Help--Q's About Birthday Party for 3 Y/o

I have been to several bd parties for 3 year old "honorary grandchildren" and find that the best idea is to have other adults around to help with wrangling the children and maintaining some semblance of order. I Would combine the family get together with a couple of her friends, relatives that she enjoys spending time with. I would not have a ton of organized activities, too many chances of fights and melt downs. She doesn't know that bd parties are supposed to involve games and things...just let her have a fun play time with her friends.

Katie,

You can totally have a fun and managable birthday party for a 3 year old. If you keep the numbers down to 5 or less kids, they won't get bored waiting for their turn at the games or choose activities or games where everyone participates at once.

My suggestion would be to plan for an 1 hour or 1 hour and a half birthday party for that age group. Pick a theme first since that will help you decide which games to play. Break the party down into a game (15 - 20 min.), a craft (15 to 20 min), cake eating (10 - 15 min.), and maybe freeze dance as a fun activity(15 min.). If you have the party at your house, let the kids just play and explore for a few minutes. Definitely ask the parents to stay at the party to help out and mingle. (I've met some of my best Mom friends standing around at toddler birthday parties.) Have some adult snacks on hand and don't be afraid to ask the parents standing around to help run an activity.

My last suggestion would be to not open presents at the party for that age group. First, it's boring for everyone who is not the birthday boy or girl. Second, the other toddlers might start crying and getting jealous of the cool gifts they can't have. And finally, this happened once or twice with my kids, toddlers say the darndest things and they may say something inappropriate or rude about the gift and as the Mom you are mortified.

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S. Kirchner
www.ChocolateCakeClub.com
www.ChocolateCakeMoments.com - Simple, Creative & Memorable Ideas for Family Fun!

My daughter just turned 3 in July and I had a little party for her at our house. From that experience, I would say to limit it to no more than 5 kids. I had 8 and a few of them were getting restless. I made ice cream cupcakes (cupcakes in ice cream cones) and had different color frostings and sprinkles so the kids could decorate their cupcake however they wanted. The cone kept the frosting from getting all over their hands. We also played a few games, bozo buckets (with clothes baskets and balls), hokey pokey, prize walk (like cake walk), and dance party. Even though I thought it got a little crazy toward the end, she loved that her friends were over to celebrate her birthday. Hope this helps!

Oh, let her have some friends! My daughter will be 3 in Oct. and has a toooooon of cousins her age and friends from school, and her best friend Autumn who is my friend's daughter. We always have a big party whether we like it or not b/c I have 4 siblings and 9 nieces and nephews. We rent a bounce house (from Missy Eber on Mamapedia) and always cook out and have a great time! 3 is old enough to be able to really enjoy company! My daughter loves pirates and mermaids so we're doing a pirate/mermaid/treasure hunt party for her in Oct.

Three is a good age for a real party. I would keep the guest list under 10 and plan some games and set up a craft table. I have had many at home parties with homemade cakes for this age kids and have had lots of fun. Just remember when planning that the kids tend to go thru your planned activites and games pretty fast so make sure you have enough to do. Have fun!

We will be doing an all kids party next year when my daughter turns 3. Bellaboo's, Jump Zone, Chuck - E - Cheese, somewhere like that. It is definitely the right time to start that kind of party. I wish we were doing that this year when she turns 2! It is so much easier as they take care of everything! We've been to all of these places and more, and it starts when kids are 2 in my group of friends.

My daughter's 3yo birthday a few months ago included friends from her daycare and all the kids had tons of fun and got along very well. It's at this age when they start interacting and playing with one another and it's so precious to watch. If you feel strongly about keeping it small, then this should probably be the last year of doing so. Next year she will definitely want to invite her friends from pre-school to her party.

I totally agree that 3 is a great age to start child birthday parties. :) She is at an age that she will remember it and she also has "friends" by this time. We have been to small house parties where they just play and have cake as well as larger parties in the park or places like Jump it Up. Our three year old is having his party at Make a Messterpiece in Glenview. There are so many cool places out there to have parties at when they are still little. :) Have fun! :)