This is a party theme that is easy to put together, very budget-friendly, and often a favorite of kids aged 2 to 3 years old. This party is all about the party child. Kids this age are learning and recognizing who they are, and having a party that reflects them is a lot of fun for this age. For you, it’s super-easy to put together!

Here are the tips:

·        Ask your guests to dress in the same outfit as your child will. Make it something simple like jeans and a blue T-shirt. Your child will be delighted when everyone walks in dressed the same.

·        Decorate with your child’s favorite colors, using balloons, streamers, and tableware. Have a favorite candy or snack scattered around the table as well. Hang pictures of your child around the party room; hang them from streamers for extra fun.

·        Have several of your child’s favorite toys on a table, and provide play dough for the kids to make replicas of your kid’s favorite things.

·        Have the birthday boy or girl lead the gang in a round of “Simon Says,” but use your child’s name instead of Simon.

·        Play “Pin the Nose on ___ (Your Child’s Name).” Print a very large picture of your kid and hang it up. Cut out a big red nose for the kids to pin the nose on.

·        What are some other fun games your child loves? Charades? Tag? Hide and Seek? Freeze? Mother May I? Red Light, Green Light?

·        Take pictures of each guest with your child, and place it in a frame to be taken home by the guests as the party favor. If you have a digital camera, these pictures can be printed off and placed in the frames during the party. Or just send the frames home and send the pictures with the thank-you notes later.

·        Put the birthday child’s picture on the cake. Of course, make the cake in your child’s favorite flavor and icing color.

·        Serve your child’s favorite foods, even if outlandish, to add fun to the party menu.

The point of this party is to celebrate the uniqueness of your child. It’s easy, it’s budget-friendly, and because there is no one just like your kid, it will be very special!

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs