It’s only natural for moms to be excited about the little ones’ (or no-so-little-anymore ones’…) birthdays. These annual milestones are a reminder of the amazing people our kids are turning into and how much they’ve grown, learned and changed since the last birthday. And that’s certainly a cause for celebration! But…it’s all too easy to let the festivities get way out of control.
Does it really take a bouncy house, pony rides, popcorn machine, full suite of coordinated printed products, character appearances, a magician and overflowing goody bags to mark the passing of another year? Here is some advice for throwing a fun birthday party on a budget.
Pick a theme.
Having a central idea to build the party around keeps it fun and exciting and also helps you to focus in on a few special ideas in a “sky’s the limit” world. This also helps make the party more personal when the theme is something your child loves. A few ideas:
- A favourite pastime such as soccer, baseball, dance, gymnastics or swimming.
- A beloved character from a TV show, movie or video game.
- A fantasy theme such as princesses, fairies, pirates, cowboys & cowgirls, outer space or mermaids.
- A theme centred around the party activities – movie night, camp-out or makeover party.