Last year, on my son’s second birthday, my favorite photograph of him was one in which he was out-of-focus, too excited to stand still for even a second.
This year: same thing.
Yes, that is a bouncy castle. In our backyard.
I had thought it would be a kind of crazy indulgence to rent a bouncy castle, but you know what it ended up being? GENIUS. Because instead of spending the entire party frantically trying to corral 16 or so children, the adults present could actually eat things and drink things and talk about things, because you know where all the kids were?
In the bouncy castle. Obviously. (Indy exited only once, inhaled a slice of pizza and a cupcake, and was back in until the guy came to pick it up. I was in there for awhile, too.)
Besides, I really wanted to do something special for this birthday, because I figure it’s the first one my son will actually remember…and now what he will remember is A BOUNCY CASTLE. Which is amazing.
Some more Toddler Party Ideas I picked up from this go-round:
– Do not do fancy; do easy. For our son’s first birthday I went for homemade everything, and nobody cared and it was a huge headache. Pizza and cupcakes (my mom made them this year) make your life so much easier, and everybody loves them.
– When it’s time to eat, lay a rectangular plastic tablecloth on the ground and put down a paper plate to indicate each child’s “seat.” It keeps things more organized if the eating area is clearly delineated…and makes cleanup way, way easier if you just have to scoop up a tablecloth with all the trash already right there on it.
– Put a bowl with favor bags by the door, so you don’t have to worry about handing them out as each kid leaves (because don’t you worry: they will not forget to grab one).
– In my experience, you need two primary gathering areas: one near where the older kids are playing (so a few adults can monitor), and a comfortable seating spot where parents with infants can hang out. Stock each area with some snacks and drinks (plastic cups only, please), and everyone will be happy.
– This is the biggest one: do not leave out anything that would make you cry, were it to break. Seriously, that’s my rule of thumb: would the loss of this item make me cry? No? Good, out it stays. Yes? To the attic, please. Also: plastic cups. Always.
