First Birthday Party Tips By Creative Converting

Theme

First Birthday Celebrations are often the biggest birthday celebration anyone will have - so make it memorable!! Creative Expressions offers a variety of different themes specifically for First Birthday celebrations. From Pink and Blue, to Animals and Cupcakes, each theme is designed to be colorful and eye catching for the one year old. The theme you select will help provide focus when it comes to decorating, games, food, and perhaps even the location.

Party Goods

Creative Expressions offers a wide selection of First Birthday themes appropriate for boys and girls. You'll find designs that feature contemporary, traditional, and whimsical styles. Take a look at all of the themes available by visiting our website.

Party Plans

While a first birthday celebration is often one of the biggest birthdays a child will celebrate, in reality it's really more for the other children and adults at the event. So while it's important to keep your one year old entertained, it's even more important to make sure your guests are occupied and engaged throughout the party. If your event includes young children you'll want to have plenty of toys, activites and games ready for them to play. If your party includes adults, you'll want to have an area for them to interact.

Deliver or mail your invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance so that your guests can respond and plan accordingly.

Set a budget. Before you make any purchases or deposits, put together a list of all your expenses by item. If the total expenses are more than your budget, think of how you can creatively reduce your expenses by trimming some of the less important items. If necessary you may also need to trim your guest list.

Schedule

Your one year old's attention span will be short. Consider limiting your party activities to no more than one and a half to two hours. If there are other children in attendance, their energy level will also start to fade, and all of those amazing party activities you have planned will cease to be fun. This timeframe will provide enough time to greet all of the guests, play a few games (as necessary), open gifts, celebrate with refreshments and cake, and say goodbyes.

Think about when your one year typically naps and schedule your party accordingly. You and your child will enjoy the events a lot more if your child is awake and happy!

Guests

It's tempting to not want to leave anyone out when planning a party, especially for a First Birthday celebration. Will this be a family event? What about brothers and sisters and their friends? Remember, it's important to keep the party size managable. If the weather permits, an outdoor event might provide more flexibility if you're working with a larger group. Determine what will work best for you and your party setting. If the party is a large event with lots of guests, remember to include friends or family who are willing to lend a helping hand so you have time to enjoy the events of the day.

Decorations

Think about how you can "transform" areas of your home, yard, or other party space so that your guests truly experience the party theme. Reinforce the party theme with coordinating wall and table decorations. Creative Expression First Birthday patterns include a variety of party decorations, including Centerpieces, Hanging Cutouts, Door Signs, Giant Party Banners, Flag Banners, Jointed Banners, Garlands, Yard Banners, and Metallic Balloons.

If your party is at home, don't forget to decorate the outside of your house! This will help set the mood for the party and direct guests to the correct address.

Activities/Games

To encourage participation from everyone at the party, it's always a good idea to stick to simple games that the children may already know or can learn easily. Consider starting with something less active to allow the party goers to warm up to each other. It's also good to have these kinds of activities or games at the end of the party also, so that the kids can start to wind down prior to refreshments and saying goodbye.

Don't forget the adults! If it's appropriate for your event, they may also enjoy participating in simple activities. To keep it simple, think of ways to adapt simple word games, or shower games. Bring out the board games for those that want to participate.

Make sure you have enough activities to last the length of the party, and then some. Running out of activities can quickly take your event from loads of fun to a party downer. Remember craft materials and videos can always be used in a pinch for the children.

Other Ideas

Create personalized invitations with coordinating Imprintable Invitations. Keep one invitation as a momento.

Create a photo video of your child's 1st year, and set it up to play continuously throughout the event. Your guests will enjoy this quick snapshot of your child, especially if they've traveled from out of town for this special event.

Record all of the party memories in the Keepsake Book from Creative Expressions. The book includes space for writing about events of the day, recording guests and gifts, and also areas for saving photos.

Create a memory book or box of the event. Take lots of photos, everything from the guests, to the food, to the games, and the gifts. Make special note of the current events of the day. Include a few small decorations or momentos. Encourage your guests to write special notes or add a momento of their own.

Include your guests in a group photo and include the photo as a momento with your thank you notes. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and treasure the memory for years to come!

Think of a special birthday tradition you can start that will continue throughout the child's life. This might include purchasing them a special gift or card, or may be as simple as writing them a personal letter to read as they grow older. Whatever you choose, you and your child will treasure for years to come!

Party Wearables

Creative Expressions First Birthday patterns include Cone Hats, and Large Wearable Stickers for the special guest.

Look for the coordinating High Chair Kit from Creative Expressions. The kit includes a special Hat, Bib, Flag Banner and Plastic Mat for the High Chair. This will be great for photos!

Favours

Consider coordinating Cello Bags and Loot Bags filled with simple treats. Remember to keep the favors age appropriate and large enough to prevent any choking hazards for those children under three years of age.

Prizes

Game prizes are fun for both winners and losers. Keep the prizes simple so others do not feel left out. Make sure to have some silly prizes on hand for the losers as well so they have something to take home.

Food

The type of food you serve will be dependent on several factors, including the location, the size of the group, and the time of day. Taking all these things into consideration, as well as your budget, you may opt for simple snacks, appetizers, or an outdoor barbeque. Whatever you choose, take the extra step to coordinate the food to the theme of the party. Your guests will be impressed, and you will make the event even more memorable for the one year old!

When preparing your menu, consider foods that you have made previously, that are easy to prepare, or that can be made ahead of time and frozen. Now is not the time to experiment, unless you have time to prepare ahead of time as a test. The party will be much more enjoyable for you as the host if you are mingling with the guests rather than hanging out alone in the kitchen!

Don't Forget

What's a birthday cake without the candles? Every Creative Expressions 1st Birthday pattern includes a coordinating 1 Candle.

Unexpected

No matter how much you plan, be sure to expect the unexpected, both good and bad. Be prepared with a good attitude and a camera!