Five Tips for a Better Birthday Party

By Heather Bright

With nearly 8 billion people on earth, there aren’t many things that we all have, but we all have a birthday. Whether we choose to celebrate it or pretend it hasn’t happened since we were 29, there’s a specific day that we entered this world.

As a parent, some of my favorite days each year are celebrating my children’s birthdays. The presents and cake are for them, but somehow, I feel like the lucky one as I watch them make a wish and blow out their candles. Birthday celebrations are just as meaningful whether they are themed and artfully decorated or they are simple gatherings with a store-bought cake. I’ve done my share of both over the last 15 years, and here is a list of my top 5 suggestions to make this year’s celebrations less stressful and more fun.

1. Book the perfect venue. Deciding on a place for a party can be the most challenging part of the process. If your home can accommodate a crowd, and you don’t mind the extra work of set up and clean up, inviting people over is a great option. We’ve had parties at arcades, movie theatres, and trampoline parks. The biggest hinderance with these venues is the price per guest. Recently, I learned that you can have a birthday party at the YMCA! It was a game changer for our family. For a fraction of the cost of other birthday venues, we booked a party room at the Coffman YMCA, and it included access to the family play land. After cake and presents, all of the kids at the party played while the adults visited. Although I do not visit this location to work out, any member of one the YMCA of Greater Dayton can reserve the space. The process was very easy, and the staff prepared the room and even cleaned up after!
2. Timing is everything. With dozens of birthday parties executed over the years, one of the things I’ve learned is to avoid times that most people will expect a meal. Food is definitely not the thing to stress over when planning a birthday party. So, now I plan parties when most people won’t be ready for a meal. I also realized after several long parties that 90 minutes is just the right amount of time for a kids’ party. Much longer than that and I’m left with kids who are tired or on a sugar high.
3. Do what works for you. I have friends who only have parties for their kids every few years. I enjoy doing it each year. I’ve been to backyard get-togethers without a single balloon, and I’ve thrown parties straight from the pages of Pinterest. Depending on your budget, hobbies, or personality, your style of party planning is different than other moms. And that’s okay! If you are crafty and want to spend the time putting together a homemade banner with matching goodie bags, enjoy that process. If that makes you cringe, don’t do it. Do what works for you and your family. This leads perfectly into the next tip…
4. Leave the guilt behind. You do not have to invite the entire school class to a birthday party. You do not need to match the amount of décor from the party your friend hosted last month. You don’t have to wonder what the other parents will think if you hold an over-the-top event because that’s what you enjoy. The planning process can be tiring enough; you and I do not need to add the guilt of not doing enough or doing too much. This is an event to enjoy! Decide early to leave the guilt behind.
5. Focus on the main thing. I can vividly remember my 7th birthday. It was my first sleepover, and my mom allowed me to invite a handful of friends over to make crafts and bake cakes. I don’t remember a single decoration, but I recall the fun of each of us baking and decorating our own individual cake. It was a simple idea, and matched my mother’s creative personality. Our little ones only turn 7 one time, and they won’t remember every detail of a birthday party, but they will remember the feeling of being celebrated on their special day.

Birthdays deserve to be celebrated, but without the stress that can often be associated with party planning. Take the time to enjoy the process, however elaborate or simple the event is this year.