For many of you, some of your fondest memories of childhood are birthday parties. Whether it was your celebration or a friend or sibling’s—you must remember streamers, screamers and paper party hats. But a lot has changed these days. Yes, many of you still call upon the guaranteed to please party clown complete with his red nose and bag of tricks. And the piñata remains a staple at many households. But some parents enjoy the ease of an off-site location that hosts a variety of fun-filled activities—you can’t miss a group sing along if you pass Build-a-Bear® at the mall. Still others delight in having the experts cater to their child’s every whim, from head-to-toe beauty treatments to jewelry and other handcrafted keepsakes to treasure.
If you aren’t sure what’s right for what age, here are some tips for successful birthday parties through the years.

First Birthday
The first birthday party is usually a party attended largely by adult friends and family. And it’s also one that will have you celebrating the mere fact that you’ve made it through the first year of diapers, sleepless nights, and tears. For your little one, the most important thing to keep in mind is timing. Pick a party time when you know he will be well rested. Cake and ice cream should always be staples for the group, and you’ll want to include snacks and beverages for the big kids too.

Second Birthday
On your child’s second birthday—apply the Three S’s rule. Short, Sweet & Simple. They didn’t call it the terrible two’s for nothing, and no parent wants to see their party plans disintegrate before their eyes with a tantrum-filled house. Plan on about an hour for a small group of toddlers—3 or 4. Music is a must at this age, and an easy way to entertain. Once you get through the cake and ice cream, presents, and a little dancing—send them off with a take-home treat and call it a day!

Third Birthday
Michael is talking now, and Emily can sing the Wiggles, so this year you can actually embrace a theme party and know they’ll understand and enjoy it. If you’re keeping things under your roof, a Disney® character or other child favorite can be found along the aisles of the party store, as well as balloons, party favors and other trinkets to round out the fun. Music remains a must, as well as a little extra help from a mom or dad who can stay the course of the party with you.

Fourth Birthday
This year brings a whole new crowd into the picture for many families. If your child attends pre-school or daycare, combine that with your neighborhood and other close friends, and the guest list may be overwhelming. But remember, you are the host and you are not obligated to invite everyone. In fact, you probably have a good idea as to whom your child has bonded with at the school or daycare. If you are going to invite only a few, invitations should be mailed to the guest’s home, and not delivered by your child. Even those not close to your child will feel left out if they see others receiving invites.
This is also a great year for a guest to take center stage. Clowns, magicians and other entertainers love the little ones, so take the opportunity to hire one to help settle this active bunch down and fill the room with laughter. Goody bags are also a big plus at this age. You can now buy the little toys that say “For ages 4+”!

Ages 5-8 Birthdays
These are the years of serious birthday planning. Not only are most children in school and establishing friendships there, but they are also at an age where they can fully embrace and engage the concepts of birthdays—from gift giving and receiving to a host of games and activities. This calls for serious strategic planning on your part. Few parents can play host to an entire classroom. The good news is you can take care of that by asking to bring a treat to school on or around your child’s special day. This allows you to “include” everyone even if you can’t invite them all to the house. By now, your child can tell you by name who they’d love to have at their party. You have to lay down the law on the guest list. Some parents use the age as the rule of thumb, i.e. 6 years old, 6 guests. Others can go with more.
5 year-olds love games. Pin the tail on the donkey (or Barney) remains a hoot for them. For all of these ages, crafts are a wonderful way to pass the time. For girls, jewelry and other craft making parties are huge hits. Even boys get into painting their own piggy bank or other cool object at a pottery party. Scavenger hunts, sledding parties, pony rides and blow-up play areas to jump away boundless energy are great for these ages. If you want let someone else host the party, check out the Seneca Zoo, YMCA, Strong National Museum of Play to plan an afternoon of fun.

Ages 9-12
By this age, your child is probably telling you exactly what they’d like to do, get and have for their birthday. One of the most important things you can do is to impress that a birthday party is a privilege, and something to be treasured. Your now “tweenager” is probably doing a lot of the planning himself, so it’s fun to make it a team effort. These are great ages for small sleepovers (see sidebar), as well as bowling parties. Kids at this age are also more independent so embrace that by giving them some space—although the eyes in back of your head are much needed during these years.