year.

The question I come up with is, he's already had two birthday parties two weekends in a row for children at his preschool. They had a lot of fun at the parties.

So I'm wondering if I should do a party with his classmates. It will probably be a week or two after the birthday, if so. I think we know the location, at the local science center. They have some decent packages that take care of a lot of those things.

[ellairiesmom]

DD1 turns 3 next month & this year I let her pick her own party theme idea (we are doing a kids party). After changing her mind several times, she has settled on a Princess & The Frog party...sigh... lol

It will be between 10-15 kids depending on who can make it. My friend is making a .jpg invite I can print off of kodak for the cost of a 4x6 picture using an image of Tiana cooking from the movie. I am going to order a dozen kids apron & chef's hats off amazon for them to decorate & take home as their favors. They will each get a small ball of pizza dough & toppings to make their own pizzas & then will get a pre-made cupcake to ice & decorate themselves to bring home. I will try to make frog cupcakes to serve or get a cake made at shoprite if I get overwhelmed as it gets closer.