My number one tip for making your child / children’s birthday fun is that you should not do any of the things I do, such as:
1. A few months out from their birthday I start to make a list of things they’re into so I can start scouting them out on Facebook Marketplace. Inevitably this leads to me buying things that they've then decided they don't like anymore by the time the big day arrives.
2. Put lots of pressure on myself to create the perfect birthday but also to make it totally eco-friendly and keep my husband happy by not spending any money.
3. Try and compensate for the fact we can’t have a proper party (because, 2020) by planning three different days of rule of six parties and thus tripling the amount of preparation required and getting myself in a total spin over the piñata filling and treasure hunt.
4. Baking a cake that could feed 50 people, taking three nights to do it and getting so sweaty in the process I can barely ice the thing without it being a health hazard.
5. Forgetting where I've put all the presents so that a) I'm always in fear one of the kids will find them, b) I buy too many because I forget what I've bought, and c) I can't find them when it comes to getting the wrapping done.
In all seriousness a couple of things I do think are really important to keep in mind are:
1. If it's a kid's birthday, make it fun for the kids and your fun will follow. You know your kids best, so do what you think will give them the most enjoyment. It doesn't matter what you've seen other parents and kids do, if you think your child would have the most fun by getting on a train somewhere just to get it back again, then do that!
2. I've learnt that my kids find all the presents, entertainment, friends, and getting to eat crisps and cake, realllllly overwhelming - which just leads to tired, grumpy kids and mummy guilt. Scale it back, even if it's against your instincts - and it will be for the best.
3. Choose one or two things that mean something to you to make or spend time over, and then do not feel guilty about shop-buying the rest. Kids don't know how much time you've spent on something so you can't expect them to appreciate it more just because you took 5 hours to create it. If it gives you pleasure to make a card, bake a cake, hand make the decorations or produce a handmade dress for the day then you should totally do it! But don't put pressure on them to enjoy it more because you sweated over it. That's not fair on them and will only make you more stressed - trust me, I've been there.
4. Dress up and celebrate the fact that you have kept them alive for another year!! Woooohoo go you Mumma! Have that prosecco or G&T!
Practical Tips:
My favourite places, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are your friends! You are totally within your rights to go and look at something and not purchase, but it's also a good idea to ask lots of questions before you go and view. Younger kids have no idea whether something is second-hand, all of our favourite toys have come from these means; Peppa Pig toys, a mountain of Fireman Sam figures and vehicles, an enormous wooden train track selection and all the garden toys too; play house, sand pit and slide.
Save money by baking your own cake but getting some super professional looking cake toppers or rice paper toppers from Etsy.
Don't forget to consider a gift for your other child/children. Giving them a gift on their siblings' birthday is obviously a parenting choice, and you may feel strongly about it either way. But it's worth making sure you've considered it.
Along the same line, it's great to get bigger kids to choose / make / create something for their sibling and help wrap it up. They also love to help decorate cakes, blow out candles and unwrap presents!
If you have something to build, a Cozy Coupe, a King Arthur's castle, a trike, or similar, and you have enough space to hide it for a day or two, try and put it together in advance - we started the castle at 9pm the night before the birthday, and the cozy coupe took us about a week and help from a neighbour before the birthday boy could get his hands on it - doh!
Try not to let the birthday girl or boy open every gift they're given. Have them accept it, thank the present-giver, and then do your best to save it for later. This is harder to do the older they get obviously!
Subscriptions, vouchers or classes make excellent presents from Grandparents, Godparents or Aunties & Uncles - less plastic, less tat and more value for money. I'm thinking, baking subscriptions, toy subscriptions, National Trust membership, membership to your local farm park, swimming lessons, Clarks vouchers, WH Smith vouchers, even £5 Starbucks voucher so they can buy their own babycino!
If you want help baking really excellent cakes, read my blog posts about How NOT to make a Fire Engine Cake, and How NOT to make a double tier vehicle '2' cake!!
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