Tagged with: baby,
birthday,
cakes,
Chocolate,
food,
grill,
mom,
parents,
summer,
surprise,
tips,
toddler,
toddlers
by
Sarah Welch
posted in Life & Home
Although being large and in charge as a super-pregnant lady in the heat of the summer is decidedly NOT that much fun (my two boys are July and August babies, so I speak from experience), there IS a major benefit down the line.
Summertime birthdays.
That means you will be able to throw backyard parties they are growing up — a much cheaper (and frankly more fun) option than the typical rent-a-room parties.
But hosting a kid’s party at your home can be a little daunting. What do you feed them? How do you entertain them?
The key to doing it sanely is, naturally, a little organization.
Important Rules of Thumb
1. Don’t overdo the activities. Kids, especially the 3 and under crowd, are happiest when they can just free-form it. Keep it to one or two organized activities and you will be more than fine.
2. Use e-invites. Yes paper is lovely, but it is more likely to get lost on overflowing counter tops. Plus it costs more to send. And it doesn’t have an automated RSVP follow up. Trust me, that is enough of a reason to go “e” right there.
3. It’s not about what everything looks like, but how much fun it is. So take a deep breath and try not to stress if your food table doesn’t look like one of those gorgeous spreads on Pinterest.
To help you overcome any procrastination on the party-planning front, I’ve gone in search of all the critical elements — from e-invites to food ideas that will get you beyond pizza, cakes that will bring a smile to all faces, and simple activities that will keep everyone happy for a few hours.
It is easy to get lost in e-invitation land trying to find the perfect card. So I went in search of a few good unisex cards and found these six totally free designs.
Cupcake Wrapper Invitation
This invitation from Paperless Post signals a sweet birthday ahead!
Baby Elephant Invitation
This adorable elephant is perfect for first birthdays.
I Scream You Scream!
I scream, you scream…we all scream for ice cream! This cute invitation also screams summer.
Polka Dots…Or Bubbles
If you prefer a more sophisticated and classic approach, dots are always in fashion.
Picture Invitation
You cannot go wrong with a simple picture-based invitation.
Whale of a Time
This darling design tells invitees that they are sure to have a whale of a time
Party Theme Ideas
Picking a party theme is an excellent way to streamline the work associated with throwing a party. It helps to narrow your decoration options and activity sets.
Zoo Party
Give your little ones an excuse to act like animals with a zoo party.
Movie Party
A movie theme offers a lot of flexibility in terms of activities. You could play dress up games, actually make mini-movies, or even play charades. And if it rains – you can always bring kids inside to watch a movie.
Children’s Book Party
Books! They are always fun to get, fun to give, and fun to read.
Olympic Party
Unleash your inner Olympian this summer with an Olympic themed party. Play sports-inspired games, like throwing the shot put using water balloons or a gymnastics-inspired cartwheel race.
Circus Party
Go ahead, clown around! A circus theme is fun for lots of different ages.
Beach Party
There is no need to over-complicate. A beach party is both easy to put together and always a hit.
Party Food Ideas
I know, pizza is the go-to birthday staple. But let\’s think outside the box a little, shall we? The amazing thing is, there are some very simple alternatives that are so much better.
Toddler Lunch Ice Tray
Toddlers do not eat much. Satisfy their bird-like appetites in an ingenious way – using ice trays.
Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
Summer is the right time for fresh fruit. Create some colorful fruit kebobs.
Lasagna Cupcakes
Another bite-sized goodie! Pre-bake some lasagna bites as a delicious and healthy alternative to the same-old-same-old pizza.
Roll Up Sandwiches
Put out a twist on the basic sandwich. These are healthy and pretty darn easy to make. They are also the right serving size for toddlers.
Mini Corn on the Cob
What kid does not like a little corn on the cob? Cut larger ears into smaller pieces and grill or boil them ahead of time so they are not too hot for small hands.
Cake Ideas
The
birthday cake is THE main event. I had never made one of my own prior to last summer and I was surprised at how EASY PEASY they are to make. I have rounded up a slew of fun options – all with links to great tutuorials.
Strawberry Cake
It is strawberry season. Take advantage of it! This strawberry concoction looks absolutely divine. And if you have a little girl, the surprise pink inside will make it extra special.
Melted Ice Cream Cake
I love the look of this cake. It is nothing more than a plain cake — use any color frosting your heart desires. Then dribble chocolate ganache on top and top it off a scoop of ice cream.
Colorful Caterpillar Cupcakes
I love this happy little caterpillar cupcake train. I can just see the smiles on little faces as it is brought out.
Rainbow Cake
I have been obsessing over this cake for a while now. It is just so bright and cheery it puts a big grin on my face every time I see it.
Mini Cakes
Kids love mini things. So why not make mini versions of a birthday cake? This is also a great way to keep serving sizes smaller.
On the Dot Cake
This is nothing more than a basic cake covered in little chocolate candies. If you have peanut allergies, I think this would work just as well with Skittles.
Popcorn Cupcakes
Marshmallows AND cake? If your toddler knew who Rachel Zoe was, I am sure he would say: I die.
