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Happy Second Birthday!
Birthday Party Ideas for Your
2-Year-Old
2-Year-Old
By Keath Castelloe Low
Open gifts during a quiet time after the party. Other young guests may not understand they cannot take the gifts they brought back home. You can avoid this by simply not opening the presents during the party time.
Little ones need to remain as close to their regular schedule as possible, so don't plan the party right in the middle of lunch or naptime. "Don't expect your new 2-year-old to be happy with a houseful of people if he is off his normal schedule," Dabek says.
Typically, the best rule of thumb is to invite the same number of children as the age of your child. For example, if your child is 2, invite two children. Dabek says that some parents feel this number is too small, but "keep in mind your child may not like all the attention a crowd may bring," she says.
Christine Goodbody, a mother of two from Falmouth, Maine, says that she had her son's playgroup over for his 2-year-old birthday celebration. "It was just a few of his friends," she says. "They were familiar with each other, so it was comfortable and low key." Goodbody had cake and the kids played together. The time was unstructured and relaxed and her son enjoyed his special day. The family later celebrated again in a separate gathering with grandparents, dinner and more cake.
Tiffany David, owner of Childlike Productions, an event and party planning company based in Bradenton, Fla., suggests a fun party idea for summertime – bubble parties.
"Have the children wear their bathing suits and fill buckets and pans with 'bubble juice,'" David says. "Buy different bubble wands and let the kids have some fun. Finish off with trips through the sprinklers." David says that some party companies offer foam parties. These parties tend to cost a lot more, but they are fun and it is nice having someone else do all the work!