Birthday Parties: Best Party Tips and Ideas for Ages 1-8

I am a first time mom and all of my son's friends are a few months younger than him. So, basically we have not have much guideance in planning birthday parties (my husband and I only have our memories and our families' memories to go on). I am reading this book for the first time as I plan his 4th birthday party. I knew many of the things discussed in the book but I learned new tips and advice. The book had guildelines on when away from home parties were appropriate, what age you should start giving out prizes for games (and good ideas for non-material prizes), how to handle disappointment by the birthday child, and things to do to keep the party moving smoothly (especially if dealing with younger kids that aren't so good at waiting through long turns). I liked how the book addressed ideas for handling different dietary situations of the guests. I haven't been in that situation so I didn't really have any ideas of my own. The book had good recipes for such situations as lactose intolerance, food allergies or other sensitivities. There were good general food recommendations and recipes as well. The book has a great breakdown of age considerations for party planning. Recommendations for party length, what kind of activities are appropriate as well as what challenges you may face depending on the age (sharing, play styles...) were included. Before I read this I hadn't really thought about how to make the birthday party age appropriate as they got older (my ideas were limited to Pin the Tail on the Donkey). The book had unique and creative ideas for favors, invitations and games. It was nice to have a comprehensive list of all the common, popular games as well as some interesting variations. Well organized and easy to read. I liked the real life experiences mentioned in the book. It helps to read about what did and didn't work for other families. You can find many good sources of birthday party information on the internet but this book is worth having around in my opinion. It is just a good all pupose guide.

My son just turned 9 and I have been using this book for ideas for most of those years. Every birthday I pull it out and I always seem to find a few new ideas in there that I didn't notice the previous year! It includes party activity ideas such as a no-cook play dough recipe, instructions for making pop-up puppets and "moon rocks", and fun ideas like cooking cupcakes in ice cream cones, and playing "spin the bottle" to choose which present to open next (eliminates favoritism in present-opening). The author also includes tips on the child psychology of birthdays (plan something after the party to prevent a big let down), as well as addresses and phone numbers of further party sources. Now my child is getting a little old for some of the tips (the cover states it is for ages 1-8) but some of the ideas work for all ages, so I will hold onto the book for the next birthday.

Of all the "Birthday" books I borrowed from the Library I found this one the best if you are planning a toddler birthday! I will definately be purchasing my own copy.

I found Lansky's book to be a common-sense guideline for what young children might find enjoyable. It also, aptly, advises keeping parties for younger kids short and simple. I appreciated her inclusion of cake recipes for special dietary needs. The book is very helpful for young, busy parents who need to organize and stay focused to pull off an extra special event.

i loved the idea