Blueberry Cookie Monster Cake
Not only does this cake take full advantage of fresh blueberries, but it also doubles as a cookie monster cake because it is blue. You could always add a cookie monster plastic toy to the top or even just put a big chocolate chip cookie with a bite taken out on top for extra fun!
Push-Up Cake
I did not know that you could buy push up pop containers until I read this tutorial. Not only is this really FUN, it is also a great way to minimize the sugar intake.
Party Activity Ideas
Having toddlers and kids descend on your home can be intimidating. But the thing is, especially if you are blessed with a nice day, it is pretty darn easy to keep them entertained. I found a wide variety of games and such on Pinterest and organized the best here.
Parachute Games
Paint a Book Bag
Pre-made stencils enable kids to create their own canvas book bag. So this is what I like to call a two-for-one: an activity that doubles as a take-home gift.
Rainbow in a Jar
Set up a sand table with brightly colored sand bins and allow toddlers to make their own rainbow jar. If you have baby jars around, they make wonderful vessels. If you have older kids, they can make their own rainbow sand using chalk to color salt.
Roller Coaster Rides
My in-laws have this roller coaster toy at their house and my boys are obsessed. It is the first thing they run to when they arrive and they can play on it for hours.
Wipeout Obstacle Course
This fun family came up with a variation on the Wipeout games you see on TV. It looks like loads of fun.
Ball Pit
Littles will love this dry twist on a baby pool. Parents will love that it is dry.
Bubble Games
Bubbles are always fun. This is a great idea for the 2 and under set especially. Popping bubbles and blowing bubbles can easily be a fun 15-20 minute activity.
Car Wash Sprinkler
I set one of these up in our back yard last year as part of a monster truck themed birthday party for my 5 year old. It was a huge, huge hit.
Water Balloon Pinata
Instead of loading up guests with candy and more sweets, cool them off with a little water from a water balloon pinata instead. I imagine kids would have just as much – if not more – fun with this than a traditional candy-filled one.
INVITES (6)
Cupcake Foils {via: Paperless Post}
Ice Cream {via: Paperless Post}
Elephant {via: Purple Trail}
Classic Dots {via: Paperless Post}
Photo Card {via: Purple Trail}
Whale {via: Purple Trail}
THEMES (7)
Disney Party Theme {via: And Everything Sweet}
Zoo Themed Party {via: Parents}
Movie Party {via: Sharon Rowan Photo Design}
Olympic Themed Party {via: Pear Tree Greetings}
Children’s Book Themed Party {via: Hostess with the Mostess}
Circus Themed Party {via: Hip Hip Hooray Blog}
Beach Theme Party {via: Gourmet Mom on the Go}
FOOD (6)
Ice Cube Food Trays {via: Wiley Valentine}
Rainbow Fruit Kebobs {via: Spearmint Baby}
Lasagna Cupcakes {via: The Girl Who Ate Everything}
Roll Up Sandwiches {via: Karas Party Ideas}
Mini Corn on the Cob {via: The White Library}
Popcorn in Retro Bags {via: Etsy}
CAKES (9)
Strawberry Cake {via: Fresh Strawberry Cake}
Melted Ice Cream Cake {via: One Charming Party}
Colorful Catepillar Cupcakes {via: The Two Savvy Sisters}
Rainbow Cake {via: Sweetapolita}
Mini Cakes from Cans {via: Oh Happy Day}
On the Dot Cake {via: Parents}
Popcorn Cupcakes {via: Kinser Event Company}
Blueberry Velvet “Cookie Monster” Cake {via: i heart chocolate milk}
Cake Push Pop {via: One Charming Party}
ACTIVITIES (9)
Play Parachute Games {via: Jack and Dizzy}
Paint a Book Bag {via: Me and My Insanity}
Make Rainbows in a Jar {via: Flex and Twine}
Set Up a Roller coaster {via: Juicy Bits}
Run a Wipeout Obstacle Course {via: Beth and Company}
Swim in a Ball Pit {via: BabyCenter}
Have Some Bubble Fun {via: Coolest Kid Birthday Parties}
Run Through a Car Wash {via: Get Buttoned Up}
Hit a Water Balloon Piñata {via: Parent Map}
Finally, keep the entire event organized with this free printable from Buttoned Up.
Have you ever thrown a backyard birthday party? If so, what tips do you have for newbies on this front?
Read more from source:“babycenter”
Incoming search terms:
cookie monster cake, beach theme party ideas, obstacle course ideas, beach theme party, beach themed birthday party ideas, book themed party, zoo party ideas, cookie monster party ideas, beach themed party ideas, diy idea
37 fun ideas for organizing summer birthdays
And here is for the eye:Images from around the web about 37 fun ideas for organizing summer birthdays, hope you like them. Keywords: 37 fun ideas for organizing summer birthdays .
37 fun ideas for organizing summer birthdays related images
do it yourself fun craft ideas 37 pics image by www.dumpaday.com
lolsnapscom fun ideas for a star wars party image by lolsnaps.com
delaneyu002639s 7th birthday party ideas image by pinterest.com
do it yourself fun craft ideas 37 pics image by www.dumpaday.com
